3 of 4 chickens dead (GRAPHIC PICTURES) need help identifying the predator

[flgardengirl]

Get a trail cam and set it up by your coop. They snap pics based on movement. When the dog comes back you will have proof.

 

[MikaylaSD]

Get a trail cam and set it up by your coop. They snap pics based on movement. When the dog comes back you will have proof.

We have pictures of their dog in our yard and going after our chicken in the coop but they said unless we personally see the dog kill one or have a picture of it killing one it doesn't matter. Thanks for the advice though,we might get one anyways for added security.

Does everyone think it's fair to ask our neighbors for $150 to reimburse us for the three chickens we lost? They layed every day (starting one month ago). I made a sheet showing the basic expenses for feeding them for the last 8 months plus the $35 we spent buying 3 chickens yesterday that may or may not lay yet, and they are wild farm chickens so we can't let them free range and they don't like us. I also added the cost of us buying that amount of eggs for the next month. The very basic expenses total over $220 so I feel it's fair to ask for $150. Thoughts?

 

[MrsBachbach]

Update again....

Got home from buying three new chickens this morning so our surviving hen isn't alone and two live traps, and within an hour we heard our left over chicken freaking out in the coop and ran back into our backyard and there was the neighbors dog fighting with my dog and going after my chicken in the coop. I can't believe it but sure enough it showed us where it got through the neighbors crappy chain link. Animal control came but can't prove the dog did it since she didn't have blood or feathers on her. So now they just get an at large $95 fine and they wouldn't come to the door so a fine to bail it out of the pound. We have to try to work with them to get reimbursed for our chickens and expenses. Unfortunately no amount of money will bring my birds back or erase the horrific things we saw last night but I would like them to pay for what their dog did. Thanks for all the help guys. Dog it is.

That was my first thought, a dog. They are known for killing as many as they can catch and just leaving them there.
Well, if the neighbors won't retrieve their dog, they likely won't pay you either. Or they may be reluctant to pay you after paying a fine.
May just have to eat it and set about fixing fence. Check it daily too because they may try to dig under it. I'd also make that 4ft fence a little higher with something, because a large dog won't have a problem scaling that. It's a good thing your dog engaged that dog, or you may have lost those hens also. Your dog must have knew what that dogs intentions were and was doing it's best to stop him.
Sorry for your loss. Been there, seen that.

 

[MrsBachbach]

We have pictures of their dog in our yard and going after our chicken in the coop but they said unless we personally see the dog kill one or have a picture of it killing one it doesn't matter. Thanks for the advice though,we might get one anyways for added security.

Does everyone think it's fair to ask our neighbors for $150 to reimburse us for the three chickens we lost? They layed every day (starting one month ago). I made a sheet showing the basic expenses for feeding them for the last 8 months plus the $35 we spent buying 3 chickens yesterday that may or may not lay yet, and they are wild farm chickens so we can't let them free range and they don't like us. I also added the cost of us buying that amount of eggs for the next month. The very basic expenses total over $220 so I feel it's fair to ask for $150. Thoughts?

I think the most you can recover, and this is just my opinion, is the cost to replace your chickens and possibly the cost of the eggs you have to buy until these lay, but that is really an unknown. Who can say your chickens wouldn't have stopped laying for winter anytime soon?
As far as not being able to free range those hens, you can. Just look up wing clipping and clip the flight feathers. Real easy. That will stop them from flying over your fence. They will eventually get used to you too. Especially if they see you daily and you bring them treats. Make sure you adopt a chicken call when bringing them their treats. Before long, they will come running when you call.
First though, leave them in their coop for several days so they know where to roost at night, lay and eat and drink. They aren't called "chicken" for nothing!

 

[centrarchid]

Update again....

Got home from buying three new chickens this morning so our surviving hen isn't alone and two live traps, and within an hour we heard our left over chicken freaking out in the coop and ran back into our backyard and there was the neighbors dog fighting with my dog and going after my chicken in the coop. I can't believe it but sure enough it showed us where it got through the neighbors crappy chain link. Animal control came but can't prove the dog did it since she didn't have blood or feathers on her. So now they just get an at large $95 fine and they wouldn't come to the door so a fine to bail it out of the pound. We have to try to work with them to get reimbursed for our chickens and expenses. Unfortunately no amount of money will bring my birds back or erase the horrific things we saw last night but I would like them to pay for what their dog did. Thanks for all the help guys. Dog it is.

I see post above suggest not ruling out a raccoon for initial attack. Attacks to upper torso and lower neck with lots of slobber (wet feathers) consistent with how a raccoon kills when able to get in with birds. Dogs will slobber sometimes when playing with bird and cause similar wounding but the pattern of missing tissue is of interest. The relatively small areas where tissue actually consumed varies from dogs approach to eating a bird where entire bird is dismembered as consumed.


I have dealt with dogs and raccoons enabling comparisons.