What killed my rooster?

[Lenihan Farms]

So I let my chickens out at about 8 this morning, when I came back at 10 my large white rooster was right by the coop door dead (they are free range and I put them in at night). The weird thing was his placement, no feathers were disturbed but his head was clean off and placed right next to him. But there was no blood as if it were sucked out of him. We do have a lot of predators near us but we have never seen anything like this. Does anyone have any ideas? I llive in the Sierra Mountains, and we have over 100 chickens so we want to know what predator we need to protect against so we dont lose any more.

 

[SilverBirds]

Thinking maybe a hawk, bobcat, or owl.

 

[Lenihan Farms]

So we ruled out any aerial predator.We found another rooster INSIDE the coop the exact same, no hawk or owl would be able to enter this. Head completely off but left next to the carcass, again no blood and no other injury on the bird. We are extremely confused and concerned for the rest of our flock.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I don’t have any idea but wanted to say I’m so sorry for your losses
Hope you find the predator so you don’t loose any more birds

 

[BlueBaby]

Did you check around for any foot print's to help to give you a clue? Could a neighbor that doesn't like the crowing roosters have done it to silence them?

 

[LizGio]

Weasel?

 

[Isadora]

Raccoons are known for removing heads but typically they eat them. That's awfully strange.

 

[LizGio]

Raccoons are known for removing heads but typically they eat them. That's awfully strange.

That's what I was thinking. And the daytime?

 

[Isadora]

That's what I was thinking. And the daytime?

Raccoons are known for being more active at night but I see them out during the day on a regular basis.

 

[TOR]

Id go with a weasel or mink, possibly a rat. Check the other chickens for any bites around the back of the neck.
Whatever it is will be back, Set up a game camera.
.