Chicken stealin varmint!

FrogTacos

In the Brooder
Jul 23, 2015
16
2
26
Wagoner, OK
Lost 7 last night.
Momma slept on the ground in the corner of the barn with 3 babies under her wing. She put up one heck of a fight, there are feathers everywhere (she was black) 2 of her babies are gone.
My 4 new birds that I just got the other day, about month old Cuckoo Marans, also gone. No feathers from them.
Talked to my neighbor, he lost some too.
The rest of my flock was safe and sound up in the rafters of the barn.
Not sure if it's relevant, but my puppy vanished a few days ago. She was about the size of a cat.

I'm getting traps today and will be sleeping in the barn tonight with my shotgun.

I'm pretty sure it's a coon that got them, probably drug them to a nest of babies.

I will update tomorrow as to wether or not I got the varmint.
 
wow almost the exact thing happened to me I came home from school one day and 6 of my 8 chickens were missing message me so we can disscuss this more
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You may already have considered this but do you have any interest in an LGD? They are 24/7 protectors & put varmint problems in your rearview mirror.
 
Now that your predator has tasted your chickens you have your best shot at catching it bc you KNOW it will be back again. I have taken all my chickens out of the coop & overnighted them in dog kennels elsewhere securely (garage, sunroom, etc); then baited a HavAHeart trap with a small live chicken that I put inside a hardware cloth covered container. It's a little traumatic for the bait but if you protect the bird thoroughly with small enough gauge wire that crafty little raccoon hands can't get through, you WILL catch your predator to do with as you see fit. It's a little complicated & time intensive so I turned quickly to LGDs & have not lost any barnyard stock since. Day & night, they are better than almost any kind of human-made defense against barnyard thieves. Best of luck to you.
 
Not sure if it's relevant, but my puppy vanished a few days ago. She was about the size of a cat.
I didn't think that racoons would eat dogs. They will fight with dogs and bite them up pretty bad but I have never heard of a racoon eating a dog.
Do you have coyotes in your area? They do pack off dogs and cats.
 
Now that your predator has tasted your chickens you have your best shot at catching it bc you KNOW it will be back again.  I have taken all my chickens out of the coop & overnighted them in dog kennels elsewhere securely (garage, sunroom, etc); then baited a HavAHeart trap with a small live chicken that I put inside a hardware cloth covered container.  It's a little traumatic for the bait but if you protect the bird thoroughly with small enough gauge wire that crafty little raccoon hands can't get through, you WILL catch your predator to do with as you see fit.  It's a little complicated & time intensive so I turned quickly to LGDs & have not lost any barnyard stock since.  Day & night, they are better than almost any kind of human-made defense against barnyard thieves.  Best of luck to you.    

i have one, she was not where i should have had her.
 
I'm sure it has happened to almost everyone posting on this site. Stuff happens & we all learn from it. Very empathetic! I know u will be like Fort Knox now! I pity the next varmint that tries to snatch fowl from you now!!
 

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