What would scalp my chick?

[Welshies]

I had a quail and a 10 week old pullet die this morning. The door on the rabbit hutch was opened, and 2 quail were out- fortunately my only male survived. My favorite froze to death laying on the snow.
My 10 week old pulley was in the coop... covered with straw and shavings. Still warm, but dead. Upon picking her up I discovered her skull was bare. Her skin- her scalp- was pulled towards her beak. There was no other bodily harm. Just some blood pooling around her throat.
What could have done this? I have a rooster who'll chase my chicks around, but they've been integrated in the flock for 6 weeks or more now.

 

[Sassysouth]

Oh no! I am so sorry for your loss. I have heard stories of a variety of different creatures who would do this, but I personally do not have an exact answer. My heart breaks for your loss.

 

[EggWalrus]

Those poor babies! My condolences to you.
It sounds a lot like it might be a coon that was interrupted, with the predator going for the head. Those damn coons like head for some reason.

 

[Welshies]

Those poor babies! My condolences to you.
It sounds a lot like it might be a coon that was interrupted, with the predator going for the head. Those damn coons like head for some reason.

We don't have coons. It was a clean tear, also like something just peeled her poor skin... like an orange peel. Could it have been my rooster? Or is that too viscious? There was no other bodily harm. I also am not sure how the chickens would accidentally open that hutch door...

Oh no! I am so sorry for your loss. I have heard stories of a variety of different creatures who would do this, but I personally do not have an exact answer. My heart breaks for your loss.

Thank you for your support.

 

[EggWalrus]

We don't have coons. It was a clean tear, also like something just peeled her poor skin... like an orange peel. Could it have been my rooster? Or is that too viscious? There was no other bodily harm. I also am not sure how the chickens would accidentally open that hutch door...


Thank you for your support.

I can't think of anything else that goes for heads like that, but I am not familiar with what all predators you have up in Canada. Maybe something in the mink or weasel family, yall have those up there don't you?

 

[Welshies]

I can't think of anything else that goes for heads like that, but I am not familiar with what all predators you have up in Canada. Maybe something in the mink or weasel family, yall have those up there don't you?

We do, but a mink or weasel would kill all the birds.
Needless to say I am stumped. I am also very concerned that it's my prized rooster that did this... for whatever reason.

 

[Rugbygainz]

Could have been a rat? rats are vicious and somewhat wicked. And normally they only go after one. And if the hatch opened i was even thinking that it could have been a person, sorry to bring this up but these things do happen.

 

[lilmillefleur]

do you have a picture?

 

[imnukensc]

I don't know what part of Alberta you live in, but according to this reference, there certainly are coons in a great deal of Alberta. I would also suspect a coon because the door on the hutch was opened and the wound you described. Coons can manipulate lots of latches so folks like me in definite coon country use double protection on them.
https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/animal-facts-raccoon

 

[NoNameHomestead]

I was also thinking coon. But I am not familiar with predators in Canada, so I could be wrong. We have plenty of them here in SC and have seen coons do this very same thing on a friend's trail camera they had on their coop. Sorry for your loss.