It's back...

[Athiena14]

You guys, I'm starting to wonder if free ranging is a good thing. I had a post saying 3 of my chickens were back about a month ago, after being gone while I tried to get things together after a bad attack... well it's back.

This morning I went out to the quail coop and found something tore open the wire from the base at killed my last 5 quail. Only 2 bodies were still in the coop missing the heads. Set a game trail came out.

This evening was bringing in the stragglers (limpy turkey keet and younger rooster) didnt see my ducklings. Went looking for them and found them headless by the barn.... the ducklings were with another rooster and the young rooster (about the size of the largest duckling.) Wasnt touched. I set out a coon trap and live cage trap.

Any ideas on what this could be? Last thoughts on the last attack was a raccoon.

 

[Northern.Ontario]

Raccoon for sure

 

[Athiena14]

Raccoon for sure

Well it's good that I know good ways to get raccoons. Hate killing them when it's not winter

 

[pallas]

Thats sounds horrible so sorry that happened. the fact that they were killed and not eaten seems weird to me. If it happened a month ago maybe its something that is just moves through I would look at something to deter things like that in the future.

 

[Athiena14]

Thats sounds horrible so sorry that happened. the fact that they were killed and not eaten seems weird to me. If it happened a month ago maybe its something that is just moves through I would look at something to deter things like that in the future.

I got the chickens back a month ago. The last attack was closer to middle of spring time. It did take off with 3 quail though too

 

[Stepnout]

Can I ask what type/size of wire? How was the wire attached to the pen. What time of day was the Quail pen attacked? Raccoons are so strong and determined, if your pen is a wooden structure after a few years the wood becomes week. No challenge for a racoon. Mink can be very strong and will just keep killing.
The second event this evening was the attack in daylight?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I’m so sorry for all of your losses! I certainly hope you catch that nasty coon!

 

[50-45-1]

If i am reading your post corectly, you are loosing these birds over night. That would be likely racoon. However coon would eat more than the head.
Owl are well known to remove heads, but unless your birds are roosting outside in a tree, how would a owl get to them.
A weasel who can get into your coop thru a hole the size if a quarter will kill for fun and wipe out a whole coop full of birds overnite. They kill by biting the neck area.
Fortify your coop.

 

[cmom]

I think a coon. Hopefully your game camera will get a picture of whatever it is and maybe your traps because more than likely it will be back again.

 

[cmom]