Found body minus head and skin on neck - leave flock in?

[Bhubbard]

Raccoons will come back if trapped and relocated or some other farmer/chicken owner now has a problem. Shoot it.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

So sorry for your loss. I would trap it, then relocate it to a farway park. But, it's your choice.

 

[WindingRoad]

So sorry for your loss. I would trap it, then relocate it to a farway park. But, it's your choice.

have to be careful with that plan. Some states it's against the law to relocate.

 

[Unicorns and Satyrs]

Im am sorry for your loss.
If you found her body without her skin, it was most likely a bird of prey.

 

[Kris5902]

Thanks, Kris5902!

Well, it is nerve wrecking - because I agree with you - once successful, the wildlife learns that there is food here (our babies) so of course they will come back for more

but I am not sure how to find the racoon again and not sure I can find a neighbor to help - I will ask - they have guns, I don't

maybe our dogs will kill it, if it comes back and does not decide to give up on this diner due to the increased dog presence

I do worry about their eyes and faces and ears and legs, but the coats are so thick, I think it would have to be an African lion to get through that - the snow does not even melt on their backs - they are double coated and it's hard to reach their skin, other than on the face

I think they are careful, too, though and I have seen the female make an approach, she circles in and out and tests the critter but does put more and more pressure on them if they don't leave and I think she would bite - she ate a squirrel once (poor thing) it was dead when I saw it - she is also the one that drove the racoon onto the highest branches of the oak tree last month - I was hoping the fright would drive the racoon to hunt elsewhere but it seems that it came back or it was a different one or another critter?

I have never seen a dog kill a racoon - sorry for the critters but thanks for the picture and glad they did not kill your birds - they are so ruthless with that, killing so many at a time and eating none or very little of them - that is the most upsetting: Dori is in a trash can now, minus the head - what a waste of a beautiful little life - she could have lived another 10 years here with us

That was also what bothered me most about the two chickens they got of ours... so wasteful, they didn’t even eat the birds body. You do need to be careful that they don’t injure your dogs... we have a friend who cuts firewood on our property, his dog isn’t as effective, and he has had to finish an injured coon off for her.

There is another chicken owner on the other side of the island who is not licensed and doesn’t have a gun. He had a problem raccoon that took out five of his hens and one of his roosters over the course of about a week. You can Trap it then ask your neighbor or local animal control to “take care of it” humanely and quickly.

Relocating is not good, or humane, and is most likely illegal. Best of luck, and don’t get discouraged!