What killed my Buff Brahma???

[jeepgrrl]

Hello everyone! I am a new member to this forum and new to raising chickens since April, 2017. I haven't had any issues with my girls until yesterday...something killed my beloved Feather Feet (her name wasn't very original, I know). This was a daytime attack. We have ~ 1.75 acres fenced in with 5' no climb fencing so I can't really picture any ground predators (fox, coyote, bobcat, coons, possum, skunk, etc.) getting in during the day. I'm not 100% sure, but I think Feather Feet was attacked around 11am, when I heard a loud squawk that caught my attention. I looked out the window and didn't see anything unusual, but with the trees towards the back corner of the property its hard to see. I just shrugged it off as the girls having another squabble over something to eat. At any rate, it was a little later in the day when I went out to feed the girls some grapes and blueberries, and I couldn't find Feather Feet. She was one of those hens that usually wandered off by herself and was always the last one in the coop at night, so I figured she was towards the back of the property in the weeds again. I found poor Feather Feet right up next to the fence, with her head missing. There wasn't any blood or loose feathers or anything! Later that evening towards dusk I saw a large bird flying over that exact spot - I couldn't tell if it was an owl or a hawk. I know that hawks are notorious daytime predators but the loss of Feather's head and apparent exsanguination makes me think it wasn't a hawk. Do mink/weasles attack during the day? I know this is the price they pay when we free range our girls, but now I am thinking of getting a LGD. I am heartbroken that I couldn't protect Feather Feet...I have spent a boat-ton of money to fortify their coop/run like Fort Knox and I still lost her...and the darn thing didn't even eat her, just stole her head and drank her blood! What a waste! Any thoughts would be welcome!

 

[Zoomie]

Yes, mink or weasel are active during the day and could have done this. I will also point out that a 5' fence will absolutely not deter any of the animals you mentioned, with the possible exception of skunks. I've even seen dogs climb fences when they were determined to get over it, but I doubt this was a dog. I would say either weasel (or that family) or raccoon. Please be careful now, because whatever it was will no doubt be back. Unfortunately.

And by the way, welcome to BYC!

 

[theuglychick]

Im not certain of what predators you have around, but a missing head could be a raccoon, mink or weasel, or a horned owl.

The time of day is a little strange, but not inheard of for some especially opportunistic, brazen, or desperate predators. But most of the predators suggested are naucturnal or crepuscular.

Here's a link that you may find useful:

http://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/poultry/chicken-coops-housing/what-killed-my-chicken/

 

[christwodog]

You would be surprised what can get over/thru a fence to get at a chicken. I am sorry for your loss, I know how bad that feels, especially when you do everything you can to protect them.

 

[theuglychick]

Good to know about the minks and weasels!

Yes, mink or weasel are active during the day and could have done this. I will also point out that a 5' fence will absolutely not deter any of the animals you mentioned, with the possible exception of skunks. I've even seen dogs climb fences when they were determined to get over it, but I doubt this was a dog. I would say either weasel (or that family) or raccoon. Please be careful now, because whatever it was will no doubt be back. Unfortunately.

And by the way, welcome to BYC!

 

[rjohns39]

Hello everyone! I am a new member to this forum and new to raising chickens since April, 2017. I haven't had any issues with my girls until yesterday...something killed my beloved Feather Feet (her name wasn't very original, I know). This was a daytime attack. We have ~ 1.75 acres fenced in with 5' no climb fencing so I can't really picture any ground predators (fox, coyote, bobcat, coons, possum, skunk, etc.) getting in during the day. I'm not 100% sure, but I think Feather Feet was attacked around 11am, when I heard a loud squawk that caught my attention. I looked out the window and didn't see anything unusual, but with the trees towards the back corner of the property its hard to see. I just shrugged it off as the girls having another squabble over something to eat. At any rate, it was a little later in the day when I went out to feed the girls some grapes and blueberries, and I couldn't find Feather Feet. She was one of those hens that usually wandered off by herself and was always the last one in the coop at night, so I figured she was towards the back of the property in the weeds again. I found poor Feather Feet right up next to the fence, with her head missing. There wasn't any blood or loose feathers or anything! Later that evening towards dusk I saw a large bird flying over that exact spot - I couldn't tell if it was an owl or a hawk. I know that hawks are notorious daytime predators but the loss of Feather's head and apparent exsanguination makes me think it wasn't a hawk. Do mink/weasles attack during the day? I know this is the price they pay when we free range our girls, but now I am thinking of getting a LGD. I am heartbroken that I couldn't protect Feather Feet...I have spent a boat-ton of money to fortify their coop/run like Fort Knox and I still lost her...and the darn thing didn't even eat her, just stole her head and drank her blood! What a waste! Any thoughts would be welcome!

I'm so sorry for your loss Missing head is almost always the work of an aerial predator (hawk by day, owl by night), that said, could she have had her head outside the fence? I'm not sure what a no climb fence is. If her head was outside the fence, then it could be just about anything. Again, so sorry for your loss.

 

[Zoomie]

Good to know about the minks and weasels!

Yeah, we actually drove over a weasel one day, about 1 in the afternoon, on the way to the store... We sure tried not to but he just dived right under the tires. I think he was after prairie dogs.

 

[Lauren Kim]

How sad! I am pretty sure that it was a hawk, chickens are very yummy to them.

 

[Angry chipmunk]

I lost two the same way, right up against the fence, heads gone. We kept watch and it turned out to be a raccoon. He had an unfortunate run in with a 12 gauge and hasnt been a problem.

 

[Sara Ranch]

*hugs*