What eats JUST the head?

[tinychicky]

usually raccoons. was thebody pulled right up against the fence, with the head pulled through? that's a raccoon. i'm sorry for the loss of your rooster

 

[jacoblipford]

could be coons usually hawks take the whole bird possums are real bad about eating just the heads so either coon,weasel,possum. leaning more toward a possum

 

[mistymeadowchicks]

So sorry for the loss of your rooster--I'm interested in the comments you get since I had a similar loss this past January. It also happened mid-afternoon. Only her head was missing, w/ lots of feathers strewn around (I'm guessing from the fight?). There were handfuls of black & white fur that smelled of skunk mixed w/ the feathers. Do you think this was weasel (I've read on here that they also have a 'skunk' smell)? I can't imagine a clumsy skunk killing a healthy full-size free-ranging hen or being tough enough to chase off whatever killed her.

 

[p1gg1e]

All my head only attacks are always coons. Ive seen them in action. So wasteful!

 

[mstricer]

I'm going with an owl also.

 

[littleoak]

A weasel eats the head only. A coon eats different parts and tears up the body. A possum eats the entrails. Your pest is a weasel. They attack when they want to. If you are patient you can leave the body and watch from a distance. You can then shoot the weasel. Any other method is a waste of time or money. This weasel probably lives very close to, or under, your chicken house. He will be back.

 

[Desert Rooster]

Quote:
One that when it's discoverd what it is, it will be losing its own head or be SSS'ed

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

owls

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I am by no means a predator expert and I don't know where you are but I've heard this year in this area (south western Ontario, Canada - very cold, snowy winter) EVERYTHING is desperate, including the owls. They are hunting during the day and being far more obvious that usual. I know I have a load of desperate hawks around here. They are even taking cats. Nevertheless, I'm sorry for your loss and I hope you're able to relax again soon.

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

My dog killed a couple of chickens and only took the head. Would account for it being in the daytime too