What could it be?

[chickenattack]

Two nights ago I had an attack and found 8 adult chickens dead. Checked again today and found 3 more dead. All were locked in a coop (found locked still) each time. The body was left untouched for the most part aside from the neck. One chicken seemed to have had its neck twisted though none of the heads were detached. All were killed in a similar manner with no parts eaten. What could this be? Of the 20 years, I have not seen anything like this has happen before which has left me feeling stumped as to what it could be. We have dealt with tree squirrels but that is all we tend to have around. If it helps, we are located in northern California.

Animal? Rodent? Human?

 

[Mehjr10]

Are there any holes or areas that something gained access?

No heads detached or blood?

Or obvious wound sites?

 

[chickenattack]

The strange thing is there isn't any visible holes or entry points. No heads were detached only the neck seemed injured. It just seemed like blood was drained but nothing wrong elsewhere on any of the bodies.

 

[Mehjr10]

Sounds like something or someone just wrung or broke their necks, can you tell how whatever gained entrance?

 

[chickenattack]

We've lived here and had coops here for 20 years with very little problems aside from squirrels and never saw anything like this before. We thought maybe it was someone's cruel joke. Called animal control just in case and they said they've never seen anything like it before and only suggested that we set up a cage to hopefully trap whatever it is.

No visible entry point aside from door but it is closed shut where one has to lift the tiny latch to insert into the circular nail hole. It was found still locked.

 

[Mehjr10]

It sure sounds like someone opened the door and wrung them.. Maybe a game camera or wireless cam strategically placed would be of assistance.

 

[chickenattack]

Possibly. I've been researching on a variety of predators but thought none of them really matched this case. It would be cruel if it ultimately was someone doing this. Not sure why anyone would do something so disgusting as this...

 

[Mehjr10]

The only two other things that come to mind would be a raccoon but if the door was shut after wards it would not be that, they can open a wide variety of latches. But they will usually eat the heads and appear to drink all the blood, in my experience. The other thing that comes to mind is a large constrictor but they would probably swallowed them and not left multiple birds dead.

 

[aart]

Weasel can fit thru a one inch hole, can kill multiples, kill at the neck and drink the blood.

Lots of feathers around?

 

[chickenattack]

No feathers around.