Hen killed by something

[jclausen]

We went out to give them some worms and there were feathers every where and one chicken walking around and looked fine.Looked in the back of the yard and found just a chicken head. We looked all over and all we found was the head. We live in the middle of Hurst Texas and do not know of any predator that would do this in the city. All the other chickens seem fine no injuries. We are not able to find any body parts just the head. Chunks of feathers with skin also all over the yard. What might have killed and taken our chicken?

 

[Ted_Harrell]

Not a dog or and owl as the dog would probably just break the neck or eat the whole thing. An owl would probably only take what it could carry(the head) so maybe someone else could chime in on this...

 

[pennyJo1960]

Have to ask to you have chicken wire or hardware cloth on your coop and run ?

 

[BaaKaaawk]

Got to say I have lost a lot of chickens over time to predation and I've never been left with just a head. In truth (not to be gross) but the head usually seems like the tastiest part to the predators. Owls, Hawks, Raccoons basically anything that can't carry the body away eats the head. Anything that can carry the body away takes the whole body and leaves a pile of feathers. This is an extremely awkward kill... the only thing I can think naturally is maybe a coyote or a fox or something that carries the body off and just when it did the kill it severed the head while biting the neck and then took off. Honestly, I would almost have to question if this isn't a human kill.

 

[Ted_Harrell]

It is also a very straight severing of the head as well...

 

[gimmie birdies]

Chupacabra.

 

[Henry&Friends]

Raccoons will Eat the head through the fence... backwards raccoon?

 

[Crazy4chickens2018]

View attachment 1964801 We went out to give them some worms and there were feathers every where and one chicken walking around and looked fine.Looked in the back of the yard and found just a chicken head. We looked all over and all we found was the head. We live in the middle of Hurst Texas and do not know of any predator that would do this in the city. All the other chickens seem fine no injuries. We are not able to find any body parts just the head. Chunks of feathers with skin also all over the yard. What might have killed and taken our chicken?

I’m sorry you lost your chicken. Not a nice thing to find. I have seen the body left with the head missing which was the work of a raccoon. So maybe that might be it.

 

[jclausen]

Have to ask to you have chicken wire or hardware cloth on your coop and run ?

The coop is I closed with chicken wire. It seems this happened after the auto door opened to let them out.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Best and worst change it all to hardware cloth add a motion camera as your predator
will be back they know you have more chicken for them and that would suck leaving the head may have been an owl