rooster found killed. warning graphic pics. help?

[zybor]

so.. earlier today my rooster was acting like he always did

my rooster was one of a kind, he has never been able to crow, he just makes a small sound each time. and he is a good guardian to my hens and chicks, also gentle when jumping on my hens, så losing him was a big loss.

tonight when i went to check the chickens for the night, i couldn't find my rooster in the coop. i went outside to look for him, when i saw a pile of feathers everywhere under a bush. i then saw him laying 2 meters away from that. i could see that something had killed him. he was missing feathers from the back off his neck, and there is blood coming out of his mouth.
but i couldn't see any wounds on him, nothing. all that you see on the pics is all there is to see. i still dont know what killed him. plz if any of you have any idea of what could have done this plz tell me.
Ps. I have not noticed any sound coming from outside before i found him dead.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Any wounds on the back of his head, does his head feel crushed?
Possible cat sport kill, or fox.

 

[zybor]

Any wounds on the back of his head, does his head feel crushed?
Possible cat sport kill, or fox.

Thanks for the reply, i will try to test for that

 

[cmom]

Do you have a game camera you can put up? The predator will be back now that it has made a kill then you will know what you are dealing with. I have several cameras around on my property and see predators quite regularly on them.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I think it is weasel they will suck the blood also

 

[MysteryChicken]

This is a video showing a Bobcat, doing a Sport Killing.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thanks for the reply, i will try to test for that

Okay.

 

[WallyBirdie]

so.. earlier today my rooster was acting like he always did

View attachment 1933794

my rooster was one of a kind, he has never been able to crow, he just makes a small sound each time. and he is a good guardian to my hens and chicks, also gentle when jumping on my hens, så losing him was a big loss.

tonight when i went to check the chickens for the night, i couldn't find my rooster in the coop. i went outside to look for him, when i saw a pile of feathers everywhere under a bush. i then saw him laying 2 meters away from that. i could see that something had killed him. he was missing feathers from the back off his neck, and there is blood coming out of his mouth.
but i couldn't see any wounds on him, nothing. all that you see on the pics is all there is to see. i still dont know what killed him. plz if any of you have any idea of what could have done this plz tell me.
Ps. I have not noticed any sound coming from outside before i found him dead.

View attachment 1933802
View attachment 1933805
View attachment 1933807

I am so sorry for your loss.
I agree with @penny1960. Weasels are awful and often underestimated.

 

[cmom]

Several years ago I had a bobcat kill 14 birds. I set traps. It didn't come back the next night but did the following night and I caught it.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

This is a video showing a Bobcat, doing a Sport Killing.

Wow, that was terrible. Just watching the hens sit on the roost though while their coop mates got eaten... it reminds you of how defenseless these birds really are. I mean they literally just sat there, waiting their turn.