Three beheaded chlckens

[Big Dave]

Woke this Morning to three of our layers dead. Same cenario as a few months back. Just the head were gone? They are in an encloseure. But why would they stick their heads out in the night? They were all next to the fence but I just can't get my head wrapped around this. My bud told me it was a skunk but there was no skunk odor. He said they suck the blood out of the chickens and will leave the rest. CHUBICABRA? What do yall think? Skunk, oppossum, raccoon?

[freegal]

From my experience I would say skunk or mink, especially if they were all lined up. Your enclosure needs to be made more secure Raccoons typically get their backs and back of the head and I've never had a possum bother a chicken, only the eggs.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Chupacabras are goat suckers, not chicken suckers.

Chupar - to suck

Cabras - goats

Sounds like smaller varmint.

[luvrulz]

weasels.....

[ksfarmer]

Originally Posted by luvrulz

weasels.....

[FarmboyBill]

Ive had many possums kill chickens in 40yrs farming.

[Oldcountryboy]

In my neighborhood I would say "skunk". Everytime I'd have chickens missing thier heads I would end up catching a skunk in my trap and then the problem would be solved for a year or two.

[Tracy Rimmer]

Weasels.

[springvalley]

I would guess a weasel or mink, they were all lined up at the fence because they couldn`t drag them threw the fence. Your going to have to lock them up tight at night and make sure there is no hole larger than a quarter, because they can get threw that. And make sure they can`t dig under, because they will do that also. Then on the out side of the encloser your going to have to set several small traps, I`m sure you won`t catch it, but try. They will pull themselves threw the fence and leave the trap on the inside, or they may chew off the leg, but you won`t catch them. But if you try to catch them, they at least know your on to them and they will soon leave, only to return another day to try again. It may be a year or two before they return, or a week or two, depends on if they get hungry or not. Good luck, > Thanks Marc

[Digger]

My bet is a racoon. They will eat the head if that is all they can pull threw the wire. I have had the same problem lately. Caught one, now I seem to have another. Traps set but empty for two nights.

[badlander]

Amish neighbor had the same thing happen to young pullets. He said the chickens would lay against the fence sleeping and a raccoon would reach through the chicken wire, snag the heads, drag them through and well the rest is self explanatory. He finally shot the offending raccoon and ended the problem.

[PaulNKS]

Usually, if just the head is missing and the varmint had access to the entire bird, it will be a weasel or mink. If it just tried pulling the bird through a fence and the head popped off, it could be anything.

[mekasmom]

Owls? I have lost ducks sitting on a nest to owls, and just the heads were pulled off.

[Batt]

When any of our chickens have lost their heads, it has always been racoons.

[springvalley]

Ok, need some questions answered, are they in where they can roost up offthe ground or inside??? If they are just inside a fenced area, sure it could be coons, they need a place to roost inside. > Marc

[farmmom]

Possums! They eat just the head and leave the rest. They can stick their little "hands" through wire and pull the head out and bite it off, sometimes doing the same with a wing. Of course, if they are able to get into the enclosure, they'll just eat the heads.

[Cliff]

Agree, the likelihood is mink, weasel or possum.

[highlands]

Owls do this.

[dancingfatcat]

Chupapollo

[julieq]

Run one line of hot wire around your chicken pen at nose level. We haven't lost a chicken since we did that years ago.