Predator got to my flock

[Phwaah]

Hey guys. Heartache this morning as I woke to find my flock all culled with their heads missing. I had 3 leghorn pullets and a australorp mother hen who just last week hatched 4 babies. Managed to find 2 chicks in the yard but the other 2 I assume were taken.

Don't want to post photos as I'm sure we all know what a decapitated chicken looks like. I was just wondering which animal has got to them. The chicken remains are left in my yard and just the head taken. Seems to be quite a fight as there are feathers everywhere. I do see a black cat outside my property from day to day, prehaps I need revenge on it.

Thanks. Rip my 4 beautiful girls

Edit: Forgot to add that I'm in Melbourne Australia. Suburban area.

 

[Tonyroo]

Sorry for loss. I'm not familiar with Australian wildlife, but a house cat wouldn't decapitate a chicken's head. Weasel like animals do that type of killing.

 

[Phwaah]

Sorry for loss. I'm not familiar with Australian wildlife, but a house cat wouldn't decapitate a chicken's head. Weasel like animals do that type of killing.

We don't have raccoons or weasels but we do have possums. They used to always mess up my veggie patch.

Is there a significant difference with a possum or owl? The girls were just out in the open and the chicks with the broody under a thick shrub.

 

[TropicalBabies]

So sorry, that is very tragic
I hope you fortify your coop and run and never have anything like this happen again. That would be the best revenge ever.

 

[TropicalBabies]

*** also a cat, feral or not would not go up against a healthy mother hen.

 

[Tonyroo]

We don't have raccoons or weasels but we do have possums. They used to always mess up my veggie patch.

Is there a significant difference with a possum or owl? The girls were just out in the open and the chicks with the broody under a thick shrub.

Owls will leave embedded claw marks cause of there talons, I don't think it's an owl. Possums are slow moving creatures the chickens can easily out run it.

 

[Tonyroo]

A dog can kill a chicken easily.

 

[Phwaah]

The mother hen has the head still intact but died to wounds. I'm guessing she fought off the predator and managed to keep 2 chicks alive. The headless girls were all at the foot of the fence in 3 corners of the yard where the mother hen was in the middle of the yard.

 

[Phwaah]

*** also a cat, feral or not would not go up against a healthy mother hen.

I guess revenge is off the table then

 

[TropicalBabies]

I guess revenge is off the table then

Maybe take it out on something else he he... or button up your coop and run so they can never touch again. I'd be pretty beat up and mad as hell if it were me.

I had the neighbors pack of hunting dogs hop my fence and try to get my then pullets but they could not get through my coop quick enough- they did try, it was dented to high heaven- my dog sounded and I was close by so we escaped the mess. I stayed up with a gun for at least a week waiting for them to come back and couldn't sleep well because of worry for months after that. If they had gotten through I would have taken my revenge for sure. But the worry and lack of sleep got to me first so I strengthened my fences and I sleep way better knowing they are pretty fricken safe now.
I don't have the predators many others have. We are almost 100% dog or human error here.