What sort of Predator?

[rutabagazuma]

Howdy-

Came home tonight to find my Buff Orpington missing from her COOP. Walked the yard to find her dead and missing her head. She had the run of the yard today so it would not have been difficult for something to take off with her. Her body was completely intact otherwise. Barely any blood or other visible damage to her body. What sort of predator would do this? There were some feathers, but not as many as I would expect for a predator looking for a meal? Was this simply a dog?

I am hoping to avoid this problem in the future with my remaining birds. Anyone have any experience with this sort of bird death?

Thanks.

 

[rutabagazuma]

hmmm. A little more reading before my writing and I would have learned that it was probably a racoon or BOP.

Are racoons active during the day? I cant recall ever seeing a racoon out during the day.....

HMMMM...... sad/annoyed/angry (rinse repeat)

 

[SpottedCrow]

Sounds like a raccoon to me also.
If their natural food supply has gone byebye your birds are the next best thing. I've had a raccoon in my yard in the day before.
sorry for your loss.

 

[silkiechicken]

Why does missing head also make me think weasel?

 

[rooster-red]

Possums are also known for decapitaion.

 

[justusnak]

I would say coon....first...however...we had something get to our ducks....it got THROUGH the fencing....1x2 openings. There was no signs of digging....it could not get in the top....so whatever it was....went through the wire fenceing. We had the same type of "injuries" Head missing. Coon would not fit through such a small fence opening....so Weasle or Mink for us.

 

[MandyH]

I can tell you from experience that if a hawk or owl tries to pick up a bird that is too large for them to fly off with, they will pull the heads off of them.