- Thread starter
- #11
JessMay
Songster
We found the night time killer. Whole bunch of raccoons that are jumping from a tree, to the roof of the shed and then inside the run. We’re fixing it up within the next few days. HUGE coons and a family of them too. Also, I found the big thing that comes out during the day. Do you know what this thing is? It has a big fluffy tail. Too big to be a groundhogThese are all daytime kills? Condition of carcass was as of time of kill, or over period of day or so.....or at least overnight?
Still don't think mink (they rip heads off, but will kill a whole lot more than 1 or 2, and don't stop to strip the carcass). Also doubt fisher, as you don't have those in IL.
Candidates for ripping heads off and eating some breast would be coons, which are ALWAYS suspect, as they are responsible for such a high percentage of losses overall. But they normally operate at night. Not always, but normally. Owls will also rip heads off and eat crops......and other varmints will help clean up the mess. That also looks like a possum has been helping out. Same with skunks. But all that is normally done at night.
Hawks will kill birds and eat some breast meat......leaving a pile of feathers and carcass where they did the deed. Daytime. A fox or bobcat can snatch a free range bird during daylight hours and disappear with it. And often come back for more.
Nothing sounds consistent with a single predator. So I agree, you got a lot going on and they may be working in concert against you.
Holes and tunnels could still be rats, gophers or do you have ground squirrels? Of those, only rats are a threat. The rest might be bait attracting some of your predators.....who dine on rodents.....and chickens alike.