ID the predator

[Acre4Me]

Western Ohio. 5 chickens taken. Left 1 carcass near gate, left a small partial carcass near gate. 3 completely gone, but a few random parts here and there. This occurred at neighbors coop, but this predator has been investigating my fence line for a way in. I don't think it has breached our fence yet, but it would be relatively easy to do. However, our coop is fairly secure, and would not be that easy to get into.

Fox? Coyote? Raccoon? Opossum? Something else? More than 1 predator?

relavant Pics:

Scat - location 1

Scat Location 2

Carcass

Carcass (same as above, just turned over and showing small parts of other chicken)

Investigation holes dug near fence line.

 

[karenerwin]

Western Ohio. 5 chickens taken. Left 1 carcass near gate, left a small partial carcass near gate. 3 completely gone, but a few random parts here and there. This occurred at neighbors coop, but this predator has been investigating my fence line for a way in. I don't think it has breached our fence yet, but it would be relatively easy to do. However, our coop is fairly secure, and would not be that easy to get into.

Fox? Coyote? Raccoon? Opossum? Something else? More than 1 predator?

relavant Pics:

Scat - location 1
View attachment 2204355

Scat Location 2
View attachment 2204356


Carcass
View attachment 2204357

Carcass (same as above, just turned over and showing small parts of other chicken)
View attachment 2204358

Investigation holes dug near fence line.
View attachment 2204359

Not sure what it is but I am pretty sure that it is NOT a fox. I was going to say other things but then I googled images of the different animals scat and then I became less confident of what I was going to say.
I also don't think it is a raccoon but only because the damage isn't the same that I have seen from coon attacks here at my house. Also skunks and opossum usually go after eggs or small chicks ( things that are easy).
Sorry I am not much help. Hopefully, someone else will post that knows way more than me!
I don't suppose you saw any foot prints? Can your neighbor leave a dusting of flour so if they come back looking for more they will leave foot prints behind? Also, do you have armadillos in your area? I hear they like chicken too, but so far (knock on wood) I haven't had a problem with them.

 

[WthrLady]

Raccoon, maybe more than one

 

[Oncoming Storm]

Raccoons will decapitate roosters and gut out the hens. But I live in GA so.....maybe?

 

[Hidrainja4]

Hello fellow Ohioan- This is a great web page https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/vme-22
I think this answers your description
Patterns of Predation
Missing adult birds—coyotes, bobcats, dogs, birds of prey, and foxes
For birds of prey, hawks will take birds during the day; whereas, owls will take birds during the night. Often, domestic dogs will not eat the birds, and the carcass may be found in close proximity to the site of attack. Coyotes are active night and day, though when living in urban areas amongst humans, they are more active at night. Feathers and a few scattered pieces may be left behind after dog, coyote, and fox attacks. Bobcats typically hunt during the hours of dawn and dusk, but can attack any time of day.

From this I would guess probably coyotes. Birds completely missing, maybe more than one coyote. Best answer a secure predator proof coop.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Looks like a possum was the culprit.
Poop is great for identifying predators.
Images from internet.

 

[Acre4Me]

Neighbor and my spouse are thinking coyote. A couple of days ago when I saw the fence line digging, I thought dog perhaps, but few dogs in this area - of course could always be a new one. However, we have seen a coyote in the distance several weeks ago. Farmland all around here with homes throughout. I have a few neighbors to either side of me, but farmland with some woods relatively close - those woods are full of deer, though. No streams nearby, and no skunk smell.

My neighbor lent me his trail camera and I got it working tonight. So, I set it up with a good view of my run and coop area. It is fairly low resolution, but should work fine for determining predator. Maybe they are too full from last night's meal to return tonight, but doubt it.

 

[littledog]

From your description on the other tread, I was thinking some kind of weasel. We had one a few years ago that took a quarantined hen from a less-safe enclosure, and it left body parts and blood spatter all over, it looked like a gruesome murder scene.

When we used to free-range, we lost two at different times from raptors, who just did a quick kill and then airlifted the whole chicken away, only a few feathers were left. Coyotes tend to take the whole body away and just leave a few feathers, as well.

But the scat you posted looks like a pretty large animal, so I'm clueless. Please let us know what the trail cam picks up! And hopefully whatever it is, fails in its quest to take your chickens, and you can deter it or get rid of it.

 

[Acre4Me]

So here is game cam footage from last night. No coyotes, but raccoons, instead!

Could raccoons (two of them) leave THAT MUCH scat in pic above?

 

[MysteryChicken]

So here is game cam footage from last night. No coyotes, but raccoons, instead!

Could raccoons (two of them) leave THAT MUCH scat in pic above?

View attachment 2204833

The poop didn't look like raccoon, but it could be possible.