Need help to identify the predator

[pacnu]

We've lost two small chickens recently to something that made no noise, ate the heads and necks but left the bodies and left no tracks. It's been raining like mad here and mud is everywhere. The attacks have happened right up next to the house. I live in woods though. I thought raccoon, hawk or owl maybe. Today the attacker left this behind. Now I think I have a vicious rabbit on the loose. Anyone know what left this? Do I need to start looking for holy hand grenades?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Rabbits are vegetarians. The feces doesn't have to be related to the predator.
Raccoons are always a suspect.
Was it at night? If so, it doesn't matter if it was near the house. At night they all are everywhere.
Maybe this thread may help.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/18670/poultry-predator-identification

 

[pacnu]

This was during the day today. The rabbit was a Monty Python reference.

I had searched for pics of raccoon scat and this didn't match anything that was coming up. Of course it doesn't match the hawk or owl pellet pics either.

 

[junebuggena]

Those were not left by the predator killing your birds. Looks like deer or rabbit pellets.

I would suspect something like martin, weasel, or raccoon is getting your birds.

 

[kellyhubb]

I am so sorry for your loss Perhaps you might benefit from using PoultryDVM's Predator Identifier Tool.

 

[yabigolchicken]

More than likely a possum. They will kill and eat the head leaving the remainder behind.

 

[loujeany]

last week a friend of ours watched a hawk come down and take the head right off one of his chickens. with it being during the daytime and you living near the woods i would have them as a prime suspect. its not 100pct but normally a possum, coon, owl or mink will get them at night. Coyote and fox will usually take them with them or eat a lot more than the head unless they were run off.

 

[pacnu]

I know there are owls, raccoons and possums around but I've never seen any of them out at noon.

Hawk it must be. Haven't seen any of them around here. Anyone know if putting up fake owls will help deter them?

 

[hayley3]

Someone posted a picture of a hawk sitting and resting on top of a fake owl, so that's a no.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Hawks can and do actively prey on owls. So besides being ineffective as a hawk deterrent, a faux owl may even troll up more hawks, at least the hawks that make a living by killing chickens.