13 out of 14 gone--what could have done this???

[beccawprice]

I left this morning on vacation. My little flock of 14 chickens was safe and sound when I checked on them last night at midnight. My BIL went to take care of them late morning and found complete carnage. 1 left out of 14.

Since I'm out of town, the whole report of what happened is second hand. I wish I had pictures.

My birds were in a tractor covered in hardware cloth, with an apron 2 feet on each side on the ground. The shaded part was sheets of roofing heavy duty plastic stuff. The animal tore through the roofing material--the one place I never would have thought possible!

There was one chicken dismembered, 3 missing, and the rest just...dead.

Little bits of yellowy fur were around the entrance point.

Would a dog have done this? Fox?

I'm heartsick about this. 1 chicken left.

 

[lickskillet]

I don't know if a fox would be strong enough(have had no problems with them). My first thought was maybe a big dog. Sorry for your loss, it's disheartning! Poor thing that's left, it must be tramatized! Hope you find out what did it!

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

where are you from? could have been a bear, fox or coyote?

 

[Polish Chickens]

It could either be a Racoon, Fox or Fisher Cat

 

[amazondoc]

I vote dog. When one of my dogs broke into my pen and killed my first set of birds, most of the dead birds didn't have any marks on them. The were just dead.

 

[Brindlebtch]

I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[JennsPeeps]

I'm guessing dog, too. so sorry to hear of the loss of your flock.

How is your remaining bird doing? She must be lonely & depressed... just like you.

 

[beccawprice]

I wish I knew what was going on! since I'm out of town for the week, everything is second hand. I asked a neighbor to take my last remaining bird so she won't be all alone.

I live on an acre lot in a suburban area. There are definitely foxes around, and dogs. Not so sure about other critters.

So what to do in the future??? How on earth do I make a structure predator proof?

 

[Polish Chickens]

Quote:
I recommend live trapping the culprit

 

[Cheep a'lil Talk a'lil]

Quote:
I agree with amazondoc. My mothers dog got into the pen a couple of times and would go around and just kill them. Then the last one she would chew it up and "play" with it.

Do you have a fenced yard?