Turkeys Attacked

[ChickenFarmerIStillLoveU]

Hi,
I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what happened to our turkeys last night:

We have 6 narragansett turkeys in a coop about 16x20, they were about 4 months old, and looked/acted VERY healthy.
This morning, 4 of the 6 were dead in the coop. Something apparently bit their heads off. The bodies were still in the coop. There is a 5th turkey that's injured, not sure he's going to make it. The 6th bird seems fine, but is lonely

The coop is fenced in 2x3 coated wire, and nothing dug under the sides anywhere.

Any ideas what it could have been?


ETA: whatever it was also ate quite a bit of turkey feed. The 12# hanging feeder was about 3/4 full last night, and it's empty this morning.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Owls will eat only the head. 'possums and coons will also but alot of times they eat the guts as well. Since it ate the feed as well I would think the last two more than likely. Whatever did it will be back you can count on that. You have to either take the food source away (lock the turkeys up at night) and/or put some traps out.

Steve

 

[Frosty]

Was the pen covered or open on the top? I know racoons will climb, although my experience with that they didn't just take the head off. They ripped my ducks apart and scattered body pieces everywhere. Also, if the pen was covered and the turkeys stuck their heads out a racoon would take the heads off. If covered and nowhere for a racoon to enter, maybe rats? Look for tunnels next to the building.

 

[Plain_View_Farm]

If 8 lbs of feed are gone I'd think more than one critter. Could it have been a family of Coon? Teaching the kids the ropes so to speak...
I ended up putting electric fence wire around the top of all my pens to deter raccoons. I was losing birds weekly.

David

 

[ChickenFarmerIStillLoveU]

The coop is covered, and racoons and possum are fairly common around here.
We're going to set traps tonight, and we'll put the remaining turkey (hopefully two) into an extra large pet carrier for the night.

 

[Plain_View_Farm]

If you have anything left of the carcasses that might make for good bait.
From what I've heard once a coon gets a taste for Poultry they will go out of there way to find it again.
So keep that in mind if your planning on re-homing what you mght catch.

Good luck,
David

 

[ChickenFarmerIStillLoveU]

Another question:

The turkey that was injured but still living, is still alive. I went home at lunchtime to check on him. I put him in isolation, with an old towel for bedding and some fresh water. He was fairly easy to pick up. When I picked him up, there were no obvious injuries, however, he was hobbling a bit when he tried to walk.
Other than isolating him, what can I do to help him recover?

Thanks!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Make sure he is eating and drinking. I'd hard boil a couple eggs, crush them up and feed to him. Ours love them the yokes most of all

Steve

 

[ChickenFarmerIStillLoveU]

Thanks Steve, We will try that! I appreciate your help!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Hopefully he will be ok. they are pretty tough when it comes to injuries and heal fast. Hope you catch your predator.

Steve