What is killing my chickens?

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I can back this one up for sure!

Thanks for your OPINION, however I do and have always have protected my animals from killers. Like I've said before, this is the VERY FIRST TIME this has ever happened to us in 11 years!! I have sought advise here so I could learn more about what is killing the chickens and what I can do about it. I'm not sitting around in a blinded idle state just letting it happen, I'm concerned, sad and very pro-active in finding out about how to stop it so I can protect my animals against ANYTHING that's coming within the perimeter of my house that may also target the rest of my animals. A perfect example of living the way I live: I have 17 cats and kittens - they all live outdoors, I CHOOSE not to have indoor cats for a variety of reasons. Living in jail or working in a cubicle every single day is not an ideal life for anyone or anything.

S

starrj how about this ?? http://www.niteguard.com/Blog/Nite-...ht-Predators-Share-the-Same-Deep-Rooted-Fear/ and its solar ???

The response I just posted is directed toward Okie Amazon, not for the nice responder agreeing with the other poster about the raccoon climbing in the barn - thank you for your information. I'm now leaning toward raccoons or opposums doing the dirty work, rather than an owl. I think I would've heard one of them hooting by now. I live on the 3rd story of my home and cannot hear when a marauder is in the area. I'm going to try the flashlight prowl at night to see if I can see what the animal is and then go from there in trying (doing) something to erraticate it.

S

I finally bought a game camera trying to figure out what was going on in our barn!! We caught a turf war 3 racoons on one side 3 skunks on the other side Its amazing whats out there while we sleep !!!

I live in your area. I think foxes take them back to their den, so probably not a fox. I know that we have a lot of coyotes around here. What do coyotes do. I would think they could probably beat the fence system. I think until you figure it out I would keep them confined in prime hunting times. I have been told hawks usually hunt early, so they are usually full by early afternoon. My experience with things like fox and such they dusk. I would make sure to get them in at least 30 or 40 minutes before dusk. I know it stinks to have to confine them so much but, it is better then having dead chickies.

Good luck,
MIchelle

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I didn't realize you were letting them free range all the time. You have to keep them in until a certain time and you have to get them in before dusk. It is for their safety, It isn't cruel. You can let them free range during the day. Trust me your chicks will appreciate being put somewhere safe when the predators are out, they will sleep a lot better. I mean you just can't leave them out. My chickens were free ranging we had one flighty chicken we couldn't get back in and I kid you not 30 minutes after dusk she was dead. Fox took her.

Michelle

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I think you should definitely let them roam and enjoy your animals. I think you should put them up for their safety right before night fall.

Good luck

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I can see this is an old posting but it may help someone else. I live in South Carolina (originally from Georgia) and I had the same problem. I lost five in three nights and the killer was going over the fence. Keep in mind that most wild animals kill for food, and only a few will kill for the just to kill. If a fox could climb up and over and back up and over he would kill one and try to take it with him and if not he will eat it there in the pen. He won't kill another until he's hungry again. Owl's hunt smaller prey, mostly rabbits and rodents. If there was a small chic out roaming around at night that would qualify as a meal for an owl also. After I lost my fifth chicken I put up a tree cam, same as hunters use. Turns out that bobcats love to kill chickens and just for the hell of it. Any large cat, even domesticated cats that are allowed to roam free will kill chickens. Make sure there are no places he can get under the fence and you definitely need either netting or some type of covering over the top.