We're baffled at what may have killed two of our roosters in one night. I'm hoping you all might be able to give us some ideas.
We had three roosters. One of them (the head rooster) would roost in the coop with all of the hens. The other two roosters would roost in a tree that was right next to the coop, but technically in our pasture, outside the safety of our coop's wire fencing. During the day some of our flock would forage in our pasture and the two roosters would watch over them.
Saturday afternoon DH went to work on his tractor in the pasture and found chicken carnage everywhere. There were feathers strewn about and some of the intestines/heart were left lying there. There was very little blood, no bones, no head, no feet. Nothing but feathers and guts were left behind. We believe that something came during the night and snatched both of the roosters. They both went missing at the same time. What animal(s) would consume two whole chickens? What animal(s) would leave behind the feathers and guts and then take off with the rest of the bird? Any insight you can give would be appreciated! Thanks!
We had three roosters. One of them (the head rooster) would roost in the coop with all of the hens. The other two roosters would roost in a tree that was right next to the coop, but technically in our pasture, outside the safety of our coop's wire fencing. During the day some of our flock would forage in our pasture and the two roosters would watch over them.
Saturday afternoon DH went to work on his tractor in the pasture and found chicken carnage everywhere. There were feathers strewn about and some of the intestines/heart were left lying there. There was very little blood, no bones, no head, no feet. Nothing but feathers and guts were left behind. We believe that something came during the night and snatched both of the roosters. They both went missing at the same time. What animal(s) would consume two whole chickens? What animal(s) would leave behind the feathers and guts and then take off with the rest of the bird? Any insight you can give would be appreciated! Thanks!
