Weasles

[Folly's place]

If your birds were in their coop and run, it's not predator proof enough. If they were outside, they need to be confined safely until this issue is resolved.
Generally weasels are much more efficient killers, and take multiple birds if possible. I suppose that this could have been a very inept youngster though.
A raptor might have tried and failed, and then the plan is to keep the flock inside for two weeks or so, until the offending hawk leaves.
Setting a game camera out there will be very helpful!
Meat will trap any carnivore, including the neighbor's pet cats.
Have a plan for what to do with any varmit you actually catch first! In most of the USA, relocating foxes, opossums, and foxes, at least is illegal. So, it's trap and shoot, or don't trap at all.
Good luck!
Mary

 

[Quiggy]

If your birds were in their coop and run, it's not predator proof enough. If they were outside, they need to be confined safely until this issue is resolved.
Generally weasels are much more efficient killers, and take multiple birds if possible. I suppose that this could have been a very inept youngster though.
A raptor might have tried and failed, and then the plan is to keep the flock inside for two weeks or so, until the offending hawk leaves.
Setting a game camera out there will be very helpful!
Meat will trap any carnivore, including the neighbor's pet cats.
Have a plan for what to do with any varmit you actually catch first! In most of the USA, relocating foxes, opossums, and foxes, at least is illegal. So, it's trap and shoot, or don't trap at all.
Good luck!
Mary

They're all free range in my yard, including turkeys ducks and goats, I left the door open to where she was which was ignorant on my part. So just keep them all inside their houses until I catch it?

 

[roosterhavoc]

They're all free range in my yard, including turkeys ducks and goats, I left the door open to where she was which was ignorant on my part. So just keep them all inside their houses until I catch it?

Do you have a picture of the bird? That’s not a small feat for a weasel. That would be pretty easy for a raccoon though.

 

[roosterhavoc]

This is her currently. Shes still a chick. But she lost one of her legs so shes much smaller than the others.

Hmm. Does kinda look like a weasel or a mink. How did she lose the leg? Where about do you live? State or country is fine. Weasels are much more prevalent in northern states.

 

[Quiggy]

Smaller and moving slower will make her a preferred target for any predator! Do keep your chickens inside until this one is eliminated, if possible.
Poor girl!
Mary

Okay I will put them away. I feel very bad, I left the door open like I had before, I never thought it would happen. I'm new to homesteading so I guess its a learning curve.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Legally you can really only set cage traps in Mass but rat traps in a box work too. Bloody fresh meat works best for weasels and mink.
Sometimes they can be easy to catch but they can sometimes be impossible.
If you’re gonna free range birds it would help a ton if you trapped around your yard or even better allow someone else to do it that knows what they’re doing.

 

[Quiggy]

Legally you can really only set cage traps in Mass but rat traps in a box work too. Bloody fresh meat works best for weasels and mink.
Sometimes they can be easy to catch but they can sometimes be impossible.
If you’re gonna free range birds it would help a ton if you trapped around your yard or even better allow someone else to do it that knows what they’re doing.

Okay I'll definitely put traps around. I'll call and exterminator or wildlife control. I didn't know ours classified as free range sense they're in the yard, but that helps to know. Thank you!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Do a Google search for your state’s trappers association. They may have a list available of licensed trappers to help you. These are experienced individuals who probably have the equipment, scents, and bait to specifically target the predators lurking around your flock. That is my best advice. They may be able to identify tracks in the area (take photos of any odd tracks you see for now maybe?). Get yourself a game camera to put outside the pen or a nest cam to help identify the potential predators.