predator identification

Date sort Score sort
comptonkids

comptonkids

Chirping
Apr 5, 2015
124
10
91
texas
I came home this morning to an attack on my oldest birds (about 5 Weeks old)
I'm missing 3 (2 buffs, 1 roo 1 pullet and my silkie)
I've searched the yard and the grass is tall but I can't find them

I have 2 Boston terriers ( 5 months and 2.5 yrs)
they showed SOME interest in the ducks when I first moved them out. But have left them alone after that
they never cared about the chickens at all

Trying to upload pics but maybe they are too graphic? Only letting me upload the one of the scene
this is Hiro snuggling with dead Baymax :(

400



Brought them into the brooder and under the lamp
this is them now, the sexlinks seems to have a hurt foot, I'm watching her to see if she'll eventually put weight on it
400


400


So, missing 3 completely no sign of them at all
one is decapitated
the duck has some of her gizzard out

All were soaking wet, and it wasn't raining (they have shelter)

Sound like a puppy got them?
 
Last edited:
I would say dog also. Terriers are natural hunters of small prey. The fact that the remains are wet points to them being 'mouthed' by something that carried them around for awhile and slobbered on them. If a hungry predator got a hold of your birds I would imagine that they would eat their fill of them while a well fed dog would carry them around in their mouths thinking of them as a play toy.

The one decapitated though is curious. Possible that it stuck its head through your fencing and was caught? I agree with the thought of did your dogs find a way in with the birds. Curious is that if they found their way in how did they find their way out?

We have a Jack Russell/Border Collie mix that is two years old and a first rate hunter of small prey, mainly voles that she digs out of their burrows. When we put our birds out side this week, the first thing we did was hot wire the run. Yesterday afternoon was sunny and pleasant so we let the 6 week old birds out for their first taste of the outdoors. Our dog went nuts. Racing around the run (dog kennel panels) barking hysterically. Then she made contact with the hot wire. Suddenly the chickens were evil and that fence a threat. She raced to the house and wants nothing to do with the barn or the run. We hated hearing her yelp and seeing her look so defeated but our flock cannot protect itself from a large predator. That is our job.

If you find that it was your pups, don't be too hard on them. Dogs cannot help being dogs.

I highly recommend hot wiring your run and making it more predator proof.

Also keep an eye on your Bostons and see if they are suddenly showing an interest in your remaining flock.
 
microchick said:
I would say dog also. Terriers are natural hunters of small prey. The fact that the remains are wet points to them being 'mouthed' by something that carried them around for awhile and slobbered on them. If a hungry predator got a hold of your birds I would imagine that they would eat their fill of them while a well fed dog would carry them around in their mouths thinking of them as a play toy.

The one decapitated though is curious. Possible that it stuck its head through your fencing and was caught? I agree with the thought of did your dogs find a way in with the birds. Curious is that if they found their way in how did they find their way out?

We have a Jack Russell/Border Collie mix that is two years old and a first rate hunter of small prey, mainly voles that she digs out of their burrows. When we put our birds out side this week, the first thing we did was hot wire the run. Yesterday afternoon was sunny and pleasant so we let the 6 week old birds out for their first taste of the outdoors. Our dog went nuts. Racing around the run (dog kennel panels) barking hysterically. Then she made contact with the hot wire. Suddenly the chickens were evil and that fence a threat. She raced to the house and wants nothing to do with the barn or the run. We hated hearing her yelp and seeing her look so defeated but our flock cannot protect itself from a large predator. That is our job.

If you find that it was your pups, don't be too hard on them. Dogs cannot help being dogs.

I highly recommend hot wiring your run and making it more predator proof.

Also keep an eye on your Bostons and see if they are suddenly showing an interest in your remaining flock.
Click to expand...
hot wire sounds like a great idea!
The older one seems...ashamed? She has been sulking around since I found the birds
the pup is her typical puppy self

I'll Def be more alert from now on
 
It could possibly be a rat snake or chicken snake. They will eat chickens, and if their prey is too big they will spit them back out and leave their feathers/fluff slick looking like the photos you posted. I saw one under my large coop yesterday but couldn't manage to .... ahem, get rid of it. I will try again today if I see any sign of it. I really don't like these guys. Pulled one of my coop a few years ago. It was around midnight and the birds were making a bunch of noise so I went out to find this thing in the coop. It went in thru the 'chicken wire' that I use up to in the ventilation area. It was about 5 ft long.
 
Raccoon. They will find a way to get into anything. I had one break a window in my coop, then kill a duck, and a 5 month old bird, it took the 5 month old bird right outside the window where it ate it's head.
 

Similar threads

gwells1980
    • Sad
The majority of my flock killed in one night
2 3
Replies
20
Views
2K
mxp
mxp
P
    • Like
Finally met my predator match. Need help.
2 3
Replies
21
Views
2K
Molpet
Molpet
Kelllynnl
Question about worming chickens
2
Replies
11
Views
755
Kelllynnl
Kelllynnl
J
Predators and secured fencing/netting?
Replies
2
Views
564
RedwoodCoastChick
RedwoodCoastChick
AJDots
My new puppy has suddenly taken an interest in our new hens.
2 3
Replies
26
Views
1K
SandyRiverChick
SandyRiverChick

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom