Racoon or something else?

[Army farm girl]

Saturday morning at 2:30 I was woke up by my older chickens screaming. It took a few minutes to get to their pen and I found 12 out of 19 dead. Several heads were completely missing and the rest had head and crop eaten. They ranged in age 4 yrs to 9 wks. Luckily they didn't get to the baby pen with the 10 younger ones. I have had a trap set for the last 3 nights but nothing yet.
Coop and fenced run have since been turned into Fort Knox. Any ideas?

 

[lablover71]

Sounds like a raccoon. I've had this several times and I ended up catching them eventually. Make sure your trap is large enough for a large raccoon to enter comfortably. They can get pretty big and strong. I have the large Havahart cages and I usually use leftover from the kills. It's not pretty or easy but it works. Sardines work very well too but they have a very strong smell and could cause interest from other critters that aren't normally in your area. I'll bag up and put some of the remains in my freezer for extra bait (I have an extra freezer in my garage). I just had a kill the other night where something got in and ate on one of my setting hens and then left the carcass. I split those remains between two traps and ended up catching the young raccoon last night. Raccoons are pretty smart and if they think it is a trap and they don't feel comfortable they won't go in. I usually try to make the trap look like part of my coop set up or I place it in a bush that I create an opening in. Also make sure your trap closes tight and you might want to stabilize it with a stake or two because they can get wild and tip it and some trap doors will open up enough for them to squeeze out and escape. I place my bait in one end with a closed door and make the critter cross over the plate with only one door to shut behind it. I find that I loose less catches that way. In the meantime lock your survivors up tight at night because he'll keep coming back until they are all gone. Good luck!

 

[lablover71]

Culprit from two nights ago (I hope) in my trap this morning

 

[redsoxs]

Glad you got the bandit. Keep the trap handy - they seldom work alone!

 

[lablover71]

I agree. Traps are going to stay set for quite a while. Especially since this guy was young I imagine there are others in the family still around.