Help please, something got my chicken and noone can figure it out.

[mschickychick]

I have no clue, sorry. But want you to know this appears to be a real hard one to figure out. I don't want you to get the wrong impression. People around here go out of their way to help when they can. Hope someone comes along that can answer your question.

Welcome to BYC. We're glad you're here.

 

[Julie_A]

Sounds like a possum or coon to me. Hate those suckers.

 

[mmurry1]

My son found her first thing in the morning a couple of feet outside the chicken door which he locks up every night. She was not there when he locked them up, and she was before he fed them which is before he lets them out. We are in Timber Oregon which is pretty much in the middle of nowhere but it is a small community (not even a town). We are by the river we have eagle, hawk, cougar, coyote, raccoon, skunk, and whatever else. No wolves or opossum. We are at about 1000 ft. This henny has no insides except what I believe is her gizzard which is still attached and skin, bones and feathers. There does not appear to be any flesh either. Like I said, it appears her skin is sucked up to her bones on her head and neck. Her body cavity is opened from the front, and the breast bone is really the only thing that looks to be broken out of place (probably to get to the insides).
Thank you for the responses.
By the way, my chickens free range in a very large pen every day and it is not covered and we have only lost a couple of chickens in three years (most of the chickens we have lost have been due to lice before we knew about that and extreme heat, extreme cold and the new puppy. The two we lost were when we got home late one night therefore they were locked up to late. Free range can be done, and the GSD can be trained after killing.
Again thank you I will look forward to more response tonight hopefully.

 

[jerseygirl1]

I think if you post a more descriptive title in your subject line you will get more responses - also, the time of day you're posting may not net you any responses until later on
I have found this to be true on quite a few subjects I've posted

Could it have been a bear? Just a thought, we have them here and that seems typical

 

[TXmom]

I wish I could help, but I just don't have an answer for you. We're not ignoring you, and we don't just help long-time members, we just don't always know the answer. I'm newer to chickens than you are. I've lost 1 pullet to a predator, and I still have no idea what got her...she disappeared in the middle of the day and I just found 2 piles of her feathers. I'm thinking maybe a hawk...

 

[Amethyste]

That is just so strange....with the head still there, I dont think it would be a coon.

I am kinda of inclined to think possum? The ONE time I saw a possum attacked bird, it looked vaguely like that. This wasnt my bird that died btw, it was a friends who lost the hen from that.

I doubt a bear woudl be that careful with the bird...they are not dainty. Owls will eat the meat, but then they eat other parts as well, have seen owl pellets to show.

I am very inclined to think that the bird might have been a bit on the thin side...can be hard to tell under the fluffy feathers, and then when she died, there wasnt a lot there to eat. Sounds like the predator took the best parts and then left.

I think possum probably.... hen might have died and the possum scrounged it?

 

[Hippie Chick in PA]

I think coon or weasel. That's what the ole timers around here tell me.

Also I have found that there has been less postings on the web site in general since September; it seemed more active in the summer months. Maybe everyone is busy getting kids back to school, etc. Just my observation and thought.

I really don't think it is because you are new. Everyone on here seems to want help.

 

[GAChknGirl]

Weasels will eat an animal from the inside leaving just a big pile of feathers and the skeleton of the chicken they have a bacteria in their saliva that numbs the area that it is consuming , my guess is it sounds like a weasel

Poor Chicken


Welcome To BYC!!

 

[Kittymomma]

Hi,

Sorry about your chicken!

I don't have an answer for you either, but would guess a long-tailed weasle. I'm in SW WA and we have them here--the dogs bring one home every so often so maybe try in Internet search to see if they are common in your area too.....

If you think it may be a weasle be extray careful with your flock, it'll kill everything it can get to if it makes it inside the coop. I know the one you lost was out for the night, but I'd go out and double check the security of the coop. Best of luck and please update if you find out anything.

 

[chickcritty]

I haven't had any experience with predators (knock on wood) so I'm not much help there. Hopefully someone with more experience with this issue can help. I agree with mlw987m that the more descriptive the subject line of your posting the better. I hope you find out what happened to your chicken