09/17/2026
In Case You're Wondering 'What Killed My Chicken?'
One or two birds killed —
Entire chicken eaten on site-hawk
Bites in breast or thigh, abdomen eaten; entire bird eaten on site-opossum
Deep marks on head and neck, or head and neck eaten, maybe feathers around fence post-owl
Entire chicken eaten or missing, maybe scattered feathers-coyote
One bird gone, maybe scattered feathers-fox
Chicks pulled into fence, wings and feet not eaten domestic-cat
Chicks killed, abdomen eaten (but not muscles and skin), maybe lingering odor-skunk
Head bitten off, claw marks on neck, back, and sides; body partially covered with litter-bobcat
Bruises and bites on legs-rat
Backs bitten, heads missing, necks and breasts torn, breasts and entrails eaten; bird pulled into fence and partially eaten; carcass found away from housing, maybe scattered feathers-raccoon
Several birds killed —
Birds mauled but not eaten; fence or building torn into; feet pulled through cage bottom and bitten off-dog
Bodies neatly piled, killed by small bites on neck and body, back of head and neck eaten-mink
Birds killed by small bites on neck and body, bruises on head and under wings, back of head and neck eaten, bodies neatly piled; faint skunklike odor- weasel
Rear end bitten, intestines pulled out-fisher, marten
Chicks dead; faint lingering odor skunk
Heads and crops eaten- raccoon
One bird missing —
Feathers scattered or no clues-bobcat, cougar (aka catamount, mountain lion, panther, puma), fox, hawk, owl
Fence or building torn into, feathers scattered-dog
Small bird missing, lingering musky odor-mink
Several birds missing —
No clues -coyote, hawk, human
Feathers scattered or no clues-fox
Chicks missing, no clues-snake
Small birds missing, bits of coarse fur at coop opening- raccoon
Chicks or young birds missing-cat, rat
Eggs missing —
No clues -human, rat, snake
Empty shells in and around nests-dog, mink, opossum, raccoon
Empty shells in nest or near housing-crow, jay
No clues or empty shells in and around nests, maybe faint lingering odor-skunk
