Predator - What Are You?

We have been dealing with a predator problem for several weeks now, I really don't want to loose any more animals.  It is rather distressing to think you have a secure safe place for your animals, only to go out and find one headless or just missing period.  We had not had any predator problems until recently, and now we are puzzled as to what is killing our poultry.  After the first killings, I try and make sure all of the chickens are put up.  I finished the rooster coop with hardware cloth and made the door and hung it.  I even rebuilt the duck house and skinned it with metal, put polycarbonate for a window and made a lockable door.  But...roosters can be stubborn and sometimes they get up too high to reach them...like on top of the chicken coops or up over 15 feet in the tree.  We have lost five of our flock, the last two were roosters that decided to roost in the tree, I tried to get them down from the coop roof...but they flew over to the tree and just climbed even higher.  Those that choose to spend the night in the tree are the latest lost.  Don't let anyone tell you chickens don't fly...they fly to the top of the coop 8 feet high, they fly from the top of that coop at least 30 feet through the air to the top of the other coop or a bit further to the tree.

I think our predator is striking between 5:30am and 6:30am.  Today, it tripped the trap...but was not caught.  My husband pulled the cameras card, but the images were black...and I found out maybe it was my fault, I have not dealt with a trail camera before so I need to read the instructions.  Apparently you have to turn it off to pull the card and when you turn it on to put the card back in, it needs to be in test mode or something.  I just didn't know...so we are still in the dark as to what it or they may be.  My husband found talon marks among the feathers that came from the last rooster killed, so it could be a hawk or owl...but what tripped the trap?  Would a bird try to get in a live trap for marshmallows and tuna fish?  I have been trying a lot of different foods since the dead rooster didn't work...and neither did the canned cat food.

I have been hearing an owl at dusk when I put all the chickens, ducks and geese up for the night.  We have had no losses during the daylight hours.  But we have been letting the dogs out to run the land again.  I worry about them getting in the street in front of the house...although we don't have a lot of traffic, the speed limit is 60 miles an hour and logging trucks do use the road.  We have been taking the dogs on walks too...all the way to the back of the property so they can mark their territory.  Our dog Sophie keeps getting in the chicken pen, she ignores the chickens...she just likes their food and droppings, which I think is disgusting, but at least she doesn't chase or harm the chickens and she does mark that territory too.

I need to get out and do chores, another cold front is suppose to hit and we may get ice or snow out of this one, I still have not integrated the last of my babies in with the other chickens and they are way to big to be in the brooder any more...I guess I had better get busy.

Don't look if you are squeamish...these pictures are from one of our predator attacks.  I never thought I would be so mad or touch dead critters like this.