[Rosiecrad]

Thought I'd post this here so more people may see it!

Something has killed one of my chooks, its head, legs, wings and spine were all still intact but meat and organs gone.

My dogs have been known to have the odd one if it has gotten out ( which this one had) but it had been dead before they had got to it, and because we have 4 dogs, they normally eat it all or at least try to!!

So i don't think a fox as surely it would have taken it away and I thought they would eat the head? Could it be a buzzard, I've never had a problem with buzzards but we do have lots about.

Any ideas would be welcome!
Rosie

[Rosiecrad]

Forgot to say we do live very close to a river, then winter chicken pen is probably 500 yards from the river. We do have mink and otter but would mink be this brave in daylight?

[Lesley Silvester]

When I lived in mink country, I lost many chooks to them but never like that. It was always broken necks. I was told that mink go for the jugular so they can get the blood. The odd one or two may have been carted away but being eaten like that in the area is unusual.

[Louise Gaunt]

I have had hens attacked by buzzards. One was killed and part eaten but found by OH not me, so not sure how much was eaten. On a second attack it was trying to pierce the chest but I chased it off before it got into the chest, although there was a big bruise.