what takes heads off chickens? Warning Graphic info. no pics

[LearninMyFlock]

I hope you figure out the issue! Whenever you can I'd check for holes under coop walls to see if any animal could get in

THANKS. Yes I'm needing to check out and re think my whole plan here! Since never had predators thought all was ok. Thought we're to close to the road but obviously not!

 

[LearninMyFlock]

THANKS! Didn't know we had owls around here But I'm guessing my guys roosting in the trees lured them in. Would they leave a whole bird with a severed head but also possibly eat almost a whole bird but leave the head behind? I want to study up on owls more. That would sure be comforting because I could still free range daytime and coop would very easily be secured from them I'm guessing? THANKS for info. I'm looking into owls, raptors, weasel (please not! ), opposum, raccoons n rats more! But with finding some really mia birds I'm guessing the owl would really fit most of it the best.

If I understand correctly and they were roosting in trees at night I would also agree that it was a owl. They could be teaching the young to hunt this time of year.

 

[CrowHollowFarm]

We never fully understood this either but we had roosters tied on barrels back many years ago and witnessed owls acting like this. An older owl would usually fly down and pop the head off of one, then the younger ones would start trying their luck. I've had other animal get the chickens when they were in cages and pop their head off, but yours could have gotten away from those predators during the day. And they went after them at night a skunk couldn't have climbed and a possum or raccoon would have just pulled them down. Now one of these other animals could have gotten them once they were out of the tree or the owls could have eaten some.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Sounds a lot like an attack I had that was likely either a coon or an owl. Except whatever attacked my flock didn't eat them and it took the heads with it..

 

[LearninMyFlock]

We never fully understood this either but we had roosters tied on barrels back many years ago and witnessed owls acting like this. An older owl would usually fly down and pop the head off of one, then the younger ones would start trying their luck. I've had other animal get the chickens when they were in cages and pop their head off, but yours could have gotten away from those predators during the day. And they went after them at night a skunk couldn't have climbed and a possum or raccoon would have just pulled them down. Now one of these other animals could have gotten them once they were out of the tree or the owls could have eaten some.

Thanks! That makes sense! I mean not sense why they did it but that that's what possibly happened. Thanks for your help.

 

[LearninMyFlock]

Sounds a lot like an attack I had that was likely either a coon or an owl. Except whatever attacked my flock didn't eat them and it took the heads with it..

Ok. That means to make coop n run extra secure from above and below. Thanks. But yeah that the weird part I just don't get is everything I've read says they eat the head. Weird and gross. .... and I may never know but from what info I've gotten on here it gives me ideas what to do.

 

[LearninMyFlock]

We never fully understood this either but we had roosters tied on barrels back many years ago and witnessed owls acting like this. An older owl would usually fly down and pop the head off of one, then the younger ones would start trying their luck. I've had other animal get the chickens when they were in cages and pop their head off, but yours could have gotten away from those predators during the day. And they went after them at night a skunk couldn't have climbed and a possum or raccoon would have just pulled them down. Now one of these other animals could have gotten them once they were out of the tree or the owls could have eaten some.

So I'm curious how and why do you tie a rooster? I'm not familiar with that. That's what I love about this source of info. Always learning something new

 

[CrowHollowFarm]

Google tie cords for roosters and it will answer all your questions. If you wanted to have more than one breeds you can keep the roosters tied and still free range hens until your ready to set eggs.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Google tie cords for roosters and it will answer all your questions. If you wanted to have more than one breeds you can keep the roosters tied and still free range hens until your ready to set eggs.

How's that work? If you're free ranging the hens they will get bred by whatever rooster they get within cord reach of.
There wouldn't be a point in separating all the roosters. If you mean keeping them separate until you put them in breeding groups then I don't see the point in that either.
In my neck of the woods when people did that it was because they were games and had to be separated or they would injure or kill each other.
The hens were free ranged and were bred by whichever rooster got to them.

 

[centrarchid]

Youre right it will probably be back.
I see you point but I think it matters greatly what did it .
A lot easier to take care of a predator problem when you know what you're dealing with.
I had a similar issue with heads being removed and wasnt sure what was doing it. Most everyone said coons. I spent a week on coon defense and lost a few more birds. Turned out it was a great horned owl. Solved the problem but wasted a lot of time and effort and a few birds lives hunting the wrong thing.

Driving this point home.