chickens killed during the day

[the funny farm6]

Ok I have had a problem with owls, so we lock up the chickens at night. But with the dog stealing that has been going on and my best guard dog is due to have puppies in 5 days, I have kept my dogs inside mostly. But today ifed my chickens at 6:30 like always, and when I took some scraps out at @ 2 there was a headless still bleeding chicken! I didn't see anything. I didn't hear anything. Do you think a hawk? Owls don't normaly come out during the day do they? What would have done this?

 

[Denim Deb]

Do you get Arctic owls where you live? If so, they'll fly during the day.

 

[the funny farm6]

All I have seen is the little screech owls and the huge barn owls- they are my nemisis here! But its head was gone like an owl attack.

 

[Denim Deb]

Just because you don't see them doesn't mean you don't have them around there. I very rarely see owls, or hear them, but I know they're around. And, if the weather is crazy enough in their normal territory, they will go farther south than normal. I saw one years ago not too far from Atlantic City!

Unlike most owls, the Arctic, or Snowy owl hunts during the day. It uses a variety of hunting methods. It can swoop on its prey, or it will sit and wait for the opportunity.

 

[FarmerChick]

most things do not eat off a head. varmints do that. skunk, possum,mink, coon all eat chickens.
if one of those coming out in the day is bad.

sorry for the loss. chickens are on darn near every single predators list of good eats.

coons did a number on my chickens one time along with a skunk that got alot of them also.

set a trap. one of those cage traps. good chance you will get your culprit.

 

[pinkfox]

headless is usually racoons or occasionally stray dogs.

 

[the funny farm6]

They were in their coop run which is several 6 ft chain link dog pens. No holes in the pen or under so I am thinking flying prediter. And blood was still flowing so it was very recent. they aren't very far from the house so a racet would have alerted the dogs. There weren't a lot of feathers like they were chased around. And the blood was just short of spraying out. So I think I JUST missed whatever it was.

 

[CheerioLounge]

That definitely sounds like a bird attack of some sort. Quick in and quick out. I've walked out and not even noticed hawks in the trees until they decided to fly away. Who knows how many never got noticed. My run is covered with chicken wire and shade cloth for just that reason. So sorry for your loss.

 

[BarredBuff]

most things do not eat off a head. varmints do that. skunk, possum,mink, coon all eat chickens.
if one of those coming out in the day is bad.

sorry for the loss. chickens are on darn near every single predators list of good eats.

coons did a number on my chickens one time along with a skunk that got alot of them also.

set a trap. one of those cage traps. good chance you will get your culprit.

No they dont. I have found they like the head, we had it on a camera.

 

[FarmerChick]

Barred when I said eat, I should have typed kills.

to me eating a chicken means just killing it regardless of actually eating it or not