70 chickens dead in one night.

[centrarchid]

Coons would typically eat the head and crop of at least a few birds (in my experience), but it's a possibility. You could try setting a trap near your coop with a little lunch meat or even a bit of a chicken carcass in case it comes back. Might not bother with it though if it didn't eat the chickens before :/

Recently I witnessed the aftermath of a racoon that killed several hens, one each night. Of those I saw, heads on all were attached and only one had crop consumed. Very little blood was evident. I could hear commotion as coon attacked and killed and saw coon actually consuming victims so ID not guess work.

 

[cluck-addict]

Thanks folks. We have 2 of the 3 kids' breeding trio replaced for the county fair. still trying to find a leghorn trio or two. any color. since the fair is only 5 weeks away we are just in replace mode for that and will come up with a game plan for re-establish our flock. windows are now fully encased behind hardware cloth and is the door to the coop. The vet was out for the cows today and took a look. His bet is weasel. we have two traps out.

 

[tinychicky]

I hope you catch it!

 

[blueskyrain]

that really.........sounds like poison. Did you happen to just get a new bag of feed? Or would anyone have access to the pen? Check the areas they run, or sleep for anything that does not belong, tiny left over bits of the wrong type of grains, powders, etc. Smell the water too, and clean all of the bowls and feeders before you start over. 70 dead is too many to be something that just walked out

 

[cluck-addict]

6 lived. one is limping. there was obvious struggle. Overturned feeders and water. feathers everywhere. same feed. good waterer.

 

[centrarchid]

Could you show `photographs of wounded?

 

[Courts Clucks]

I am so sorry. We were missing 3 roos tonight. Found two hiding in the dog house. My pride and joy "Clint Eastwood" did not come home. No feathers anywhere. Search to continue in the daylight. Traps to be set also...

 

[blueskyrain]

awwww you guys I'm sorry! My cure seems to be when I got my German Shepherd at 8 weeks old and stuck her in with the chickens, she thinks they are hers and let's nothing in the yard, a skunk made it in once when she was sleeping in the hot day last month, and one distress call from the chickens and she had that skunk cornered.......I highly recommend a dog with the chickens, at night let the dog stay where it can access/patrol the coop from the outside, it has made a huge difference, from lot's of losses to zero losses. I'm so sorry...........

 

[CMV]

I lost 62 young meaties in one night last year. It was a weasel.

Sorry for your losses.

 

[Hamstery]

I lost birds to weasels and the puncture wounds were under the wing. I'm sorry for your loss.