What predator?

[Birdsong 82]

That’s what I was about to suggest if it seems to be a problem in your area the first step I would take is to get some kind of trail cam and see what you’re dealing with.

 

[happyfrenchman]

I thought we were talking about a backyard chicken hawks, not an Afghan
golden Eagle,,,, most chickens killed by backyard chicken raptors are generally eaten right there, (all full sized chickens). And I don't want to meet the weasel that could carry off a full sized chicken.

 

[Kessel23]

Well we were but then below frigid brought up how golden and bald eagles could not lift animals over 5 pounds. Also, the Afghan Golden eagle is exactly the same as the Golden Eagles here in the USA, all Golden eagles are the same, no matter where they are located on the globe. In fact, there is no Afghan Golden eagle, there is the Golden eagle that happens to live in Afghanistan and is the national bird there. And that weasel you are not looking forward to meeting is the American mink, a smaller member of the weasel family that is an extremely skilled hunter and very strong. I have had a large buck mink drag off a 8 pound rabbit before, and not just once. And actually you guys were already talking about a large member of the mustelid family, the fisher. I still think it was definitely a cat, that bite mark is way to small for a dog. Also, who said the weasel was carrying off a full grown hen? That was a young pullet that got killed. Dogs are good at finding dead birds, they have a very good sense of smell and can track down a dead bird pretty fast. I use my dogs to track down missing birds, usually they were taken by coons. I have trained one of my dogs to retrieve and bring me dead birds, she can't be outside with me by the birds much though because she retrieves the carcasses that I throw out into the woods to.

 

[barn206]

Well I took her to a friend who has chickens and is an avid hunter. He thinks it’s a predator,raccoon or weasel. This wound is deep and the crop is clean( no food). Now I’m doubting the cat might of done it.

 

[Kessel23]

I don't think it was a raccoon, they really like to rip into the bird and chow down, I don't think one would just nibble on one and leave. Well I should say I didn't think one would just nibble on one and leave buuut it actually has happened to me, I had a coon break in and kill and eat parts of one bird but then he also killed another bird and just nibbled on the head, nothing else. This is what a coon attack usually looks like though-

Again, it could be a smaller member of the weasel family, they will kill and cache their food and then continue to hunt and that would explain why it was not eaten off of and was a little stiff.

 

[barn206]

Wow! So far I’ve been lucky. I lost 3 so and that was because they didn’t go in the coop at night. A fox devoured 2 right under the coop last year. I think it’s time to wire the perimeter of my coop. Great post

 

[Birdsong 82]

If it was a raccoon you might have found some bones and feathers. Unless it got scared off it would’ve dined.

 

[Below frigid]

Just saying we I was talking about flying off from the ground holding a chicken. Yes if the chicken were on the side of a steep hill and the eagle snached it in flight like the goats he could fly off with it. Not to many chickens lost to eagles, Hawks all the time. Our Terrier has learned that big birds are bad and shoos them away. Heard crows run off the Hawks so l tolerate 3 that come and visit. I have to keep the chicks in their pen a few more weeks with the crows around. 4th of July they will be six weeks.

 

[Kessel23]

Just saying we I was talking about flying off from the ground holding a chicken. Yes if the chicken were on the side of a steep hill and the eagle snached it in flight like the goats he could fly off with it. Not to many chickens lost to eagles, Hawks all the time.

First, I already addressed all of this in my previous comments. Second, the bald eagle does not go pulling deer fawns, opossums, waterfowl, and all that other crap that weighs way more than 5 pounds off of cliffs. Third, we already know that Eagles are not common chicken killers, you were the one who brought them into the conversation, not me.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Let us know when you get the cam set up and what you find ! And I def wire the perimeter. With your neighbor losing that many chickens and you losing one recently whatever predator it is knows that tasty chickens are in that area so I wouldn’t be surprised if they come back