Could a weasle or rat be doing this?? HELP PLEASE!! Grphic description

[19hhbelgian]

So, I put some older chicks that didn't need the light anymore out in their space in the coop. The next morning, I went out and one of my favorite little cockerels was beheaded

His head was completely gone, and the only thing left was his body and neck (neck had no skin on it). The night before, the dogs had been at the door watching the chickens, so we thought maybe he had stuck his head through the fence and someone got him. Then, today I went out and found one of my favorite silkies, Peaches, laying in the back of their pen. I went in and found that her leg had been completely ripped off her body and was only attached by a piece of skin

AND one of my faverolle cockerels is completely gone.

We found a hole that is bigger than a mouse hole, but definitely not a raccoon, possum, skunk, fox... Could a weasel or rat be doing this? We put a trap in the coop tonight with some meat as bait so hopefully we will catch what ever it is. Any ideas?

 

[jhm47]

Sounds more like a coon than anything else. I would bet that you've got another hole somewhere in your coop that is letting one in. Check your ceiling, windows, walls, anything. Coons are accomplished climbers, and will find access in the very strangest of ways.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Beheading is classic raccoon. But i'm a bit confused - are they being attacked at night locked up in a coop, or are they being killed in a pen or run during the day? i looked at your website and it looks like you have a secure coop. So i'm wondering where these attacks happened.

 

[geebs]

Racoon

 

[arch_cpj]

Yep COON maybe a mink or weasle though either way look for holes patch with wood or hardware cloth... Also a couple strand electric wire up the side of the coop will deter climbers...