What killed my chickens?

[Nalaylas]

It was during the day. Eggs were gone too with shells laying around. So whatever it was likes eggs. My yard is totally fenced so I don't think it was a dog. It had to be something that can climb, fly, or fit through holes. We're thinking raccoon, weasel, or skunk. Do any of those come out during the day at all? We do have a lot of owls and hawks and eagles around but they were inside their coop at night so somehow I don't think it was an owl.

 

[EggWalrus]

Coons, weasels, and skunks will hunt in the day if they are hungry. The missing heads of a whole flock and eaten eggs sure sounds like a family of coons .I've never had to deal with weasels around here so I'm not sure if they like eating eggs too.

 

[HetherHenCommuntiy]

It was during the day. Eggs were gone too with shells laying around. So whatever it was likes eggs. My yard is totally fenced so I don't think it was a dog. It had to be something that can climb, fly, or fit through holes. We're thinking raccoon, weasel, or skunk. Do any of those come out during the day at all? We do have a lot of owls and hawks and eagles around but they were inside their coop at night so somehow I don't think it was an owl.

It was a huge male and female raccoon that got the 2 from my flock. They are very sneaky and are know to stalk a flock for days before an attack. The raccoons that bested us knew right when to attack, only the heads were gone...such a shame. If you’re gonna kill my Roo at least do it because he’s a big guy and you’re hungry, but it was completely sport. On the plus, it’s true what people say: they WILL come back. My husband and I went “hunting” after the incident. No kidding when that raccoon stood up he was as tall as our gate.
I assume if your flock is well protected at night a few raccoons might come out in the day. From experience the killing just sounds like what raccoons leave behind.

 

[Quackter]

Killing the whole flock like that, I would guess mink, but I have never seen them take all their heads. They usually just chew on their throats and gnaw on their heads. I don't know. Sorry for your loss.

 

[twendt]

Your post has me baffled, I've really been thinking about this. From your description, I would DEFINITELY say RACCOON. However, you said it was during the day. I have never seen a raccoon during the day. I had one stalking my coop, he never got one of my girls, he messed with the wrong chicken mama! I set out a live trap and got a 40lb male coon. I have to be at work at 4am. I checked the trap, there it was, my mom came over and shot it dead while I was at work. She said it was the biggest raccoon she ever saw. Raccoon eat the crop and leave everything else. So it would appear they were decapitated. It doesn't make sense, but my only explanation. So sorry for your loss.