Murder by the Hen House

[Steve in PA]

I thought the title sounds like a paperback novel.

Anyway, my dog found a dead rabbit next to the chicken pen/house. It was pretty fresh and when I looked, something had basically cut the rabbit in half. The head and front legs were gone but the cut looked quite clean.

I'm concerned there's a large predator lurking next to my girls. I've gotten lazy and haven't locked their coop at night for a long time since their yard is fenced in as well. Any idea what could cause that injury?

As a side note, to get the rabbit away from the dog I gave it to the chickens. They weren't much interested. I think they're spoiled with the layer pellets. Eventually they got around to nibbling on it, but at the end of the day I just threw the corpse across the tracks are the other corner of my property. I'd rather the smell not lure more animals back.

[Fire-Man]

Originally Posted by Steve in PA

I thought the title sounds like a paperback novel.

Anyway, my dog found a dead rabbit next to the chicken pen/house. It was pretty fresh and when I looked, something had basically cut the rabbit in half. The head and front legs were gone but the cut looked quite clean.

I'm concerned there's a large predator lurking next to my girls. I've gotten lazy and haven't locked their coop at night for a long time since their yard is fenced in as well. Any idea what could cause that injury?

As a side note, to get the rabbit away from the dog I gave it to the chickens. They weren't much interested. I think they're spoiled with the layer pellets. Eventually they got around to nibbling on it, but at the end of the day I just threw the corpse across the tracks are the other corner of my property. I'd rather the smell not lure more animals back.

That is the way My dog eat a rabbit--he started at the head and worked his way to the mid section and by the time he got there he was usually full and left that part laying there----but I am sure after a good rest/nap he would probably finish it. It would look similiar to a straight cut because of the way he would put it in his mouth and cut it with his teeth.

[Macybaby]

I've found mice and other rodents that way too. One would not think that chewing it could make that nice of a "cut" but it seems to.

I had one cat that never ate past the mid section, and he was a good hunter so I was always picking up "butts" out of the yard.

[Bret]

Murder by the Hen House takes place on Rue 17 in a neighboring village. A homesteader rues the day she found a dead rabbit and contemplates hiring an experienced roo in Williamsharbor on the eastern seaboard to try to ferret out the killer.

Banty Books Random Home

[Steve in PA]

I don't think it was my dog since I had just let her out after church and was walking the yard with her. The night before she was going crazy looking out the window so I put her on her line. I figured it was he neighbor's cat tormenting her, but like the OJ saga maybe it was the killer lol?