What takes the head of chicken and leaves the chicken?

Quote:
Something has been coming in at night to the penned area and killing the animals and takes the head



Is the "penned area" covered with wire? If yes, rule out raptors of any kind. I've had chickens in fully enclosed pens decapitated. The first time I caught the culprits, two of the neighbors cats. SSS. The second time I watched as it happened. My Akita would lay and wait for one to stick it's head thru the wire to pick at grass, then grab it. I trained him with a pellet gun. If he just heard the sound of it being pumped up, he bolted for the other side of the property. Cured that chicken killer. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Other carnivorous mammals will do the same thing. Is he "certain" this is happening at night? Do the chickens have a 4-sided house to roost in after dark? If yes, again rule out any type of raptor.If there are any openings in the pen, wire them closed. If there is no wire roof on the pen, I suggest you tell him to install one. Six inches of 1/2" mesh all around the bottom will keep the chickens from sticking their heads thru the wire. Penned chickens are a defenseless smorgasbord just waiting to be enjoyed by every critter out there. They are only as safe as the enclosure you put them in.
 
We raised a bunch of bobwhite quail. Same thing happened to us. The culprit in our case was ( and I repeat WAS )a possum. Set some traps around. The promotion of illegal activity is not permitted.
 
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i agree with rokint. a friend of mine had the same problem with pheasant and quail. it took awhile but we cought it and it was a mink.

ras5_98
 
Weasel did it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif. He travels around in the dark /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif.
 
Quote:
Possibly a weasel, I've heard they'll wipe out chickens and leave them laying there.........



It might be our Weasel here, I have seen him put a hurting on them chickens at KFC. I think though he might just eat the wings.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Of course, I guess that it could also be a gardner with a weedeater....them chickens don't know when to get their heads back in the fence.
 
Well..........I found one of 'em.

chicken_head.jpg
 
Not to hijack this thread but what takes the rest of the house cat but leaves the hindquarters? My nephew swore it was coyotes but I say it was the neighbor's pack of free ranging dogs. Coyotes wouldn't leave the meatiest part. He made the grizzly discovery then called me to ask what I thought. I told him I thought it was hilarious and to provide pics.
 
I have actually caught an opposum one night when I got home and one of my chickens was out of the coop. I knew something was up because they are always in the coop at night. I went in there and there was MR opposum eating on the head of one of my best chickens /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif! Needless to say he wasn't playing " possum" when I was done with him /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif!! I am sure there are other animals that do this and maybe you made some noise and scared it off before you saw that chicken? Who really knows for sure. But I am sure that this opposum was a chicken head eater!! He might have eaten more if that crow bar didn't fall on his head that night /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif!! LOL
Just trying to help!!
KSKILLER
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gifI think I get more laughs here on PM than anywhere else /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif. Right Weasel /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif?
 
In our area it would be a possum. They will split the head and drink the blood as it comes out. This has happened many times to my Dad, who has raised chickens for 60 years.
 
I had a mink get into my chickens two years ago. He killed most of them by biting them in the head and neck but he actually took the head off a dozen or so. I know it was a mink because my wiener dogs finished him off while he was in the act.
 
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