First tragedy

[fuzziecreatures]

We lost one of our 3 1/2 mos old cockerels to a predator. I don't know what it was. The head and neck were gone and lots of feathers around. We set 2 traps for tonight, one medium size with a partial can of tuna and 1 large trap with the rest of the carcass with tuna water drizzled on it.
The ground was dry so no tracks or fur seen.
What predator kills and only takes the head and neck?

 

[PioneerPrincess]

I'm so sorry.

Maybe a coon did it?

 

[CapricornFarm]

Yeah , you need to lock them up at night. Coons do that
sorry for your loss

 

[fuzziecreatures]

I can't just lock the boys up. We separated them from the rest of the group because of overbreeding and a lack of egg production.

 

[fuzziecreatures]

My DH made a better stucture for them. No more casualties so far. Have not caught anything in the traps though. I saw an owl fly away from the woodline late last night.

 

[tclegg]

Yeah--usually coons--kill like that--or grab a leg and bite what they can..owls just swoop and grab the whole chicken if they can...Sorry for your loss...

 

[lindseythefork]

It wasn't an owl.. owls grab their prey and haul it off to eat it. I would imagine a raccoon. Or a skunk!