What Predator Plays Mind Games???

[rodriguezpoultry]

OK. So I randomly lost a silkie hen from a safe rabbit hutch. I'm ASSUMING one of the top boards was blown off by a storm that came through that night.

That happened on the 4th of July. I am JUST NOW finding clumps of feathers. It is not windy.

There are new clumps of feathers where there were no feathers last night.

What animal is playing mind games with me? It's like the thing is DARING me to catch it?

I am still assuming cat...as to me, it makes the most sense. My reasons?

1. The space was large enough for a small cat to get into.
2. The entire bird was taken...no feathers, blood, etc. at all.
3. NONE of my birds that are larger than 3lbs. have been taken or even messed with.

I have tried trapping...no good? It doesn't come around even when we hide, REALLY well. Apparently it's not scared of human scent either. Or of radios...or of fans.

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

possum?

 

[saddina]

Usually a cat will take home a kill, what about weasels or small foxes?

It sounds to me like it was caught, killed and stashed for a snack later, which isn't a cat pattern of kill/bring home/eat.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

But why is the predator bringing it back to the scene of the crime instead of eating it at home and leaving it?

I debated fox as well, but no fox could have gotten onto the top of the rabbit hutch. It's 6.5 feet tall?

If it were a weasel, I would have gotten cleaned out of the other two birds inside of the same compartment of the hutch (right?)

 

[Imp]

Could the Silkie have gotten out on the 4th and just now got killed?

Imp

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

No possible way, but I looked down that venue also...for that "just in case" factor that always seems to happen.

The board that was moved on top was 3 feet from the top and was very narrow. My silkies were too dumb to roost much less see straight up and figure out how to clamber out of the hole. The Langshan chick would have had a better chance getting out of there. The door to the rabbit hutch was completely locked when I went up to check?

 

[Imp]

I thought it was unlikely. Besides what you state. It would be difficult to not see a hen for a week.
The only three predators that I can think that stash food for later are rats, fox, and alligator. All seem unlikely.
2 leggged rat? i.e. Human?

Imp- at a loss

 

[beak]

I have a fox that jumped my 7' fence. She also gets up on my toolshed which is 7'. I am now making my fence 8'. Foxes take and eat later.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Rat.......

Now THAT is a possibility.

We lost our cat 2 weeks ago, I'm assuming to a Great Horned Owl that decided it would be fun to take off with all of my silkies, chicks...cat.

So I moved them closer to the barn, where we've never had anything get into the rabbit hutch. But, how could a rat carry a silkie up and out of the 3 foot tall pen without leaving any blood or feathers?

I know Imp...I know...I'm frustrated as all get out and now I'm scared that it's gonna start going after "bigger game."

Driving me up the wall!

 

[Imp]

Try putting out a live trap. See what you can get.
But your original thought might be a good one.
You said that you lost your cat 2 weeks ago. I have lots of strays and ferals here and whenever one disappears or dies, another shows up to take over the territory. I never have less than about 4 in my backyard. Could be a feral that stays well hidden. And cats sometimes will drag off their prey and kill elsewhere. Normally I wouldn't think of cats being a great predator, but a wild hungry one. Yeah. And could get into a small hole, up off the ground.

Imp- CSI