Hen killed by unknown predator (gore)

[cathloveydovey]

Hahaha Clever girl.

Hmmm if the run was covered then a bird of prey, if there is no way in for one, isn't the culprit.

I would then be thinking raccoon or rat.

Run is covered with trees, they have more of a free range run but still enclosed

mostly Racoon Very sorry hardware cloth poultry netting amazon

Thanks. I know hardware cloth is on amazon, you can get anything on amazon. But this isn't the usual tight enclosure where I can use hardware cloth to cover every inch.

http://www.backyardchickenelearning.com/how-to-tell-which-predator-is-killing-your-chickens/

I'll check it out thank you.

Raptor and owls do that

Raptors as in birds of prey?

Accessibility and time of day. Close trash problem. I think rat.

I never thought of rats... Eugh.

I’m so sorry! I lost one to a hawk and that was exactly what mine looked like. I caught him in the act so I know for sure what happened to her. At this point all you can do is tighten up security. I got netting put up soon after.

Thank you! I'm sorry about yours. Nothing I can really do to tighten up security, if you read above ^. But thank you.

 

[Skippersnh]

Yeah birds of prey

 

[WthrLady]

If there was a way in for hawks/eagles then it could be one of those. If the only thing over the top of their area to protect them when outside is tree canopy, then your run is a shopping basket for flying death.

 

[cathloveydovey]

If there was a way in for hawks/eagles then it could be one of those. If the only thing over the top of their area to protect them when outside is tree canopy, then your run is a shopping basket for flying death.

We've never had problems with birds of prey getting inside the run. The trees are very close to the fence so it's not like they could swoop in. We've only had deaths by birds of prey when they were out in the open backyard scratching around and not in their run.

 

[WthrLady]

Then I'm back to voting rat.

 

[cathloveydovey]

Then I'm back to voting rat.

Wish I could have cameras out there to catch the little SOB, but you know, life. Never had a kill like this so I'm fairly interested in what killed her. Anyways thank you for your help, at least the search is narrowed down.
Now if only I had traps... Ugh, lol.

 

[cmom]

I have 6 of these cameras. They work well for me. the only drawback is that they take the tiny micro SD card.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CGMQRWP/?tag=backy-20
Last nights visitors. Here most of the predators roam at night.

 

[Conan]

We've never had problems with birds of prey getting inside the run. The trees are very close to the fence so it's not like they could swoop in. We've only had deaths by birds of prey when they were out in the open backyard scratching around and not in their run.

They absolutely can just swoop in. Do you have goshawks? I lost two birds two weeks ago in the exact same manner. Caught the bugger on the third attempt, so I know who the culprit was/is. They are super hard to deter because they don't operate like larger hawks and eagles. They are fairly small, and can chase birds through fully covered areas, and through forests. They even give chase on the ground. Nothing short of a covered run can stop them. They often eat the neck and head, then leave the prey. The plan is to come back over the next few days and eat the rest, as chickens are usually too heavy for them to cart off.

 

[Aunt Angus]

They absolutely can just swoop in. Do you have goshawks? I lost two birds two weeks ago in the exact same manner. Caught the bugger on the third attempt, so I know who the culprit was/is. They are super hard to deter because they don't operate like larger hawks and eagles. They are fairly small, and can chase birds through fully covered areas, and through forests. They even give chase on the ground. Nothing short of a covered run can stop them. They often eat the neck and head, then leave the prey. The plan is to come back over the next few days and eat the rest, as chickens are usually too heavy for them to cart off.

Goshawk are amazing acrobats. I have found Coopers ate similar. We have a Coopers who hangs around. Its favorite method is to sit in our tree and wait for us to let the chickens out of the run. It doesn't swoop. It drops. I've seen it *walk* on the ground, too. I've not lost anyone to if, but that's only because I've been lucky.

 

[cathloveydovey]

They absolutely can just swoop in. Do you have goshawks? I lost two birds two weeks ago in the exact same manner. Caught the bugger on the third attempt, so I know who the culprit was/is. They are super hard to deter because they don't operate like larger hawks and eagles. They are fairly small, and can chase birds through fully covered areas, and through forests. They even give chase on the ground. Nothing short of a covered run can stop them. They often eat the neck and head, then leave the prey. The plan is to come back over the next few days and eat the rest, as chickens are usually too heavy for them to cart off.

We do. I just looked it up (North Carolina), but they are fairly rare where I am specifically. Like I said though, I've never had a death from birds of prey inside their run. I dont doubt that it could have been a bird of prey, just in disbelief. Though, in my 6 years of raising chickens, I've never once had this happen.

Goshawk are amazing acrobats. I have found Coopers ate similar. We have a Coopers who hangs around. Its favorite method is to sit in our tree and wait for us to let the chickens out of the run. It doesn't swoop. It drops. I've seen it *walk* on the ground, too. I've not lost anyone to if, but that's only because I've been lucky.

Yeesh