Predator attack !!!!!

[dotsonshine]

I found one of my 6 week old chicks dead in the middle of the day. She her head was ripped off. All that was left was her headless body. Any clue what did this? I could not tell my dog cased it of before I could see it. I am guessing it was a racoon

 

[nuthatched]

Where was it? In a coop or run? In the yard?

 

[dotsonshine]

In the Run

 

[Aunt Angus]

Sounds like a raccoon. I'm so sorry...

 

[ashcons]

What do you use for run-covering material? That MO sounds like a raccoon to me too - they like to reach their grubby paws in through chicken wire or welded wire to grab chickens that get close enough, then gnaw the head off. Hardware cloth (1/4" or 1/2") prevents that.

Coons got a big, free PR campaign from Disney. They're nasty, though.

 

[dotsonshine]

What do you use for run-covering material? That MO sounds like a raccoon to me too - they like to reach their grubby paws in through chicken wire or welded wire to grab chickens that get close enough, then gnaw the head off. Hardware cloth (1/4" or 1/2") prevents that.

Coons got a big, free PR campaign from Disney. They're nasty, though.

The holes are bigger than that. Recently we have started putting up 1/4 of a inch hardware cloth. I guess we need to finish that.

 

[neo71665]

My bet is coon or possum.