Death in question

[Fluckadoodledoooo]

I would love any opinion on what you think happened to my girl. She was in her coop, nothing around that looked broken into, the other chickens are fine, no sign of a struggle. Her neck is twisted and her feathers looked like they were ripped off. Any suggestions or have you found any chickens like this? I’ve never had one die like this.

 

[Fluckadoodledoooo]

Here’s a better photo

 

[ronott1]

It is hard to tell. Likely a raccoon or weasel maybe. Do you have a small opening or a place that a raccoon could kill through the wire?

 

[LittleBigBantam]

I would say a fisher cat or weasel

 

[ronott1]

I would say a fisher cat or weasel

I forgot about fisher cats! We do not have them in California yet

 

[LittleBigBantam]

I forgot about fisher cats! We do not have them in California yet

I live right next to a river in the middle of the woods, and we have one that got into our coop and killed 8 chickens and a duck. Cant trap them either because we can't get a large enough cage, they can reach right over the spring

 

[Lovem all]

I wouldn't count out rats.

 

[ronott1]

I live right next to a river in the middle of the woods, and we have one that got into our coop and killed 8 chickens and a duck. Cant trap them either because we can't get a large enough cage, they can reach right over the spring

I have seen some use snare traps for small predators

 

[LittleBigBantam]

I have seen some use snare traps for small predators

I'll have to look into that. I currently use fox live traps

 

[ronott1]

I'll have to look into that. I currently use fox live traps

@ChickenCanoe had a problem with small predators and may be able to recommend a strategy.