Headless Chicken Mystery

[Gammond]

Since you found the owl talon marks in the snow, I am sure that is the culprit.

For sure an owl. I didn't even think to look at the snow - good thing my husband did before I stomped everywhere... here is how the window was opened and where the chicken was killed. The window where the chickens get in and out is not propped open as much... and it's at the opposite side of the coop, with a lot more chickens in the way before this window...

 

[Alaskan]

oh yeah, way big enough for an owl.

I had an owl(a large great horned owl) land on the ground, crawl into the coop through the open chicken pop door, and have himself a chicken buffet...then he left.

Second night I had closed the pop door, but he PRIED IT OPEN, and had seconds.

Third night that pop door was wedged shut. Owl left Freddy Krueger claw marks ALL around that pop door trying to open it again. He failed that time.

So.... get everything VERY WELL closed tonight.

 

[sourland]

You might want to look up if weasels or minks are in your area, because that sure sounds like how they kill. Owls don't come into confined spaces, eat, and then go back out.

not my experience.

I had a GHO enter a pigeon loft through the bobs, kill and eat two pigeons. I found it there in the morning. My fault I did not close the bobs. Released the owl, and the next night at dusk there it was on top of my aviary trying to get through the bobs. There are as brazen as a weasel or mink, and do love the heads of birds as @Alaskan has mentioned.

 

[Gammond]

Released the owl,

crap! our motto here is "Shot, Shovel, and Shutup"

I'm kinda breaking the last rule though.... haha

 

[Folly's place]

A weasel would likely have killed every bird; that owl only had dinner! Attach hardware cloth securely over every window that you plan to have opened, day or night, or keep feeding the wildlife. So sorry! Mary

 

[sourland]

crap! our motto here is "Shot, Shovel, and Shutup"

I'm kinda breaking the last rule though.... haha

He got a pass because that one was my fault for not locking the bobs. Birds had an overfly, and I was hoping that they would return in the morning. Never thought about predators.

 

[happyfrenchman]

The owl was on the ground because he had to walk under the open window and then he would fly right up and in. Those Great Horned Owls are beautiful birds. You cannot leave any access point open. If not an Owl, a racoon would have done alot worse....a weasel, if you have a weasel problem, that is a real problem.