Rhonda, The below is a 5 page article on how to ID chicken predators. Hope it helps. I'd get several different sizes of live traps set.
Cathryn rainbowsilkiesTM in Michigan
From: "sidesaddle5@yahoo.com" <sidesaddle5@yahoo.com>
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, May 31, 2013 5:08 PM
Subject: [CHICKENS-101] predator (was Re: chick question)
<<If it just ripped the heads off it sounds like a coon and it will be back. I would suggest using a live trap.>>
Coon was one idea that occurred to me--we also have fox, coyote, weasel, and fisher-cat, plus a neighbor has reported seeing a bobcat in the vicinity. Whatever it was got eight chickens, outdoors (i.e., they were free-ranging, not in the coop), in the space of a half-hour or so (I'd seen some of the hens and heard the rooster crowing when I was heading for the house). Four chickens were totally missing, presumably carried off--four bodies left behind, two headless, rooster with teeth marks and bruising on plucked neck. Lots of feathers, in patches as well as a couple of feather trails where a chicken had been dragged. The size of teeth marks in the rooster's neck made me think fisher, or maybe juvenile fox or coyote (though they'd still be pretty young to be out hunting with mother, or with pack in the case of the coyotes). The attack happened late afternoon in the rain, if that is any clue.
It's one of the possibilities I accepted when I decided to free-range them. I suppose I ought to look around for a mature rooster to take over the look-out duties, though. (And I do miss the crowing, although at least we don't have to carry a stick whenever we step out the door now...)
Rhonda
STOP CORPORATE ABUSE--BAN ALL GMOs!
Sidesaddle Hall of Famer
Coon was one idea that occurred to me--we also have fox, coyote, weasel, and fisher-cat, plus a neighbor has reported seeing a bobcat in the vicinity. Whatever it was got eight chickens, outdoors (i.e., they were free-ranging, not in the coop), in the space of a half-hour or so (I'd seen some of the hens and heard the rooster crowing when I was heading for the house). Four chickens were totally missing, presumably carried off--four bodies left behind, two headless, rooster with teeth marks and bruising on plucked neck. Lots of feathers, in patches as well as a couple of feather trails where a chicken had been dragged. The size of teeth marks in the rooster's neck made me think fisher, or maybe juvenile fox or coyote (though they'd still be pretty young to be out hunting with mother, or with pack in the case of the coyotes). The attack happened late afternoon in the rain, if that is any clue.
It's one of the possibilities I accepted when I decided to free-range them. I suppose I ought to look around for a mature rooster to take over the look-out duties, though. (And I do miss the crowing, although at least we don't have to carry a stick whenever we step out the door now...)
Rhonda
STOP CORPORATE ABUSE--BAN ALL GMOs!
Sidesaddle Hall of Famer
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