Trying to catch a chicken serial killer!

[Reagan40]

For the last three mornings, I have awakened to find dead chickens and turkeys in the run. The current tally is 3 meat chickens and 2 turkeys. Whatever is killing them rips off their head, then leaves. None of the meat or guts are eaten. I am determined to figure out what it is that is doing this and hopefully get a good shot at it tonight. I have heard raccoons will kill chickens like then and not eat them. Seems like a real waste. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, what was the killer and how did you stop it?

 

[Leadeye]

Sounds like raccoons. A friend and neighbor raises chickens here in the GSF and after similar problems constructed what is probably the largest and most heavily fortified chicken pen I've ever seen. It would take heavy equipment to get to the chickens now.

 

[ChrisK]

You have to put fencing on the floor and tie it into the sides. Had the same problem a few years ago and this solved the problem.

 

[deo62]

Definitely 'coons. Get a live trap, catch 'em, take 'em to your most despised relative and turn 'em loose.

 

[churchmouse]

Definitely 'coons. Get a live trap, catch 'em, take 'em to your most despised relative and turn 'em loose.

^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Reagan40]

Definitely 'coons. Get a live trap, catch 'em, take 'em to your most despised relative and turn 'em loose.

What should be used in the trap to bait the coons?

 

[deo62]

Bread, peanut butter, cat food, whatever's cheap and smells. Oh yeah, marshmallows work great!

 

[nakinate]

What should be used in the trap to bait the coons?

An open can of Tuna works well.

 

[churchmouse]

What should be used in the trap to bait the coons?

We buy the cheapest pop top cat food on the shelf. Stinks it up pretty good and they love it. Plus they get a sumptuous last meal.

 

[Leadeye]

In the event you run into trap smart raccoon, put a mouse trap inside the cage trap. While a trap smart raccoon can figure out how to get the bait without setting off the trap, the mouse trap will always go off startling the raccoon and causing it to set off the main trap.

 

[Gary119]

If the heads are off and no blood, you probably have a weasel or a mink attacking. Racoons will generally drag the chicken off and eat it.

 

[wcd]

If the heads are off and no blood, you probably have a weasel or a mink attacking. Racoons will generally drag the chicken off and eat it.

Also would not rule out Possums. If you have space a Jackass will eliminate a lot of problems.

 

[Reagan40]

Also would not rule out Possums. If you have space a Jackass will eliminate a lot of problems.

Man.... so many jokes. Actually, my wife wants a donkey. We have room. It would require me to install more fencing. I just don’t know that I want the added work or expense right now. Does that make me a jackass?

 

[Hkindiana]

Don't rule out skunks either. I had one kill 50 quail in one night. It pulled off all of the heads and piled the bodies up in a small dog house.

 

[mom45]

Raccoons typically will take off the head but will also eat the guts. Not always, but most of the time, the chicken will be disemboweled.

Owls will take off the head and leave the carcass so that is another possibility. Owls are federally protected so illegal to shoot with hefty fines if caught.

Opossum, skunk and weasels are all possible as well.

Coyotes or fox would likely carry off the carcass and leave behind just some feathers.

Live traps baited with marshmallows smeared in some peanut butter work well for coons and opossum. You could also tie a dead bird into the back of the trap and fasten the trap to something so they don't drag it off. I like to cover the sides of the trap with boards or cement blocks (something solid and heavy enough that they cannot easily move it) so they have to go into the trap to get the bait and can't just get it from the outside/back of the trap.

 

[femurphy77]

I was expecting a description of the culprit to include "White Goatee, White Suit and Bolo Tie!

 

[KLB]

Depending on your setup, you could get a livestock guardian dog. They will guard chickens just as well as they will larger animals.

 

[dirtfarmerz]

If the heads are off and no blood, you probably have a weasel or a mink attacking. Racoons will generally drag the chicken off and eat it.

Yep. We had a big red mink killing chickens. We also had a Great Horned owl taking off the chicken's heads at night; one or two a night.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/owls-killing-my-chickens-and-eating-the-head.598799/

 

[boogieman]

Invest in a cheap trail cam and see if you can catch it on film so you actually know what you are dealing with.

 

[Rookie]

Harbor freight sells a cheap driveway alarm. Set it up, wait for it to go off, grab gun, open window, and pop it. My driveway alarm has netted three coyotes, two foxes, and a dozen possums.

https://m.harborfreight.com/wireles...m-93068.html?utm_referrer=direct/not provided