FARM Son of a ...!!! All my chickens got wiped out last night....

[mbabulldog]

Chickens are in a fenced in area, though it does have an open top. Last night I remember "tucking them in" but since it was still light out I didn't lock them in like I do most nights.

Fast forward to this morning, and I go out to feed them and say good morning. The one is laying down near the back corner, and I didn't think anything of it until she didn't come over to say good morning. Closer examination = blood and feathers everywhere. I go looking for the rest of the birds, and they're dead too, just no carnage, looks like whatever killed them just killed them with a broken neck and left them lie.

I live in Suburbia, so I'm not too concerned about mink or weasels, but would a raccoon, fox, or skunk kill for the sake of killing? How about a neighborhood cat?

I'm pissed, my birds were like family, they didn't deserve to go out this way. I'm to blame for leaving the coup unlocked, I accept that and I feel like shit for the rookie mistake, but do I need to set traps to try and catch the offending predator, or is this going to be a one-hit type of thing?

messed up thing is my Labrador was acting all goofy this morning around 3am, now I wonder if he heard something outside...

shitty day...

 

[Gercarson]

I know you will get a LOT of opinions as to "what" did this - I can say that this same thing happened to me and that the culprit was a raccoon.
Just seemed to kill for the sake of killing. But, I think the reason so many die is because of the frenzy the birds go through is the attraction for the raccoon - then, they are killed but only one (maybe two) are partly eaten - they really like to just take one and run with it.

 

[mzkitty]

Some nasty human?

 

[Swampdweller]

Sorry for you're loss, Dog. I had 'coon problems once. The coon killed a chicken but took it away with it. It came back the next night for seconds but got discouraged by a .22 rimfire to the head. You may need a live trap to settle the issue.

 

[lectrickitty]

Sounds like a dog. Wild animals rarely kill and waste, they kill to eat. Dogs will "play" with a chicken until the bird is dead, then "play" with the next chicken until none of the chickens are able to "play" anymore, so the dog moves on to the next "fun game" it can find. Once a dog finds a game to play, it will return to play again. When you get new girls in the hen house, watch for the visitor to come back for another play date.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[mbabulldog]

I just got back from Bass Pro with a catch-alive trap, I can set this in the entrance to the henhouse, which judging by the feather carnage is where it all started, and then ended out in the yard.

I was even looking at the Conibears for a few minutes, but decided that catch-alive was the way to go, in case it was a neighbors dog or cat.

I'm leaning towards either a cat or raccoon, but either way I need to catch this predator before I re-stock the henhouse.

BTW, anyway know a breed of chicken that's a good layer AND squawks like a son-of-a-b if danger comes near?

 

[night driver]

Ya need a couple geese or guinea fowl.

 

[Publius]

I'm up at all hours of the day and night and have been caught off guard a few times and it sounds like you have a Raccoon problem and raccoons can climb to get into a pen area.

I cannot tell how many times I'v run out back with a shotgun in hand and shot some critter that was killing my chickens. Over the years I'v had far more problems with dogs that seem to come out from nowhere than I did with fox or coyotes and only had one each run in with the later two.
Raccoon and Opossum have been the biggest wildlife problem and that was second to domestic dogs.

 

[almost ready]

Not sure of the predator but it will be back. They always remember where they've scored a hit and include it in their trapline to recheck. Maybe not immediately, depends on how full they are from their other excursions.

Sounds like some sort of canine to me. The only mass killings locally of which I have good knowledge were from domesticated dogs that got loose, in one instance, or wolves (against sheep), in other instances. All were witnessed and interrupted. Coyotes, raccoons, skunks, weasels, hawks, and owls haven't gone in for the mass killing spree of chickens. . They kill and either eat on site or take it away, but no mass killing at all. So I'd expect canine(s).

The wolves, to the best of my knowledge, only engage in multiple kills without eating when they are in training mode of the youngsters. They train just like any other team of special forces. The old-timers are well aware of this.

 

[Suzieq]

I know foxes will kill chickens. Look for tracks in the dirt around the coop or general area, which might might give you a clue what was out there. You might have to set up a trap with some bate in it, then turn on a night vision camera.

 

[Publius]

I just got back from Bass Pro with a catch-alive trap, I can set this in the entrance to the henhouse, which judging by the feather carnage is where it all started, and then ended out in the yard.

I was even looking at the Conibears for a few minutes, but decided that catch-alive was the way to go, in case it was a neighbors dog or cat.

I'm leaning towards either a cat or raccoon, but either way I need to catch this predator before I re-stock the henhouse.

BTW, anyway know a breed of chicken that's a good layer AND squawks like a son-of-a-b if danger comes near?

Not to add to your frustrations but don't be surprised to end up trapping every cat in the neighborhood before you get what ever it was.

 

[sierra don]

I had a similar situation, killed 2 of my 10 chickens, forgot to lock the door like you did. It was a raccoon and only ate a little off of each chicken. I don't think it was a cat, can't really see a cat killing all of the chickens just for the fun of it. I see a few mentions of possibly a dog or a fox, I don't believe either one of them can climb a fence and then climb back out, they would dig under the fence to get in.

 

[almost ready]

Don't all chickens raise a ruckus? Auracanas sure do, and all together. They are amazing, and everyone knows the tune, instinctively, when they sing their sign for "hawk", and even the babies run over to the fences and buildings where the hawks can't swoop down, grab them, and fly off without landing and walking. They go on with their chants about 15 minutes after the wild birds go on about their business.

Publius is right about the cats. They love free food, but that isn't cat damage you described, for sure.

 

[hammerhead]

Maybe an inexpensive game camera if your trap doesn't work? I've thought some about chickens, but the mountain lions range out into the plains from the foothills and are established. I would assume an open-top area is more of a dine-n-dash than a secure pen.

 

[almost ready]

I had a similar situation, killed 2 of my 10 chickens, forgot to lock the door like you did. It was a raccoon and only ate a little off of each chicken. I don't think it was a cat, can't really see a cat killing all of the chickens just for the fun of it. I see a few mentions of possibly a dog or a fox, I don't believe either one of them can climb a fence and then climb back out, they would dig under the fence to get in.

Wolves climb fences, and we had the baby to prove it...a beautiful and smart half wolf. Nobody ever had a better dog, but how daddy got over the 6 foot chain link fence and out again is something we'd like to have seen.

As a last comment, for chickens to be secure in this country you need reinforced chicken wire overhead and a barrier under the fenceline as well. You'll still have losses to weasels, that can get through anything a mouse can get through, but they will be limited losses. Outdoor chickens can be lured back home by louding and routinely bringing their favorite food into the fenced area about a half hour before they are ready to roost. They'll just go back in the coop out of habit at that point.

 

[Countrymouse]

Chickens are in a fenced in area, though it does have an open top. Last night I remember "tucking them in" but since it was still light out I didn't lock them in like I do most nights.

Fast forward to this morning, and I go out to feed them and say good morning. The one is laying down near the back corner, and I didn't think anything of it until she didn't come over to say good morning. Closer examination = blood and feathers everywhere. I go looking for the rest of the birds, and they're dead too, just no carnage, looks like whatever killed them just killed them with a broken neck and left them lie.

I live in Suburbia, so I'm not too concerned about mink or weasels, but would a raccoon, fox, or skunk kill for the sake of killing? How about a neighborhood cat?

I'm pissed, my birds were like family, they didn't deserve to go out this way. I'm to blame for leaving the coup unlocked, I accept that and I feel like shit for the rookie mistake, but do I need to set traps to try and catch the offending predator, or is this going to be a one-hit type of thing?

messed up thing is my Labrador was acting all goofy this morning around 3am, now I wonder if he heard something outside...

shitty day...

EXACT same thing happened to me.

Turned out it was DOGS....I clearly saw their many tracks. Not a racoon---most definitely dogs.

EVERY SINGLE CHICKEN killed--but NONE torn or eaten. Which is typical of dogs, who (when out of control, badly raised, wild, etc.) will kill for SPORT.

In my case, it was determined to be two pit bulls---owned by a lady in a subdivision behind me--who knew they could "climb" fences but never did anything to restrain them from getting out of her fenced yard.

At another time, I SAW them, and barely got my kids back inside (this was before my own yard was fenced--only the chicken pen was fenced, and--like yours---open at the top before they came roaring through the yard, running who knows where. They were exceedingly fast, and I was terrified I wouldn't get all my sons (who were little then) in the house in time--one was blind and I had to lead him, slowly, and the other was a baby I still had to carry, and I was screaming for my 2nd-born (about 2 years old, then) to run for the house. We barely made it in in time.

They were finally stopped when they pulled the same stunt and climbed over their fence to attack this lady's next-door neighbors---the folks were being visited by relatives with small children, who were in THEIR OWN YARD, and these dogs came up and over their own fence, went INTO the neighbor's yard where the small children were standing in the driveway, and attacked them. The neighbors had to BEAT the dogs off their kids---and both the adults and children were severely mauled.

And the woman who owned them just came out and nonchalantly WATCHED---not doing anything to try to help or call off her dogs, and even refused to call 911 to help them.

The dogs ended up being euthanized, and the woman cited.

 

[Melodi]

Foxes will do this and so will dogs of any sort, cats would usually take one chicken and run (we lost a prize rooster that way, to a large and well loves former "Grand Champion of Europe" forest cat). Cat was allowed to live but became and indoor-only kitty after that, but forest cats are huge (up to 25 pounds) and related to Main Coons, but even he only took one and he smelled of feathers for days...a Fox wiped out nearly my entire flock once in a similar situation to yours so my guess is fox, dog, coyote etc.

The live trap is a good idea, also cover the top of your chicken run if you can - if you area is usually safe, you can let them roam a bit in the day but they need shelter at night (and I had a Fox take another favorite rooster in broad day light and he had the spurs of a former fighting cock too but it didn't save him, I saw the whole thing helpless from the window).

If it is a neighbors animal you can complain but you will also know what the threat is that you are dealing with.

At least, painful as it is, this is a good time of year to get new stock as everyone tends to have babies and "cluckin hens" as the Irish call them (I have three with eggs under them).

 

[buttie]

My brother's flock was all killed in one night by a bob cat. He caught the cat in a live trap and dutifully turned it over to fish & game, who released it about a mile away (Grrrr). He had left the door open and lives in a suburban area like you, which is why the cat did not get a dirt nap.

I had a fox get one of my birds a few months ago. I setup a big live trap, caught the dog 2x before he wised up, and caught a fox about 3 weeks later. That fox won't be back.

I'd suggest using one of the dead birds to bait the trap as the culprit will likely return for it's booty.

 

[Jacki]

I agree with completely inclosed coops. Actually, completely inclosed barns is best if you have small stock like sheep or goats. My aunt just had her herd of cashmere goats killed by a cougar who came through a high window into her otherwise inclosed barn.

Jacki

 

[LC]

Many good suggestions. I have also seen skunks kill multiple chickens tho it was mostly the roos who were trying to protect their flock.

 

[almost ready]

I once had a large dog (half great dane) escape over a 6 foot solid wooden fence the day she was scheduled to go to the vet and get spayed. So horrified -- couldn't believe she had just seemingly evaporated into thin air. The vet, when I called, told me it was quite common for dogs to know "what was up" and disappear. I was truly stunned -- she was found about 5 miles away later that day. Looking back, wonder why nobody had warned on this, if it was so common it was just a joke among vets.

sorry, don't mean to drift the thread, but if a dog climbed the fence, it might be an exceptionally large or strong one.

 

[rhughe13]

Racoons will kill all of your chickens at once just for the strike and taste of the blood. They will also return. Racoons are extremely destructive to poultry. I've had the same problem and have gotten to the point of keeping a trap set almost every day.

Possums tend to kill one chicken at a time, and eat their kill, returning until they are all gone.

 

[Milk-maid]

(and I had a Fox take another favorite rooster in broad day light....)

They could come and take my rooster. He's become a PITA. Getting mean and I don't know how to stop this.

But I'd be devastated if they took and killed any of my girls.

I'm fanatical about closing up their chicken coop come sundown. They have a small chicken pen that is covered and I even close the coop off from that.
No matter what I'm doing, I go out and close things up tight. I've read too many horror stories like this one.

During the day I feel pretty safe leaving them out to their own devices in the big open pen. They have places to run to in case a hawk or something comes by.

A cat came by one day and just breezed thru checking things out, but came back another day for the kill. My rooster sent out the alarm and alerted my dog who chased the cat up a tree.
Then the dog alerted us to what she had trapped and we made life miserable for the cat. That cat has never come back either.

MM

 

[sssarawolf]

Yes raccoons will do that, large coons will kill geese also. We had a bear that killed 32 chickens in one night. Good luck with the next batch. Getum now so their laying in the fall.

 

[cookie mom]

Sorry for your loss..... We've had chickens since 1998. Lost a lot to possum's until I got a trap. Have shot many through the years now, only caught 2 raccoons. They were so big, we took them to the next county and let them out! My pens are completely covered because of chicken hawks too. Best of luck on your next batch.

 

[Satanta]

I'd go with the coon or cat and yes, cats do kill just for gits and shiggles.

Live trap is fine if the critter will fit inside of it and honestly, no matter *what* I caught it would take a bullet to the head and I don't care if it's the very next door neighbors fluffy kitty or Lassie.

You ca take it home to it's poor owners who will swear it wasn't *their* animal or it won't happen again but your issue with the killings are not as importat as their daily problems and they will forget then rinse and repeat except when fluffy or lassie doesn't phone home the second time they'll know who is responsible so SSS.

When I ra my ranch I had agreements with a neighbor to let their dogs roam-a old, old, sheepdog-ish thing ad an old, old, dustmop thing. They were too old to harm anything and simply wet back and forth between owners and owners kids houses for treats.

Everything else got eliminated.

 

[Satanta]

They could come and take my rooster. He's become a PITA. Getting mean and I don't know how to stop this.

Stick some seed in the end of a 12ga. and vaporize his head when he sticks it in to eat.

 

[Cardinal]

So sorry bout this; I have lost 25 chickens over the last four months to a fox. Sounds like you have a coon. Fox will take em back home to share with the family. My newest batches of pullets will stay in an enclosed pen. And they will get locked up at night.

 

[willowlady]

Last year we built a new, larger hen house and revamped the coop, as well. The hen house has hardware cloth completely surrounding it and the run space below the house. We also have a fairly large chicken-wire enclosure for them to run in (we let them into the yards during the day), but chicken wire is not impervious to coons and possums. We live in suburbia, and have live-trapped both coons and possum. Both can annihilate a flock in less than a minute. The hens gets locked in their house every night. The coons aren't smart enough to open the gates -- yet. So sorry for your loss. I would be devastated, too.

 

[summerthyme]

I'm really sorry. That stinks. Raccoons will kill an entire flock, but it looks like a mass murder scene when they do- blood and parts everywhere. They aren't "neat" killers. Broken necks means something grabbed and shook- I'd say 90% sure it's canine. If none were missing or eaten, it's well fed canine. Probably a neighboring dog.

I don't know of any wildling that kills and doesn't eat SOME part of them. Weasels will kill and just drink the blood, but they don't break necks- they leave two small punctures in the throat. And in general, they won't kill an entire group at once.

Consider spreading some flour or lime around the perimeter- if whatever it was comes back, even if it doesn't end up in the trap, you may be able to see tracks.

Summerthyme

 

[WalknTrot]

99% bet it was a coon. They climb like monkeys and just kill for fun. Savage varmints - I don't abide them anywhere near my farm and dress down fool neighbors who like to feed them. May be the MOST destructive predator of domestic fowl.

Fox, coyote and wild felines would have taken the meat away. Not dogs because the birds were still inside the undamaged pen, right? How would a dog get in?

Sorry you lost your birds, but if you keep chickens long enough, it's gonna happen.

 

[naturallysweet]

How many birds were the entire flock? If it was 3-5, then it could have been a raccoon or fox. But if you had 30-50 birds, then it had to be a dog. Raccoons, possums, and skunks will kill a few more than they eat. But they won't kill dozens at one time.

Please,please,please - if you catch a raccoon - SHOOT IT. Or at least rehome it deep in the woods many, many miles away from anyone's house. Once they get caught in a livetrap, they won't go back in one. Too many people catch raccoons in the city and subburbs and release them just outside their area. These animals already understand that people equal food, and always head right to my chicken coop.

 

[astrobee]

Maybe YOU did it in your sleep. Have you been tested for a sleep deprivation disorder called Chicken-Munchausen by Proxy? Ahhhh, sorry, shouldn't make light of your loss. But they are in a better place now. They really are.

My guess by the way, is a coon, what Walkn Trot says.

 

[TimeTraveler]

Set up a trail cam to find out what it is that killed your chickens. It will be back.

 

[Momof5]

I am thinking a dog. Especially if there's a bird type dog around. We had one that was part bird dog and was a perfect angel around the chickens. Then one day it just went hairy canary on my chickens. It had killed almost all of them. Was just feathers and dead chickens everywhere. After that she would go straight for them when you put her out. She did it quick too. We just went out for a bit and came home to it.

 

[Uncle Hezekiah]

Not to add to your frustrations but don't be surprised to end up trapping every cat in the neighborhood before you get what ever it was.

AND, coons are notoriously hard to trap. Damn things have super-power strength too. They can utterly destroy cheaper live traps!

 

[mbabulldog]

this sucks.

just last weekend I spent an entire sunday putting up a 5 foot wire fence to keep them from flying out; now they're gone...ugh.

I don't think a dog got them, there's no indication that anything of any dog-size climbed the fence or dug under. it was 5 birds, and only the first one really showed any trauma (feathers and blood all over the place). the rest were just lying there, with their heads at a weird angle. but I don't know if that was rigor mortis kicking in, because their bodies were pretty stiff by sunrise this morning.

Neighbors tell me there are raccoons in the neighborhood, though I've never witnessed it. we do have fox and coyote, but I doubt a coyote would have gotten in without visual evidence. And also, since it looks like the whole thing started in the coop, the door to that is about 6x6, too small for a coyote, but i'm guessing plenty big for a coon or fox.

I'm going to bait up the trap tonight and try and catch whatever it was. and i'm sorry if its someone's cat, but its crossed a line when it killed my livestock, and it won't be coming back.

this would have been devastating in SHTF; if it had to happen, I'm glad it happened now so I can prepare my roosts better.

 

[ainitfunny]

Milkmaid said:"They could come and take my rooster. He's become a PITA. Getting mean and I don't know how to stop this.'

Stewed chicken n dumplings?

 

[Momof5]

I was thinking, possibly an owl. They can tear up a coop.

 

[one4freedom]

It seems to make a difference whether an attack happens in the dark or when there is enough light for the birds to see. If they can see they put up a fight and more damage is done to the birds.