My chickens are being beheaded!! I dont know what to do.

[grahamlexi04]

4 days ago, I lost 6 chickens out of 18. I didn't know where they went they disappeared in the daytime. I live in the country so I thought maybe they found my neighbors chickens or something. My chickens rooster died a few months back from a dog attack so the girls pretty much go where ever they please throughout the day and they get locked up just before dark in their secure coop. then 2 days after the 6 went missing, I found one of my remaining in the middle of my field dead without a head and neck. The rest of her wasn't even touched. now 1 day later I found another chicken same thing. so confused???? so many possibilities too. raccoons, skunk, weasels, fishers, foxes, hawks, owls, coyotes, possums?? but its happening in the daytime. anyone please help me understand what is happening to my chickens. I don't want to lose anymore!

 

[Rammy]

Raccoon.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Do you have the ability to confine them to a co-op and run until you can get this sorted out? That is going to be your best bet to prevent further losses.

 

[Shadow Source]

Definitely a Racoon, they like to kill just for sport. I live out in a chickens worst nightmare. There are hawks everywhere, coons, badgers, coyotes, and cats. I have never lost a chicken, because I shut them up every evening, and open them up every morning. Might try that.

 

[Kessel23]

I would say fox. How far away is the field?
Raccoons do not really carry birds far from the coop, I have only had them take birds out of the run a few times and every time they were found tucked away underneath some bushes or an old boat or my other chicken coop. Never more than a couple hundred feet.

Foxes will cache their kills very far away to eat later, they overkill way more often than raccoons and are active during the day more often than raccoons. Also, foxes will have a much better chance to catch a chicken during the day time. Raccoons struggle to catch a bird outside of a run or coop.

 

[Trish1974]

I would say fox. How far away is the field?
Raccoons do not really carry birds far from the coop, I have only had them take birds out of the run a few times and every time they were found tucked away underneath some bushes or an old boat or my other chicken coop. Never more than a couple hundred feet.

Foxes will cache their kills very far away to eat later, they overkill way more often than raccoons and are active during the day more often than raccoons. Also, foxes will have a much better chance to catch a chicken during the day time. Raccoons struggle to catch a bird outside of a run or coop.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I second the need for keeping them in a secure run while things get sorted.

 

[50-45-1]

It sounds to me like an owl or mink.
Coyote and fox would have taken the chicken and only left feathers.
Raccon, opossum, skunk, and hawks usually eat more than just the head.
What ever it is will keep coming.
Confine your chickens to a run, and put up a trail cam to figure out what you have.
Good luck!