What predator will kill like this???

[egg-stra special chic]

Went to the coop early this am to find one of my large roosters dead.

What ever killed him ate only the crop area it appears. His head, breast, back, and feet was left behind. This is just terrible. I have not been having a problem with predators up until this point. We actually do not even close our coops up at night. The free range area is closed off with fencing at least 4ft high. We have had a problem with chicken snakes lately and my chickens have been steering clear of the coop at night. They will from now on be in a closed coop at night.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Not sure but I do the same as you.,..never had anything every bother the chickens for past 4 years and have been leaving the pop door open so they can get out early early now that it gets light (only do this during summers) but after reading this I will also be closing mine up too! You just never know

I'm sorry for your lose

Poor guy. Curious to see what others thing did this. Just in case if ever happens to me.

 

[Gallusfarm]

Sorry about your loss. I've had it happen - terrible. Likely culprit is a racoon. If you can get a live trap, they are rather easy to catch. Use a can of catfood or some leftover chicken. Good luck!

 

[Cetawin]

Sounds like a raccoon, they will often decapitate the bird to get at the crop area...but whatever it was will be back...time to lock them them up at night, set traps and kill whatever it was.

 

[bryan99705]

Sorry to hear you lost a bird. A good rooster is the first one to the fight and will die to protect his girls. I know it may be hard but replace the roo asap.

First you must figure out why your birds don't want to go into the coop, there is something wrong! Is it too hot? Too much ammonia fumes? Is it wet? Roost spins under them? Insect problem? If it's snakes that are scaring the birds out of the coop, loosely pile deer netting around the coop and run to tangle it up or put out a minnow trap with a egg as bait. What ever the problem, fix it!
If you need to, ventilate it more then give the whole coop a good scrubbdown cleaning and maybe even change the type of litter you're using Inspect the coop for security, resecure any loose wire and lock the birds down. They will need to learn their issue with the coop is fixed and that it's their shelter

As to figuring out your predator, lay out a sheet of plywood sprinkled with flour with either bait or the roo carcass fastened in the middle. The critter will investigate and leave some tracks. If it's a owl or hawk, throw some deer netting or fruit tree netting over the run so it's harder for them to get to the birds. If it's a coon, the lockdown and track board will tell you and provide protection till you resolve the problem. You might consider a couple strands of electric fence on top of your yard fence to knock his butt back.

If it's a digger, skirt the fence around the yard and maybe even the run.

 

[egg-stra special chic]

Thanks so much for the advice so far. I have been to the coops cleaning up around and doing some much needed mowing. I do believe my problem with them roosting outside the coop at night is the snakes tho. Reason being I have been finding where they have layed eggs outside the coop in different areas also. This tells me they are not spending any time in the coop during the day either. They did go in to eat while I was up there today. A good cleaning is well deserved also. I had surgery and just havent spent the time that I usually do in the Spring.

I will find my culprit tho that got my best rooster. Hes goin down!!

Maybe I will take my sons night camara up there and set it up just to see if I can catch it in action!!

 

[egg-stra special chic]

Update: Totally sick to my stomach this morning! I closed everybody up last night, thought all was secure. NOT...whatever is doing this got to my buttercup hen that was sitting. Completely ate her up and broke and sucked all 5 eggs clean.

Thing is it didnt touch the buttercup roo that was in the coop with her???? I have never been so upset over my chickens!!

My son will be back this afternoon and we will just have to take the truck down to the coop and sit up watch tonight. I am considering taking my great pyrnease dog down there tonight but I am scared what ever this is will kill her too. Does anyone think this is a good or bad idea??? I just dont know what to do???

Yall have gave me good advice but can someone please just talk me through this???? I have had my chickens now for 4 years. Started off just really particular with them and as time went on and no problems I have become more comfortable with them and havent worried. I could just kick my rear end over all this.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I am considering taking my great pyrnease dog down there tonight but I am scared what ever this is will kill her too

It won't kill your dog if it was small enough to get in a "locked" coop

The problem will be the dog probably won't stay there all night unless it's used to being tied, since a 4 ft fence won't contain a Pyr that wants to leave

Setting a trap is what I would do.

Cameras or sitting and waiting aren't likely to solve the problem.

Unless the dog will be there every night, it won't help in the long run​

 

[egg-stra special chic]

Not sure if possums are the intruders but we did down 2 at the coops tonight.

May not have been the problem but at least thats 2 that wont have a chance at my feathered friends. All was quiet when we left from down there tonight.

Thanks for all the help and advice!!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Possums usually eat the insides of the chicken first and will often kill several at once