What killed it?

[Yep I Talk To Chickens]

Hi, so I recently went on a camping trip. While I was gone I had no one to watch my chickens so I just left them with plenty of food and water. I also kept the small dore to the run open so they had acess to the run. (I was only gone for 3 days) when I came back I found a pile of bones in the coop. The head was gone, and there was no meat left on it. But it does smell. And there is a pile of feathers next to the body. I am thinkibg somthing came in during the night. I am thinking racoons because I have seen some around. But is a missing head consistent with a racoon attack? Anything is helpful thanks! ( I am currently setring box traps and looking for leg holds. I can only use live traps because I have barn cats.)

 

[STACEYH]

So sorry for your loss. An opossum killed my first flock , all had heads missing.

 

[McChooky]

Sorry for your loss. I suggest you install automatic doors that open at daylight and close at night if you get more chickens.It could save the whole flock.

 

[Yep I Talk To Chickens]

Sorry for your loss. I suggest you install automatic doors that open at daylight and close at night if you get more chickens.It could save the whole flock.

I am usually able to go out at night and close them the only reason I lefft it open was because of my trip. But thanks for your suggestion I will look into it!

 

[McChooky]

I am usually able to go out at night and close them the only reason I lefft it open was because of my trip. But thanks for your suggestion I will look into it!

Again I'm sorry for your loss.Anything unexpected can happen at anytime with anyone and end in disaster if you don't have automatic doors.I'm considering adding one myself and I never go anywhere.Its impossible to get someone else on short notice to let your chickens out or back in.This eliminates the stress of having to be home at those specific times.Hope this helps!

 

[cmom]

My suggestion would be to put up a camera and see what is lurking and that will most likely be the killer. They always come back after they have made a kill and then you will know for sure what you're dealing with. Good luck...

 

[Yep I Talk To Chickens]

I have put a camera up but not inside the coop I put it in the woods next to my coop. I have seen a coyote and several raccoons. I am guessing its a racoon that killed the most recent bird. Would a racoon take its head?

My suggestion would be to put up a camera and see what is lurking and that will most likely be the killer. They always come back after they have made a kill and then you will know for sure what you're dealing with. Good luck...

 

[cmom]

Not sure of your setup but if an owl can get to them an owl will take just the head.

 

[Yep I Talk To Chickens]

Not sure of your setup but if an owl can get to them an owl will take just the head.

I dont think this is the case becaise we have an enclosed coop for at night. (It has a roof, sides, the only opebibgs are the door for me to collect eggs, and the door where they go into the run) we found her body in the coop. From further inspection it looks like she was killed in the run but deagged into the enclosed coop. So I don't believe an owl is the culprit. But thank you for the suggestion!

 

[McChooky]

Hi, so I recently went on a camping trip. While I was gone I had no one to watch my chickens so I just left them with plenty of food and water. I also kept the small dore to the run open so they had acess to the run. (I was only gone for 3 days) when I came back I found a pile of bones in the coop. The head was gone, and there was no meat left on it. But it does smell. And there is a pile of feathers next to the body. I am thinkibg somthing came in during the night. I am thinking racoons because I have seen some around. But is a missing head consistent with a racoon attack? Anything is helpful thanks! ( I am currently setring box traps and looking for leg holds. I can only use live traps because I have barn cats.)

I agree with cmom not knowing your set up makes it impossible to say but sounds like an owl. Aerial predator can't carry a full size chicken as easily as bigger predators.They'll carry their prey in pieces back to their nest or eat the head and leave the rest .Owls don't limit hunting to nights