missing chickens

[shellbell41]

We have/had 10 hens and two roosters. We have their coop secure from top and all sides. We were locking the up at night, however I found one of my favorites in the corn field behind house with only head and neck completely gone. There was no feathers ANYWHERE no sign of struggle of track marks anywhere. Few days later we had three more disappeared. Again absolutely no sign of feathers or struggle anywhere. They do roam freely and I suppose a hawk could have gotten them. But I spend almost everyday outside in yard and garden. It is a mystery to us. Any ideas what could have killed first hen and what kind of predator other than hawk could have gotten others.

Thanks for any suggestions.
Shellie

 

[BigMikeK89]

My friend you by the sound have a Coon issue. Raccoons are well known to reach in coops pull off legs or heads, or if they can get them out they from some odd reason only eat the head and crop... Well most of the time. No feather would indicate it's not an owl. Seeing as you are outside so much during the day a Hawk isn't a very good answer. Since it has been somewhat ate. A dog is a no, dong usealy will not eat chickens reather they like to kill for sport. The best thing you can do is Keep the grass, weeds, brush whatever cutdown real low and neat. They don't like to expose themselves most of the time or even get yourself one of the little motion sens. door bells like at a store. Something moved *ding dong* and nothing should be mveing around out there at night. My person protction plan for my flock is a spot light, and a 12 ga pump or .22 LR depending on what is needed.

 

[chkn]

I used to free range my chickens and know first hand that the hawk takes the head and neck in daylight. What the hawk doesn't eat the vultures drag off aways and finish else the four legged creatures (fox, coyote, etc) will come in at night and act as the clean up crew. So my synopsis, hawk killed followed by clean up crew. On the last two kills, cleanup was probably by a large enough predator to carry away the kill (like fox or coyote). The hawk is your #1 killer. Don't underestimate them.

I notice that whenever I see a vulture around, a hawk on the hunt is not far away.

 

[shellbell41]

Thank you that is helpful. Funny because my husband went and bought a spot light and he and kids are out spotting now with pellet guns and .22 if needed. I will keep eye out for our mysterious predators....

 

[shellbell41]

Thank you. I thought it might be a hawk but I really haven't seen any around. Doesn't mean that it isn't one however. I think we will keep eyes open and not free range anymore. Thanks