Headless Chicken... What predator did this?

[Chickiee]

Hi Everyone,

One of our beautiful Buff Orpingtons was killed today. Not sure what time, but before 5:30 tonite... I'm guessing she was dead maybe an hour or 2? (stiff body), so good chance it was still light out. I found her between the walkway to our patio and the house, and about 4 feet from our back door... basically next to the house. Feathers everywhere. Neck was down to the bones. Body looked untouched. Head missing. What do you think may have done this?

We live in Southeastern Wisconsin, rural, 5+ acres surrounded by farmland and a stream a few acres away... we have deer, coyote, hawks, an occasional owl, I saw a opossum maybe a year ago walking across the street, barn cats, saw 1 raccoon in the 6 years we've been here about 2 blocks away.

We've been in a freezing spell for the last 2 weeks. 40 degrees today so maybe animals are hungry and moving about more?

Thanks so much!

 

[CapricornFarm]

I know raccoons favor eating heads. Might have been one of them. I would suggest keeping your chickens in a secure run. The predator, no matter what it was, will return. So sorry for your loss.

 

[BY Bob]

What time does it get dark? I would say it was a weasel. I lost 2 that way when I was a teenager My dad shot the weasel the third night. You need to make sure your coop is locked down as the weasel will keep coming back and may try to raid the coop

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Heads are generally the point of attack. A way to subdue the victim. On poultry anyway.

 

[Chickiee]

It gets dark about 4:45. By then everyone has gone back in the coop. I was also thinking raccoon but wasn't sure if one would come that close to the house. And you guys reminded me that a couple years ago we saw mink/weasel on 2 occasions. Coop is completely secure as long as it's closed. No more free ranging I guess. Ugh! We have a dog run attached to the coop... strong walls but we just have a lightweight plastic chicken mesh over the top to deter hawks. Do raccoons and weasels attack in light? Dusk? We have (now) 6 chickens and 3 Pekins in the coop. I'm so po'd. My 9 year old got daddy 3 Orpingtons and 1 Olive Eggers as a birthday gift end of May.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Predators will kill day or night if they get an opportunity.
I lashed welded wire to the top of my dog kennel chicken runs, and part of the top is also covered with roofing metal. I would recommend beefing up security in light of this recent attack. Did you see any tracks perhaps?

 

[BY Bob]

First of all, I forgot this before.

I am so sorry for your loss. It is always upsetting, frequently devastating.

They are predators of opportunity. Yes they will attack during the day, but primarily at night. It being dusk was probably a contributing factor.

After all the hawk attacks I've had, only 1 loss thankfully, my chickens cannot free range any longer without supervision. I feel like a chicken shepard.

 

[Chickiee]

Great idea! I didn't notice tracks but can check again in the morning. The snow is pretty melty after a warmer day here. A lot of grass is showing. Welding on top of the dog run is a really smart thought.
Thank you everyone for all your feedback! This is very helpful!

 

[Chickiee]

Thank you for your thoughts! Chicken shepard... great! I'm just concerned now that you guys mentioned the predator coming back. Ugh! My poor little cuties...

 

[Mary's Backyard Chickens]

Well...
Members of the weasel family, including mink, kill just for the fun of killing. Often, the chickens' bodies are bloodied. Also, you might notice that internal organs have been eaten. If birds are dead and not eaten but are missing their heads, the predator may be a raccoon, a hawk, or an owl.