I need help determining what is eating chickens

[smileygreen64]

I am in south Alabama. I know it's something that climbs, so either a racoon or possum. I loose a chicken a couple times a week. The smaller chicks it eats whole and leaves feathers. The older chickens have nothing left but legs and wings. It only gets chickens chicks or bantams. I have set out a live trap with the remains as bait with no luck. It only is going for my live chickens. Any ideas? I need some help.

 

[rjohns39]

I am in south Alabama. I know it's something that climbs, so either a racoon or possum. I loose a chicken a couple times a week. The smaller chicks it eats whole and leaves feathers. The older chickens have nothing left but legs and wings. It only gets chickens chicks or bantams. I have set out a live trap with the remains as bait with no luck. It only is going for my live chickens. Any ideas? I need some help.

Most likely a coon. Although they are generally messy eaters--but momma with babies leaves a clean slate.

 

[TwinsLoveChicks]

Most likely a coon. Although they are generally messy eaters--but momma with babies leaves a clean slate.

X2
Here's a website to help you figure out what it is.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/predator-identifier.php

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Don't know if you or anyone you know fishes, but fresh fish heads seem to work for coons, also try to camouflage your trap. Can also try canned tuna, open but still in the can. So sorry for your losses and good luck getting the culprit.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

There is not enough information to say with any degree of certainty but if you have a raccoon problem, a couple of Duke brand Dog Proof traps will solve your problem quickly.
Bait them with either honey buns or marshmallows for best effect.

Otherwise I say that you have a chicken hawk problem. Likely a Coopers hawk.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

X2
Here's a website to help you figure out what it is.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/predator-identifier.php

Wow....that is pretty horrifying.
Interesting how they include humans in the list of predators.
Anything looking for a free chicken dinner, I guess.

 

[smileygreen64]

Thanks for the responses. I tried baiting the trap with a piece of cake for tonight. I also put a live chicken in a small cage inside a larger cage near my live trap so if it is a racoon it can't reach in and grab it.

I do fish. If the cake doesn't work I will try and catch some fish.

I am losing chickens at night, so I don't think its a hawk. I have never heard of them hunting at night.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

I am losing chickens at night, so I don't think its a hawk. I have never heard of them hunting at night.[/QUOTE]


Owls hunt at night, if you are thinking possibly an aerial predator.

 

[smileygreen64]

I am leaning towards a racoon or possum. I don't think its an owl. I was reading about owl kills online and the remains don't match what I read about predatory birds.

 

[Howard E]

Single birds lost at night and partially eaten could be one of several predators. Coons, possums, skunks or even domestic or feral cats. A game camera is the best option. Bait your live trap with dry cat food. It will attract any and all of those predators. Scatter a spoonful or two on the ground outside the trap, and the rest in a small bowel or container inside where they have to enter to enjoy. Keep in mind if any of them have every been caught in a live trap, they may be trap wary and won't enter.