Will you help me identify this predator? VERY graphic images

[oliviad51]

Thanks for the help everyone. Both of the chicken coops are located inside the fence where the goats are. (I know the goats wouldn't kill a chicken) The dead body was found in the corner of the fence. I set the trap on the other side of the fence but directly where the chicken was. I can't set it inside the fence or else the goats will mess it up.

Anyways...this morning I checked the trap and found a 'possum in it. It was small, but not a baby. It could have killed that chicken. BUT it doesn't mean it did. Whenever I set the trap (if there was a chicken murder or not) I will get either a 'possum or raccoon every night. It could have been a hawk. We get those sometimes.

Again, thanks for all the help and please keep it coming thanks!

 

[J3172]

looks like a coon possible but I wouldn't rule out OWlS I had a great horned owl killing my free range guineas and they would look just like that chicken but would be at the bottom of a fence post.

 

[can you hear me now?]

I say keep setting the trap. Usually if you catch one, you will catch more. That being said I will.set my trap tomorrow just as a precautionary measure.

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

whatever it was, it looks like it had a drinking problem!

i'd say either a raccoon or a possum. i had a similar issue this past summer and i'm now thinking it was a possum since i saw one prowling around the yard and in my recycle bin one night when i came home late.

 

[Hound]

In our part of the country I would say an owl, but we don't have possums or weasels. It doesn't look like the work of a raccoon to me, they usually eat the breast and crop and not much else.

 

[oliviad51]

The dead chicken was laying on the ground when I found her....not at the top of a fence post. We don't have weasels much either. I'm really starting to think it was the 'possum, owl or hawk.

 

[Indy acres]

Well a week ago we lost 5 hens and 3 were our oldest and best layers, they were 7 months old so we put a trap out and we caught a fisher didn't even know they had them around here until now,and it is a dead one now!!! I know they have them up in northern Wi. because the DNR brought them in to take care of the porrcupines and the fishers were killing alot more then the porky's, they killed alot of the game birds and also alot of family pets. None of us were to happy about that!!

 

[rebel yell]

the work of a owl, it happened to me to years ago.

 

[Lbrad7]

Coon...sorry for your loss.

 

[crawfordmama]

Looks like the jury is out on this one. I'm sorry for your loss.