15 dead chickens, what is the culprit?

If it was a mink or a weasel, the one that was "eaten" would have been ripped open and the most delectable of innards would have been eaten (heart, liver, gizzard), leaving the major flesh behind - sometimes for later consumption. I've had mink come right into the duck blind to steal a duck, watched them grab ducks out of the canoe, and can attest that they are sneaky little devils. Thank goodness my labs have been quick and brutal in dealing with such infractions!

A weasel got into the neighbor's rabbit hutch a couple of years back and killed a bunch, partially eating just one of them. He wound up getting snapped by a rat trap wired to the hutch and baited with the head of a baby bunny victim.

I'll be curious to hear what you eventually discover, but my money is on the mink/weasel theory.

If it turns out to be a mink, the skinned carcass will attract in other minks - the little fiends are cannibals.
 

I'd say it is neither a weasel or a mink. INHO I say it was a skunk. Skunk's are notorious for killing chickens for the fun of it. My grandmother in SE Oklahoma had more chickens killed by skunks than I could shake a stick at.
 
we have had opossums and coons do that when we used to raise a bunch of chickens but don't have minks or weasels here.
 
I have never heard of chickens having heart attacks from fear before. I actually caught a possum in the chicken coupe one time, he had snuck in at night and killed 3 of my 10 chickens, but couldn't remember how to get out, so when I went out to feed them in the morning he was sitting on top the nesting boxes. So I put on my thick leather welding gloves, grabed him by the tail a drowned him in the stock tank.
 
Anyone ever thought it might be a couple of guys from Michigan? I know that guy Shameless could eat some wings!!! LOL.
 
Well the live trap remainded empty every morning before I left to come back to CA. I showed mom how to set it and left a shotgun so she can exact her revenge if the little chicken slayer decides to come back. I'll let you know ...
 
My wife lost 19 in one night to the neighbors dog, that was just a young pup. He climbed over the fence and was still in there the following morning. Not sure if he couldn't get back out or was just too tired to climb back over the fence. The fence is 3 feet high with a plastic "poultry" type mesh on top which he tore right through. I didn't kill him, but what I did do to him, well lets just say, he hasn't been back around here, and I heard he seems to have developed a nervous condition. kyray
 
Well guys, we think we know what did it. Dad was out side yesterday and saw a little beagle cross mutt come from across the back 40 acre hay pasture from the neighbors and watched as it went directly towards the chicken shed. We still arent sure how it got in, but dad says it knew where it was going and is pretty sure it was our culprit.

When dad started back to the house for a gun the dog saw him and high tailed it out of there. They just took the hay out so it will be easier to spot him coming back.... I don't think he will make that trip through the hay field many more times!
 
I spent a lot of time with my grandparents growing up. My grandmother raised chickens (yep I plucked a lot of feathers!) and I remember coming home with my grandma and uncle one day with dead chickens all over the yard. The culprit was a stray dog that was laying under a shade tree too dang tired to move from his afternoon of excitement. My uncle who never had an interest in guns or hunting at all (like my grandpa, dad and other uncles) went in the house to get a gun. This is the only time in my life I have ever seen this uncle with a gun in his hand. He shot the dog dead with one shot. I always admired and respected him for that because even though he wasn't and isn't a hunter he did what had to be done. Predators are killing for survival but a wild Fido is killing just for the fun of it. In fact, I called up two stray dogs the other day while yote hunting and I shot one without remorse (the other one took off faster than any coyote I've ever seen).
 
Small Block, I was cleaning out some old saved post and found this. I missed it when you updated. I am glad you found the culprit. Has your dad connected yet.
 
No, not yet. Either they are keeping it at home or he's a smart one and knows he's been busted! Dad is still got the AR and a 20 round clip accessable just incase he does show up.
 
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