Not a predator - rather a killer!

[zazouse]

Quote:
What is a GHO?

I have seen this very thing from an owl.

 

[WillieBoy]

GHO = Great Horned Owl....sound like a raccoon to me...

 

[Robo]

It is a coon. That happened to my marans a few years back. Darn thing, he was blown to kingdom come and then some. Sorry I am, just mad at him. RIP Popeye.

 

[ivan3]

Sorry about Mary (fine looking hen

) Don't bother guessing. Get a couple of live traps and keep them baited: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=232969

Scatter some flour around coop or, wet down a low area near coop until it is muddy and place a nearly empty can of cat food/tuna in center and check for tracks.

Good luck!

 

[berkeleysprings]

use a night vision camera ,film the rat (racoon i think) then kill him or her or it .

 

[TheSitcomGirls]

Skunks around here take just the heads and leave the rest. They also hunt at night.

 

[Ivywoods]

A number of varmints will take the head off. Raccoons, most often, but sometimes possums, skunks and yes, any number of owls will do this.

Bobcat? No. Bobcats take their prey, drag them into the woods or wherever their hiding places are, and devour them incognito.

 

[sewingca]

Thanks all for your comments and condolances. We are going to get a night vision camera. There is a neighborhood kitty who might set off the trap, so we will wait a bit to see what's out there at night. We have fencing all around our compound with trees in and around. Do 'possoms climb? Do raccoons or weasels climb? There's been no digging or fence ripping. All our fence is buried. We are being extra vigilant to close up at night plus we are opening up the coop just at daylight rather than when DH leaves for his shift and it is still dark. I leave when I like 'cause I own my business (and stay later at work!), so now I'm trekking down to the coop in record cold! I don't want to lose another baby in this fashion!

 

[bobbi-j]

Possums, coons and weasels all climb. Weasels don't need a very big space to get in, so they don't necessarily have to climb. What size mesh is your fence?

 

[Wifezilla]

Two things that will take just the head....
Hawk & Great Horned Owl.

Ask me how I know????

I have BOTH of these in the burbs. The hawk attacks at dusk. The owls, between 3 and 5 am.