Something killed our rabbit

[Midnight_Moon]

Ok, I know that this is a chicken forum, but I need predator help as I feel our chickens are now at risk. Our show-quality mini-lop (just won best of show - my 11 year old shows him too

)was killed visciously overnight. It was eaten in the neck and chest area to the bone, but the entrails were untouched. I am now worried about our hens. Whatever it was left them alone but we did find them all huddled in a corner so I think they saw it.

We live in what I would call rural suburbs. The predators I suspect are possibly a dog (but no sure how it would get in our yard since we are fully fenced) a cat (could climb the fence but could it really kill and eat a rabbit?) a hawk (we have seen them, but this happened at night - do hawks night hunt?) or a raccoon (not sure if they eat rabbits and I have never seen one around but our neighbor reports seeing them around in the past).

Any ideas? I'd sure like to know so that we can keep our hens safe from whatever it is! They have a nicely secured coop to sleep in, but they free-range all day.

 

[texasgal]

I'm sorry ..

Was the rabbit caged? Coons DO love rabbit, but will usually tear them apart to get them out of the cage, and many times leave nothing but the skull.

Again, sorry.

 

[Soccer Mom]

The most likely suspect I can think of is raccoon. They do live in suburban areas. A cat probably couldn't take down a mature mini-lops. I have mini lops and they push the cats around.

Unless you find a hole under then fence, I doubt it could be a dog.


So sorry about your bun.

 

[wjallen05]

I am so sorry! What a terrible thing to have happen. It could have been a weasel or a mink. I wouldn't think it would have been a dog or a cat. Deffinetly not a hawk (but I could be wrong). Was the rabbit close to your house? Most preditors won't come near a house. Try keeping a light on outside during the night, that might help. And I'd put out some live animal traps. We had a skunk that kept coming around trying to mess with the chickens. My dog would always chase it away but I can't tell you how many times she got sprayed. Finnaly it got into the fence with my goats and Pyrenees and my female Pyr killed it.
Good luck.

 

[gypsy2621]

possum.
this happened to a friend of mine and devistated the body just as you explained.

 

[TammyTX]

My cat catches and eats rabbits but not in the way you described.

 

[Bird Brain]

Had a possum snack on a few chicks. Found feet of one and feet and partial abdomen of another. One chick we found only feathers.

 

[Midnight_Moon]

Thanks for the replies. The bunny had a cage with a door that he hopped in and out of so he could access the yard - except at night when he was secured...but on this night we were out late and didn't secure him before we left, nor the chickens.

So yeah, he was easy prey. It has been so hot here that I have let everyone stay out free-ranging as long as possible rather than coop them up early when our mini-barn (where they all sleep at night) is still roasting from the afternoon sun! I never expected anything would come in our yard and eat him. We've learned that you can't slack on livestock security even in the suburbs.

 

[Chickerdeedoo]

The best place to keep rabbits in inside your house. We have two, and they stay inside all the time, with full run of wherever they want to go (no cage at all). Outside, not only can they fall prey to predators, but they can also catch diseases and eat things that are not good for them.
(Sorry about your bun.)