Mice and rats found with just the head

[CurlyQuail]

This is the third morning in a row finding just a head. First time it was a mouse, second it was a rat, now it’s a mouse again. Any ideas? If the predator is big enough to get the rats should I be worried about the chickens?

I’ve seen the following around my house

• Cat
• Dog
• Skunk
• Coyote
• Owls and hawks
• Opossum
• Raccoon
• Snake
• I’ve heard of there being red foxes, black bears, and mountain lions in the area but never seen one

 

[Brooks_]

I'd rule out cats as they like to eat heads (at least mine do) and snakes would eat it whole.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Where in the yard did you find the heads?
Under a tree? In the middle of the yard?

 

[cmom]

If you have a game camera, put it up and then you will probably discover what the predator is. I'm thinking owl and they will kill a chicken. Good luck...

 

[Wrooster]

Long time ago, which was the last time I had a cat, one night I woke up hearing a crunching noise. On the kitchen floor there was the head of a mouse from the ears forward, the tail of a mouse, and my cat sitting in the middle with a stupid grin on his face.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Rodents do draw the predators to a coop. They do more than steal feed and spread disease as eventually the predators figure out that chickens are easier prey. Deal with the reason that you have rats first, clean up your feed storage and get a treadle feeder. Then clean up any pathways that provide the rats cover to and from the coop so the natural predators have a shot at catching them.

 

[neo71665]

Not owls or hawks. Owls swallow mice whole and plus both normally take small prey to the highest tree where they feel safe.

Bears and mt lions would have just swallowed it in one bite.

 

[CurlyQuail]

Where in the yard did you find the heads?
Under a tree? In the middle of the yard?

Middle of the yard

 

[CurlyQuail]

If you have a game camera, put it up and then you will probably discover what the predator is. I'm thinking owl and they will kill a chicken. Good luck...

My game camera broke a while back, but I’m hoping to replace it soon

 

[CurlyQuail]

Rodents do draw the predators to a coop. They do more than steal feed and spread disease as eventually the predators figure out that chickens are easier prey. Deal with the reason that you have rats first, clean up your feed storage and get a treadle feeder. Then clean up any pathways that provide the rats cover to and from the coop so the natural predators have a shot at catching them.

The rats come from a neighbor’s yard, I’ve seen them coming over the fence. Food is also in a locked bin over night.