What attacks like this? Graphic pic

[comerrick]

You know I thought we didn't have armadillos up here but just a couple of months ago, it was road kill. Then I saw another one moving around a week later. Hmmmm Interesting.
Thanks everyone. I am going to go with Hawk.
Lov
Liv

 

[kinardmommy]

We live in the burbs also and we have quite a racoon problem. I have to put heavy weight on my garbage can lid to keep them from digging and making quite a mess. They multiply very fast and are very sneaky little things. Our coons wait until dark and start making their rounds all around the neighborhood tearing up stuff. It is likely if there are some around you could have never seen them.

We put out scraps at night and "bait them up" and wait for them to come. They have very good noses and it doesn't take long. While they are eating we spotlight them and shoot them. So far we have killed eight and our neighbors give us a pat on the back. We all hate them and you always have to wonder if they are rabid.

 

[dixygirl]

Oh your poor baby. I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[ridder]

We just lost 3 of our buffs ...caught an owl eyeing them up the next evening. 2 of the chickens had their head and neck missing. My husband says this is what owls do when they kill. Sorry for your loss...

 

[chickypoo]

I say skunk, that exact same thing happened to my friends rooster and they saw the culprit waddling off.

 

[CritterHill]

Quote:
I was told to put ammonia in the bottom of the can to keep the raccoons from opening and digging through it. Seemed to work for us! Those suckers can get ANYTHING open!

 

[alalele]

Your picture threw my blood pressure through the roof! I recently had the same experience with a murdered pet chicken and the culprit was in deed a cat. It wasn't decapitated though, but still similar.

I SAW the cat with the carcass and have previously and since chased the same cat stalking my babies in their fairly well protected run.

The initial (& fatal) attack from the cat appeared to have been grabbed from the front of the neck and dragged. She had a broken leg and that thigh and breast meat had been devoured (obviously post mortem) on my property because the cat couldn't leave with it because of my fenced yard. I am still furious and have since bought a cage trap from harbor freight for 20 bucks. If I catch it, it's going to the pound pronto especially since the 'owners' called it a stray (yeah right... it is one of the lone surviving kittens from their unfixed momma cat... enough said on that issue).

I'd like to get a copy of the predator list too. My run is better now but not Fort Knox yet... I've found 2 of my beloved hens out again (they like to perch HIGH and I've since seen them fly up flapping wings and knocked the tarp covering loose at a corner and then flew out... thank God they were fine but it is SO scary especially after losing one so tragically. Now I have a roll of chicken wire for the top of the dog kennel in addition to the hardware cloth at the bottom to keep digging critters out. I had no idea they could Fly THAT high... it's amazing! But I don't want to clip wings, instead I'll make my run into an aviary covered run.

I'm so sorry for what has happened to you... and I know it is devastating and isn't easy to soon forget, but use that energy to figure out how to best protect your flock. That's all we can do, except for catching the predator once and for all. The only other predators I've sighted in my area are hawks, owls and a black rat snake... but in my case I SAW the cat laying there like a LION with it's kill after the feast. I think if you have raccoons, you will see them around... and I thought a hawk or owl will fly OFF with it's prey... but I'm not an expert. This is my first season having chickens. I read something about a martin???? that decapitates the head, but I don't know what a martin is... anybody????

 

[chickmamawannabe]

When you find a bird dead inside an enclosure with its head and crop missing, your visitor was a raccoon. If the head and back of the neck are missing, suspect a weasel or mink. If the head and neck are missing, and feathers are scattered near a fence post, the likely perp is a great horned owl.

I found this on backyard poultry's website.

 

[KKluckers]

I havent read threw all the post, but we have had problems with Skunks.

 

[wyliefarms]

We have had oppossums do that before. I have caught them in the act.

Sorry about your loss.

In our flock it always seems the "pets" to the kids are the ones who get munched.