What predator just takes the head?

[Forever Green]

We've had chickens for 2 years now, free range, and we lock them up in their coop at night. Each night before we lock up, we count, pet, and essentially put them to bed. We have had no casualties in over 2 years. A couple of weeks ago, my favorite hen, Jersey Giant wasn't in the coop. We searched our property (while we have 40 acres, our birds stay around the house). We found Jersey just beyond our compost pile, everything intact, except her head was bitten off. I've seen a couple of ferrol cats, a very small opposum, several ground hogs, hawks. coyotes, raccoons, fox. None of these animals are every seen by our house during daylight and are mostly in the far back of our property (except for hawks).

Any thoughts on what would take my Jersey's head and leave everything else behind intact? Of note, no other chickens have been hurt since.

 

[Cowgirl71]

According to this, it could of been an owl.

http://www.welphatchery.com/predator_diagnosis.asp

 

[MsPony]

According to my chicken vet, racoon.

 

[Bizzybirdy]

Racoons will tear off the head and sometimes leave the rest...depending on how hungry they are. I HATE racoons!

So sorry for your loss.

 

[Higins00]

I agree, I have had many racoons do this. Good thing is they are easy to trap!

 

[RedStarGrrl]

I've heard of raccoons doing this as well. I'm sorry it had to be your favorite hen, it always seems to happen that way.

 

[kressebigcreek]

Last night my son did not close the door/ramp to the chicken house. This morning there were 4 hens dead and drug out into the pasture in a line about 20 yards between each bird. The first one in line closest to the pond had it's head and neck completely eaten off. The other 3 were just dead.
Tonight I'm going to cage the rest of the birds inside the coop and set a trap right inside the opened door. Hope we catch the stinkin' jerk! What will it be? A coon, possum, or skunk? I'll keep ya posted! Lost my favorite 2 barred rocks, a brown americauna, and last years Cass County Jr. Livestock Assoc. Best in Show Buff Orpington. Barred rocks won the year before. Maybe my son will take better care of his FFA/4H projects now.

 

[carrlr]

Sorry for your loss. Why is it always the favorites!!??? I would say raccoon as well. Possums generally eat their guts. Unless disturbed Coyotes and Foxes will carry them off to eat away from the kill area. Mink, usually leave body intact but suck all the blood out.

 

[ErinG]

Quote:
What kind of raccoons do you have?? Send them our way! I have not found them easy to trap, they are too smart.

 

[carrlr]

Quote:
What kind of raccoons do you have?? Send them our way! I have not found them easy to trap, they are too smart.

Well, don't send them my way.....because I haven't found them too easy to trap. They can be pretty smart critters, especially if they've almost been caught in a particular trap.