Predator Reference Guide
Predator
Methods of entry
Hours of activity
Wounds/evidence
(night, day or both)
Coyate
digging under enclosure while free-
both
ranging
little to no evidence, feathers left behind
Fox
digging under enclosure while free-
both, mostly night
little to no evidence, feathers left behind,
ranging
breasts are eaten first, carcass has curled
toes due to foxes pulling the chicken's ten-
dons when consuming the leg meat.
Typical no.
birds affecte
Weasel/mink
sneaks through holes the size of a
night
quarter, climbing
Raccoon
through chicken wire, can open
night
simple locks
Badger
digging under enclosure
night
Rat
through small openings in enclosure
both
and holes, chew through chicken wire
Fisher cat
clawing through chicken wire,
unsecured coops, digging
both
Skunk
enters through unsecured enclosure
night
Snake
sneaks through small holes
both
Hawk
Owl
while in flight
while in flight
day
night
Family dog
digging under enclosure while
day
free-ranging
Opossum
unsecured coop, worn-out wire,
night
through holes in ground
Bear
brute force, very destructive even
both
for secured coop
Bobcat/lynx
unsecured coop
night in summer,
both in winter
small bite marks, some heads eaten,
carcasses found piled up
crops and heads eaten
eats eggs, shells left behind
Rarely attack poultry, remove body parts
and bury them in den-like holes
bite marks on adult chickens
dead baby chicks
egg eater - have been known to nibble
on the shells
multiple carcasses
possible skunk smell, baby chicks killed,
abdomens eaten
egg eater - leaves shells behind
egg eater, missing baby chicks
little evidence, feathers left behind
deep wounds on head and neck, some
meat missing, feathers on fence posts
not eaten but mauled
abdomen is eaten/ missing, bodies are
mauled, eaten at the vent (posterior open
in, also called the cloacal area)
egg eater, leaves behind shells
goes after chickens' feed but will maul
all it encounters, carcasses remaining
found mauled and ripped apart
head(s) missing, and eaten, egg eater
1
3 or more
3 or more
3 or more
2 or more
several
several
2 or more
1 to 2
2 or more
1 or more
primarily night
little to no evidence left, all dragged away
3 or more
Mountain Ron brute force
both
heral/
unsecured coop
Gomestic cal
messy scene, bird parts and feathers
1
scattered about the area, meaty portions
are eaten
both
missing birds, no evidence
1 or more
Predator
Methods of entry
Hours of activity
Wounds/evidence
(night, day or both)
Coyate
digging under enclosure while free-
both
ranging
little to no evidence, feathers left behind
Fox
digging under enclosure while free-
both, mostly night
little to no evidence, feathers left behind,
ranging
breasts are eaten first, carcass has curled
toes due to foxes pulling the chicken's ten-
dons when consuming the leg meat.
Typical no.
birds affecte
Weasel/mink
sneaks through holes the size of a
night
quarter, climbing
Raccoon
through chicken wire, can open
night
simple locks
Badger
digging under enclosure
night
Rat
through small openings in enclosure
both
and holes, chew through chicken wire
Fisher cat
clawing through chicken wire,
unsecured coops, digging
both
Skunk
enters through unsecured enclosure
night
Snake
sneaks through small holes
both
Hawk
Owl
while in flight
while in flight
day
night
Family dog
digging under enclosure while
day
free-ranging
Opossum
unsecured coop, worn-out wire,
night
through holes in ground
Bear
brute force, very destructive even
both
for secured coop
Bobcat/lynx
unsecured coop
night in summer,
both in winter
small bite marks, some heads eaten,
carcasses found piled up
crops and heads eaten
eats eggs, shells left behind
Rarely attack poultry, remove body parts
and bury them in den-like holes
bite marks on adult chickens
dead baby chicks
egg eater - have been known to nibble
on the shells
multiple carcasses
possible skunk smell, baby chicks killed,
abdomens eaten
egg eater - leaves shells behind
egg eater, missing baby chicks
little evidence, feathers left behind
deep wounds on head and neck, some
meat missing, feathers on fence posts
not eaten but mauled
abdomen is eaten/ missing, bodies are
mauled, eaten at the vent (posterior open
in, also called the cloacal area)
egg eater, leaves behind shells
goes after chickens' feed but will maul
all it encounters, carcasses remaining
found mauled and ripped apart
head(s) missing, and eaten, egg eater
1
3 or more
3 or more
3 or more
2 or more
several
several
2 or more
1 to 2
2 or more
1 or more
primarily night
little to no evidence left, all dragged away
3 or more
Mountain Ron brute force
both
heral/
unsecured coop
Gomestic cal
messy scene, bird parts and feathers
1
scattered about the area, meaty portions
are eaten
both
missing birds, no evidence
1 or more
