21 dead hens

[erwin5]

Yesterday I came home from work to find 21 of my hens dead, scattered throughout their fenced in yard. Some with their heads off, but lying near by. I have been raising chickens for about 5 years and this is my first encounter with predators. Any ideas as to what may have killer all these hens in one night? I have set traps and nothing so far, but I am back to locking them up at night. Help!

 

[NoSpringChick]

I am so sorry to hear about your situation...as for what could have done it, I don't have a clue. Anyone? Again, so sorry.

 

[BearSwampChick]

Oh, how awful for you and those poor hens! So sorry for your loss!

 

[ChickenToes]

Maybe a dog?

 

[tricia]

Sounds like raccoons to me. They like brains and livers and will eat the head and/or make a whole underneath. From my experience dogs will just kill for fun or if they eat them they eat pretty much the whole bird.

I am so sorry, I lost most of my first flock that way. It is a horrible thing to come home to!

 

[bantamman13]

I lost 12 RIR's in a similiar way last year after searching around the pen area I found where something had managed to pull the wire loose where it was stapled and gain entry. After aquiring a live trap and setting it near the pen I managed to catch 3 raccoons in just a few days. Trap was baited with peanut butter placed in the very back of the trap which the raccoons dearly love! Hope this helps sorry for the loss of your chickens.

 

[GwenFarms]

This is dogs. Raccoons and other wild predators kill for food. They don't waste energy killing for fun. Dogs will take out your whole flock just for kicks.

I'm really sorry. If you've noticed a neighbor's dog hanging around he could be your culprit. Sometimes the sweetest little, most seemingly harmless, dogs are big time chicken killers.

 

[kstaven]

With heads off or missing it screams raccoon.

Sorry to hear you had this happen.

 

[WrenAli]

Coons don't always kill for food. My grandparents had coons, they watched the, drown some of their ducks and just leave them.

But dogs or cats will do it to. I would look around your pens for paw prints or hair.

 

[dixygirl]

Quote:
I am so sorry :| Closing them in next time is a great idea for their own protection. Good luck