Name the predator: bird head found near my chicken run

[Honeybee22]

Today I was in my yard and found a little pile of down feathers, two little bloody bones, and a dove head just 8 feet from my chicken run. Super gross! But I'm wondering what animal did this? I read that it could be an owl? I know we have hawks, but determining whether or not we have owls is of course a little more difficult.

I'm thinking this happened during the day, because my dog goes with me in the mornings to let the chickens out and I'm fairly sure that she would have alerted me to it.

The remains were found under a mullberry tree. I thought that something may have been up there eating the bird and stuff just fell down, but the feathers and body parts were all pretty close together (6 inch radius). Seems like the down would have been more scattered if falling from the tree.

Very curious to know what predators might be around my chickens.

 

[WhiteWyan]

Probably a cat?

 

[CntryBoy777]

There are a bunch that it could be with it being a dove....from a house cat to a falcon, small hawk, or owl. Dove rest in trees, but they feed on the ground...so it is very difficult to determine without being there....since ya are in Idaho and I'm in Mississippi I am unfamiliar with the array of predators you may have there. The smaller the prey animal the larger the list becomes. Did ya see any tracks or marking of any kind?

 

[AllenK RGV]

My dogs don't alert me to things like that. They keep these treasures a secret and let the smell alert me after they have rolled in it.

Daytime pretty much means hawk or cat, since it was a small bird a hawk would probably taken it somewhere safer. I vote cat.

 

[Honeybee22]

I couldn't find any tracks. It's all dirt and didn't see any paw/foot prints.

Our backyard is pretty much a buffet for any predator. This is one of the big reasons we don't free range our birds. Besides the ringneck doves we have house finchs and a crazy amount of quails... Not to mention some field mice, squirrels, and toads... It could be anything.

From the ground, I would say this spot was a pretty open and visible place. I figured a cat would take it to a more secure place, but who knows. We do have a few cats that show up from time to time.

 

[The Angry Hen]

Raccoons decapitate from what I've heard. Although I'd be surprised if a coon got a dove in particular... It can range anywhere from a bird of prey (most likely a mammal though) to the slightest unexpected predator... I am taking a guess it's most likely a cat or an owl. Be sure to keep your chickens even safer than normal. Good luck, God bless!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Today I was in my yard and found a little pile of down feathers, two little bloody bones, and a dove head just 8 feet from my chicken run. Super gross! But I'm wondering what animal did this? I read that it could be an owl? I know we have hawks, but determining whether or not we have owls is of course a little more difficult.

I'm thinking this happened during the day, because my dog goes with me in the mornings to let the chickens out and I'm fairly sure that she would have alerted me to it.

The remains were found under a mullberry tree. I thought that something may have been up there eating the bird and stuff just fell down, but the feathers and body parts were all pretty close together (6 inch radius). Seems like the down would have been more scattered if falling from the tree.

Very curious to know what predators might be around my chickens.

Regarding Owl's my only experience with them is the regurgitated hair and bone balls I find laying about in random places.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm guessing cat.

 

[Honeybee22]

Cats I can deal with. My dog loves chasing them out of the yard. If anyone says "Damn cat" she goes bonkers! But I will be keeping an eye out for any owl pellets. Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[imnukensc]

Doubt it was an owl. The first thing an owl goes for on a bird is the brains.