Quote:
Thanks for the input but believe me we've certainly searched high and low....it's not our first rodeo on raising chickens (just incubating them
). We've had chickens on and off on this property for over 30 years. We've lost some to predetors over those years, just never have seen anything like this. I'm not saying it wasn't a predator but there is no breach in the fencing, prints, only a couple drops of blood for 18 dead birds, all accounted for. And an empty trap....and we all know that the one thing that is a constant is that predators return. Yet this one hasn't even so much as touched the trail of bait to the trap in over a week.
But I hope you're right!
With heads missing and bodies in a pile I can only think of 4 things:
weasel: might not see tracks from, but they usually stock pile food underground.
skunk: will rip the heads off and leave the bodies, not sure if they pile them though.
raccoon: same as skunk, although sometimes they will eat more than just the heads.
fisher: relentless sport killer. They will rip chickens part just for fun, or for food. They are excellent jumpers & climbers, so you might not see any tracks from them either. Fisher don't typically go for bait in traps, as they are primarily hunters and will only scavenge if they have to. if this is your issue, then I suggest keeping any small pets secured until spring.
A friend of mine lost a bunch of chickens like this. They were neatly piled (or in a neat line, I forget). Come to find out, it was a mink that did it.
