Fox or racoon or??

[critters]

what would 'eat' off the head and then into side breast to
intestines/stomach area??

was thinking a fox, coyote or racoon ??
live in mountains of virginia and have bout everything here...

'IT' got my prize cochin silver laced hen that I had just tag to take
with silver laced rooster to the fair. One of my partridge cochins
won best overall last year..the silver laced hen won a blue ribbon as well..

and yes, I know this is the guinea site but y'all are the ones
I always talk with.....besides, it's about a predator, not the bird...sorta...

 

[PeepsCA]

Sorry for your loss, that's a bummer, and right before the fair

Was she penned or free ranging when she was killed? If it was while she was free raning I'd suspect a Hawk as the culprit. IME foxes and coyotes usually take their kill with them, leaving just feathers.

Maybe this link will help you narrow it down... Chicken Predators

 

[critters]

shortly after being let out....came back a hour or so to feed and followed a trail of feathers to her remains...
yeah, the poultry show is next wednesday..

thanks and will check 'chicken predators'

 

[critters]

ok...thinking maybe a possum since possum and racoon will eat
the head of their victim and I don't remeber the last time I saw
a recoon around here...

anyway, thats my guess...

 

[Hotcookie]

I'd guess it was a coon. That's pretty typical behavior of them...... Unfortunately, my first year of raising chickens, a coon got inside my chicken coop at dusk, before I had closed the doors. Poor things - we lost 5 that night - all with their heads bitten off. The others had managed to get out the doors before the coon had a chance to get at them, too. I think you better get rid of it before it happens again.

 

[JLeigh]

I had a raccoon come at very early dark two nights in a row and get into my coops and pen before we solved the problem. Each time it left the heads, but gutted the bodies. 100% positive it was a raccoon. One thing you can count on - whatever it was, it will be back, so try to take steps to "intervene".

Sorry about losing your chicken - - it seems to always happen to the favorites. Of course, most of our chickens and guineas are favorites. However it happens, it's really sad and I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[critters]

thanks guys ....appreciate your time.