What Kind of Predator?

[Ghostnuke]

I came home yesterday and found one of my flock missing. Something had moved away the bricks I had lining the bottom of the fence and lifted up the chicken wire. I am assuming they just pulled the bird on through the chain link as there was no damage to that.

There was very little blood, I only found a few drops on one of the bricks. The only other evidence was a few feathers, I tried to track them but didn't find any other parts/corpse. I did find this pile of crap nearby, can anyone identify it?

I know there are foxes and coyotes around, I've seen them occasionally, but the way the chicken wire was lifted up makes me think of something with more dexterous paws like a raccoon?

 

[sourland]

I'm going to guess coon.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Don't know where you live, but coon or possum poop comes to mind.

 

[Ghostnuke]

Sorry, I live in Kansas. Right in the middle of town no less!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Sorry, I live in Kansas. Right in the middle of town no less!

Still vote coon and/or possums, sorry. We live in the middle of New Orleans and have these as well as coyotes and others.

 

[pawprint2104]

Looks and sounds like a raccoon kill. Although, I'm surprised you didn't find your bird nearby. It's my understanding Raccoons don't typically carry their prey away.

 

[Ghostnuke]

I've got a big live trap set so far (havaheart?). If that doesn't work I'll get some of those Duke dog proof traps. Will be adding more chicken wire flared out from the bottom of the fence, with big rocks on top as well.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I came home yesterday and found one of my flock missing. Something had moved away the bricks I had lining the bottom of the fence and lifted up the chicken wire.... I know there are foxes and coyotes around, I've seen them occasionally, but the way the chicken wire was lifted up makes me think of something with more dexterous paws like a raccoon?

If a fox or coyote ever gets its nose and head under the fence wire, then the rest of the varmite is sure to follow.

I fell asleep in my chicken pen one day and when I woke there were two coons there discussing what to do with any chicken that they caught. The coons decided to eat my chicken where the coons caught it because if they took my hen back to the 40 acre woods then the coyote and fox would surely steal the chicken from the coons.

Just like there is no honor between thieves, likewise there is no sharing among chicken predators.