Backyard Fowl Keepers

Hi everyone,

I'm heartbroken. I woke up this morning to find only 6 of my chickens left. Here's what happened:

3 were killed, no bite marks or puncture wounds, feathers still intact.
2 were killed with their heads and necks missing, no holes or bites, full bodies still there.
1 is completely gone, but I found feathers on the ground, as if she was dragged away.

I have a camera inside the coop, but it didnt detect anything unusual. Has anyone had something like this happen? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much.

Im sorry for your loss. From your description, Id lean toward a mink or weasel. Theyre notorious for attacking chickens and often take only the head or neck. If your chickens are confined at night, this might be more likely.

Ive heard of something similar happening due to owls. They can swoop in and take the heads off chickens, leaving the bodies intact. The one that disappeared could have been carried off. Try placing some predator-proof netting over your coop.

It might be worth setting up a trail camera around the area outside your coop. Some predators, like coyotes or foxes, are skilled at avoiding detection, but the camera might catch a glimpse of whats lurking around your chickens at night.

It could be a bird of prey like an owl or hawk. They tend to attack at night, and their kills are often very clean with no puncture marks, just missing heads. Try setting up a camera at night or adding some protection like netting to cover your chickens.

This sounds like the work of a raccoon. They're known to kill without leaving much of a mess, and the missing heads/neck could be their doing. A raccoon might also be able to carry off a chicken, which would explain the one that disappeared.

This could be the work of a wild animal, but if your camera didn't pick anything up, maybe it was something smaller or more stealthy, like a raccoon or possum. Try setting up a motion sensor light around your coop to deter predators.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It sounds like a predator attack, possibly a fox or coyote. They can be very stealthy and sometimes leave little evidence. I'd suggest checking your coop for any weaknesses in the fencing or roof.

Have you noticed any changes in your chicken's behavior before the attack? It could be helpful to monitor the area around your coop at night using sound or motion-activated lights. A hawk, owl, or raccoon could be a possibility.

It's strange that your camera didn't detect anything. Have you checked the area around your coop for tracks or signs of movement? That could help you identify what's been attacking your chickens. It's possible something like a raccoon or opossum got in.