What killed my guinea??

[pine knoll farm]

Yesterday I had 6 guinea, today I have one...
After searching the grounds, I found one carcass.
The only things left were the head, feet, guts and some feathers???
I've looked at what some of the predators do to their prey. This one I cannot find.
Can any one help identify this culprit??

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

If they disappeared at night, I'd suspect an owl is the culprit. Especially if they were roosting outside...

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The only things left were the head, feet, guts and some feathers???
I've looked at what some of the predators do to their prey...

I doubt that we are dealing with an owl because they normally leave behind the fully articulated body of their victims much as a hawk would.

Don't jump to conclusions (that's my job) but from your description it almost seems like a hind footed

predator is to blame.

 

[pine knoll farm]

That's a good suspicion, but they generally roost in very thick brushy area. And the carcass was found out in the open.
It's very possible though. Is this indicative of the way an owl leaves it's prey?

 

[pine knoll farm]

What sort of hind footed creature leaves these tell tale signs? I can't find any matches.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Is this indicative of the way an owl leaves it's prey?

No. But owls typically land on the roost and then inch or force their victim off their perch. When the chicken (or guinea) hits the ground in darkness the prey is totally helpless. Then is when the silent killed flies down on it from above. The head is usually the first morsel consumed and the body is usually found laying on its back.

I have seen cases of positive owl predation contrary to this but this scenario is the usual one.

As the owl forces the chicken to the end of its rope you will usually hear a considerably racket of panicked and piercing chicken screams.

This is when Annie needs to get her.... uh.... slingshot.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

What sort of hind footed creature leaves these tell tale signs? I can't find any matches.

Homo Erectus

 

[pine knoll farm]

I'm positive that's not the case.