The way the victim was handled it looks like a young raccoon or two that was not overly hungry did the deed. The like to role victim around slobbering over it as gnawing.
Be prepared to catch more than one.
First line of defense should be upgrading your bird containment, especially if you find yourself with trap-wise coon. Get birds enclosed somehow before dark and put you traps where the critter(s) will be trying to get a birds. I make so birds sleep at least a foot beyond where coon can reach. If possible make so you can hear birds either with open window or baby monitor. I used to have flashlight and light rifle or even a ball bat for driving critter off. Best method is a dog but a properly positioned hotwire can also keep them out. Also make so you do not have a lot of uneaten feed out as that attracts the varmints in and chickens are just secondary targets.
Be prepared to catch more than one.
First line of defense should be upgrading your bird containment, especially if you find yourself with trap-wise coon. Get birds enclosed somehow before dark and put you traps where the critter(s) will be trying to get a birds. I make so birds sleep at least a foot beyond where coon can reach. If possible make so you can hear birds either with open window or baby monitor. I used to have flashlight and light rifle or even a ball bat for driving critter off. Best method is a dog but a properly positioned hotwire can also keep them out. Also make so you do not have a lot of uneaten feed out as that attracts the varmints in and chickens are just secondary targets.
