Thanks for the theories on my predator. I may never know--unless of course I see something in the act of consuming another one of my chickens in a similar pattern (neck eaten down to bare vertebrae but the vertebrae not separated and the head still attached to the body). Actually I'm good not knowing if that's the only way to find out!
Seems like whatever predator should have gone for the breast meat first, not a lot on a 10 week old boy of course but way more meat than on his skinny neck!
We have a good friend named Jim with whom we have shared many Thanksgiving dinners. He always loudly proclaims that the turkey neck is the most delectable part of the bird. I have often put the neck in the bottom of the turkey pan to roast along with all the juices, just for him. He always has some lame excuse about why he won't eat it this year. ("Have to save room for the pecan pie." "Maybe later, after I have several more large hunks of white meat and another gallon of gravy." "Oh, too full now, but it really is the most delicious part!') He has always even declined to take it home as a leftover. So I think this is a holdover from youth, like the people who reminisce about eating squirrel or oppossum or raccoon or pig's feet or chicken feet or whatever. Disclaimer: having never tried any of the above things, feel free to tell me how delicious they are. I have tried the turkey neck, and while it's edible, I can't believe if you had the choice you would choose it over either the white or dark meat.
Come to think of it, our friend Jim does live close enough to bike over and catch my chicken and eat the meat off its little neck. He goes on the suspect list.
Nothing in the live trap after 24 hours except dead little Robert and some tiny wiggly little friends.
Which actually was a relief since I figured more than likely I would just catch some innocent animal and then not know what to do with it. I actually have no hard feelings toward the predator. Winter's coming and they gotta eat. And I let the chickens free range, knowing the benefits and risks.
Totally illogicially, I am not so charitable toward the maggots. I like spiders. I like snakes. Most insects I fnd fascinating. I even think naked mole rats are adorable. Maggots skeeve me out.
