grannys gone and done it

[twisted-acres-farm]

Robert said NO BLOOD to speak of on these 3 just no heads

 

[Tippylou]

honest I am not pulling your leg. and Rod caught the hens killing the chicks, flying over the lower (old) fence and getting them. Now they can't get over and take the chicks out or haven't for 5 days

I am not sure. Or maybe with the old hens they are already dead or dying and these other girls just finish them off

Where are the skulls and beaks? Ohhhh, that gave me the heebie jeebies just typing it..

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

Quote:
I will go "hunting" around the coop yard when I get out there next Tues. Except for under the ginormous piles of blown down trees and tree branches maybe they are taking the heads there to eat unmolested.

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

I know my milk people hate the cinnamon queens also claim they are really mean and nasty, They free range their's so there is no way of knowing if hens are actually missing or not.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

http://articles.extension.org/pages/71204/predator-management-for-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks

"If birds are dead and not eaten but are missing their heads, the predator may be a raccoon, a hawk, or an owl. Raccoons sometimes pull a bird’s head through the wires of an enclosure and then can eat only the head, leaving the majority of the body behind. Also, raccoons may work together, with one scaring the chickens to the far end of a pen and the other picking off the birds’ heads."



I also read that possums will do this. They come in at night when the chickens are sleeping and chew off heads. They climb well and can get into spaces you wouldn't expect.



I have found no reports of chickens eating eating heads off. yet. Yours are the first. maybe.


But I do take your point about them not being able to reach the youngsters and the remaining few still alive. I just don't believe it. I don't WANT to believe it. feakin zombies!

 

[h2oratt]

the temp isn't bad but the humidity is killing me right now.

 Few Clouds
67°F
19°C

Humidity	73%
Wind Speed	SE 14 mph
Barometer	29.88 in (1010.8 mb)
Dewpoint	58°F (14°C)
Visibility	10.00 mi
Last update	2 Jul 9:56 pm MDT

Good for lockdown

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

Quote:

but I hatched years and years and years ago currently I am just impersonating a "sticky chick"

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

http://articles.extension.org/pages/71204/predator-management-for-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks

"If birds are dead and not eaten but are missing their heads, the predator may be a raccoon, a hawk, or an owl. Raccoons sometimes pull a bird’s head through the wires of an enclosure and then can eat only the head, leaving the majority of the body behind. Also, raccoons may work together, with one scaring the chickens to the far end of a pen and the other picking off the birds’ heads."



I also read that possums will do this. They come in at night when the chickens are sleeping and chew off heads. They climb well and can get into spaces you wouldn't expect.



I have found no reports of chickens eating eating heads off. yet. Yours are the first. maybe.


But I do take your point about them not being able to reach the youngsters and the remaining few still alive. I just don't believe it. I don't WANT to believe it. feakin zombies!

the hen's are being found out away from the fence, we don't have opossums and this is happening in broad daylight.

This is why my head HURTS I am about to chalk it up to being twisted acres. I have been all around the permimiter of the run no holes or signs of digging. And why just the main coop why not the Annex which is closer to the creek and farther away from the houses ???

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

Well ladies it is getting late and I have to get up early for mass as Robert didn't "feel well" so I couldn't go this evening.

Sweet DReams Warm Fuzzies and Prayers for all

I hope you have an enjoyable rest of the evening.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Hawk or an owl.