Chickens killed, head missing, neck picked clean

[belties]

We've lost two just in a few days, in the same spot, inside our barn. Whatever is doing the killing has been content to eat only the head and leave the rest of the bird. These are full grown, full sized chickens. It is colder than Antarctica here right now, I'm not inclined to be camping out with the 22 waiting for chicken thieves. We have coops but many of the chickens prefer roosting in the rafters of the barn. At least one of these killings took place in broad daylight. We have no loose dogs around.

Any ideas what is killing these chickens?

[Dixie Bee Acres]

Could be a mink or weasle. They will rip off the head just to drink the blood. Could also be a skunk or possum.

[FarmboyBill]

Possum

[FUBO2016]

mink were doing that to my niebors

[handymama]

I walked in on the culprit that did that to my full grown pekin ducks. It was two raccoons. The tail when they're running makes the perfect target what with the rings and all.

[mekasmom]

I was always taught that beheaded chickens were the work of an owl. They pull off the head and leave the rest of the body.

[light rain]

Got a trail cam?

[wr]

Originally Posted by mekasmom

I was always taught that beheaded chickens were the work of an owl. They pull off the head and leave the rest of the body.

That's usually the culprit when I have this problem.

[Darren]

Coons will eat into the body cavity.

[geo in mi]

Weasel.

A weasel can squeeze into the smallest of cracks. He is not big enough to drag a chicken off, and can only eat so much in his period of "safety"....

geo

[RJMAcres]

coons

[harvestmoon1964]

Raccoons pulled the heads off several of my hens and ditched the bodies. We were able to catch him in the act with the last one.

[moonwolf]

Originally Posted by mekasmom

I was always taught that beheaded chickens were the work of an owl. They pull off the head and leave the rest of the body.

This is what I'm thinking, too....owls eat the head.

[bowdonkey]

Originally Posted by FUBO2016

mink were doing that to my niebors

That was a big mink! I wish they would do that to my neighbors.

[Astrid]

Weasels. They're sneaky little buggers.

[belties]

Thanks for the replies. It is confusing tho, because I can't seem to find tracks, and the fresh snow around the barnyard would surely provide a canvas for any critter coming to and from the barn.

The other problem I have with it being one of the four footed critters is that the killings always take place in broad daylight, sometime between morning milking and afternoon chores.

I think, because a hawk has been hanging around, that the hawk has been flying into our open bank barn (top floor) and killing the birds. It's the only explanation I have about the absence of tracks and the daytime attacks.

[Cropduster]

I have had a lot of skunks coming threw doing that. I've trapped and shot 7 in the past year. Might try setting a metal trap, baiting it and see what happens. I found out someone from in town was trapping them and releasing them out by the lake.

[RJMAcres]

Originally Posted by belties

Thanks for the replies. It is confusing tho, because I can't seem to find tracks, and the fresh snow around the barnyard would surely provide a canvas for any critter coming to and from the barn.

The other problem I have with it being one of the four footed critters is that the killings always take place in broad daylight, sometime between morning milking and afternoon chores.

I think, because a hawk has been hanging around, that the hawk has been flying into our open bank barn (top floor) and killing the birds. It's the only explanation I have about the absence of tracks and the daytime attacks.

Could be the varmint is living in the barn all the time.

[belties]

Wel, found out it was the hawk. Thanks for all your replies!

[dltasig7]

Chicken Hawk?