Chicken predator identification is important so chicken keepers know what has attacked their flock and how to prevent it from happening again by protecting your flock from common predators.
On a personal note…Tara and her young son, Beckett, had started the morning like any other: a short stroll in their backyard to the coop where their four hens lived. As they drew closer, however, Tara sensed something wrong. She told Beckett to wait, then approached the henhouse slowly—only to see a quartet of bodies slumped on the ground, motionless. Quickly, she took a confused Beckett back to the house and, once he was occupied, returned to investigate.
“It was like something made a hole in their chests and sucked the insides out. What did that to my chickens?” she asked me.
I get this question far too often. I hate to hear how birds, sometimes entire flocks, get decimated by nocturnal and diurnal predators. It’s happened to our flocks a handful of times over the years, enough so that I can look at a victim and identify the predator, whether raccoon, dog, weasel, fox, coyote or other.
If you find your flock has been attacked, here is a reference guide to chicken predator identification so that you can take proper precautions in the future.
It’s likely that a raccoon or a bird of prey, like a hawk, put the head on your chicken and then left it. Birds of prey will fly low and scare the chickens. The chickens will sometimes jump up in fear and get their heads stuck in the mesh or netting that forms their run. A hawk or other bird of prey will then grab the head with its powerful talons and rip it off. Raccoons will also go through fencing and rip the heads off of chickens. They often do this by reaching through at ground level to grab a chicken and pull its head off, leaving its body on the other side of the fence.
If you own chickens, there’s nothing worse than finding that your eggs have been broken and only the shells are left. Some animals sneak into the coop and eat the eggs but leave the shells behind. This has happened to me more than once, and I’ve always wondered what kind of animal does it. After some research and detective work, I found out the most common animal that does this.
Rats
Most of the time, rats are the ones who eat eggs and leave behind a lot of shells. They can break the hard shells with their sharp teeth, lick out the insides, and leave behind broken pieces. They usually attack at night and can quickly destroy an entire nest box of eggs. Rats leave holes in the shells that are rough and torn as proof that they were there. Making sure that any holes in the coop are smaller than 1/2 inch is the best way to keep rats away.
Possums
Possums are also common chicken egg thieves. They use their dexterous hands and thumbs to crack open the shell and scoop out the inside. Eggs that have been cracked by possums look like they have been neatly cut in half, or the holes are smaller and cleaner than those that have been eaten by rats. These nocturnal marsupials are also very good at climbing and can easily get over fences or into coops. Adding possum-proof mesh overrun areas and blocking possible den sites are the best ways to keep possums out.
Raccoons
Raccoons are incredibly intelligent and persistent when it comes to raiding nests for eggs. They will work diligently to break into the coop and use their paws to crack open eggs efficiently, licking out the insides and leaving the shells behind. Raccoon destruction can look similar to possum activity but may have more yolk smeared around. Keeping coops tightly locked up at night is key to deterring raccoons.
Snakes
Certain snake species like rat snakes are proficient egg eaters. They use their flexible jaws to swallow eggs whole, then digest everything except the shell which they regurgitate afterward. This leaves fully intact but saliva-coated shells in the nest. Block any potential access points where snakes could slither into the coop and use well-fitting wire mesh with holes no more than 1/4 inch.
Blue Jays
The blue jay is a notorious and clever little egg thief. Jays will peck small holes in eggs to access the interior and leave scraps of shell behind. Their presence is often announced by loud alarm calls from other birds. Hang shiny tapes near nests to deter jays and ensure the coop itself is bird-proof.
Crows
Like jays, crows are extremely intelligent birds that can learn to target unattended eggs. They use their sharp pointed beaks to peck openings and will consume the contents and leave fragments of shell scattered about. Vigilantly watching for crows and keeping birds secured in their coops is key to preventing crow predation.
Coyotes
When there are a lot of coyotes in an area, these opportunistic dogs will easily break into nests and eat the eggs. They use their teeth to crack the shell and scrape out the inside, leaving a mess of shells covered in yolk. To keep coyotes away from the weak hens and eggs, it is important to keep the flock safe at night in secure housing.
Figuring out what is eating eggs but leaving the shells is frustrating but solvable. In most cases, improving coop security, sealing off access points, and deterring known egg predators like rats or raccoons can stop the nighttime egg raids and let your flock happily produce in peace. Stay vigilant and use preventive measures for a predator-free coop.
Wounds Near the Vent; Entrails Pulled Out
If your chicken is alive, with bite marks and lacerations around her vent, or if your bird is deceased, with intestines pulled out through her vent, the predator in question belongs to the weasel family. Weasels, minks, ferrets, badgers and martens wrap themselves around their prey’s body and attack the vent area. Members of the weasel family will also bite a bird at the base of the skull to kill it before feeding. (Here’s a video of how to identify predators with a simple scent station. ).
This gruesome carnage signifies a common poultry predator, the raccoon. This type of predation pattern often occurs when a raccoon has gotten into a coop at night. It will typically feed on one or two chickens in this manner, then depart, leaving the remains behind.
If one of your birds seems to have simply disappeared, or if there is nothing but a scattering of feathers in the coop, run or yard, the probable culprit is a fox. Foxes tend to kill or severely injure their prey, then carry them back to their dens, often to feed their kits. Coyotes and bobcats are also known to carry off their prey, as are hawks, owls and other birds of prey.
If you are missing one or more chicks, you might have a rat or opossum problem. Both predators grab infant poultry off an unguarded nest and carry them away. Rat snakes also prey on chicks, eating them whole. Another carnivore that targets chicks is the domestic cat, which tends to carry chicks off to play with this lively new toy elsewhere.
Missing Legs and Wings
A chicken whose mortal injury was the loss of a limb, such as a leg or a wing, was the victim of a raccoon. In this case, the raccoon reached through the fencing and caught hold of your bird’s limb instead of its head.
What Exactly Is An Egg Yolk?
FAQ
What eats eggs but leaves the shell?
Foxes also eat eggs. They usually open the eggs just enough to lick out the contents and leave the shells beside the nest. Most foxes live in wooded areas or on open plains, where they dig dens in the ground. They sometimes use hollow logs for dens.
How do I tell what is eating my chicken eggs?
Snakes, skunks, rats, weasels, and other animals will eat eggs and leave eggshells behind, which may make your chickens want to eat eggs too. When your hens eat eggs, the dried yolk will usually be on their beaks and the sides of their heads.
Do rodents eat chicken eggs?
Rats will generally only prey on chicks and eggs, but if you have a serious infestation and food is scarce, they can also raid your coop at night and attack your juvenile and adult birds. Third, you don’t want rats stealing your gourmet chicke.
What predator leaves chicken carcass?
Most chicken predators will take their prey with them, but a few will leave carcasses behind. These include: Raccoons (especially if they reached through the run) Owls.