A predator got into my first chickens coop. All of my Buff Orpingtons, Red Star, and White Leghorn b

[BYC Man]

 

[JorasoliFarm]

I'm so sorry! What a devastating day! If it didnt eat them, maybe it was a snake? I guess more security is needed. Look into any openings you have. What type of wire are you using? do you have hardware cloth along the bottom & even buried a bit?

Set some traps to find the predator!

 

[Apples]

That's Awful ! Bless your heart!

 

[chickenvillemom]

I'm so sorry for you loss! That's just awful!

 

[bowhunter862]

Ohhhh, Sooo sorry. That's awful. I'd be sick about it too. Then, I'd live there 24/7 with a rifle until I eliminate that bugger!!

 

[browning6]

I feel your pain. I had dogs come in and kill 10 of my 13 chickens the same day. It was a horrible feeling. Just so you know the predator will be back. If you know roughly what time the predator came last night i would wait a couple hours before that time and see if you can get a shot at him. the day after the killings the dogs came back and i shot and wounded one and two days later the second dog returned again and i shot and killed him. That is why i say find and kill him or your problems will become extremely chronic. Sorry about your loss. dont give up on the chickens.

 

[browning6]

FYI this is exactally what my coop looked like. dead bird s and very few were eaten. I would not be one bit surprised if this were a dog or more likely two or three dogs. when they pack together they cause lots of problems.

 

[BYC Man]

It ripped my heart out. Sunday morning it was raining. I first went to check on my 5 week old chicks and found that all was well. I went on to the big chicks run and coop. The run was completely sound, no openings, no disruption. I went around the coop and then my eyes saw a horrific scene. My heart fell. I felt hot in my face and on my neck. I screamed "No!" I hurriedly looked for any sign of life. None. I counted them. Three were not to be found. Three were dead outside of the coop and one of those was somewhat consumed. The other two not as much. Then I looked in the coop and I found one chicken as if it was trying to get under a shelf, but it died that way. On the second level, a leghorn in the farthest corner with an injury only bringing blood and maybe a broken neck, but not consumed. I went and got gloves and removed all of my precious birds that I bought as chicks at the Tractor Supply and removed them one by one outside of the coop. I then went and washed my hands and got my .380 and walked the entire property looking for any sign of a predator and there was nothing. I couldn't find any tracks as it was raining very hard that morning. I removed the front wall of the coop and cleaned out the coop and have not put it back on yet. I am going to clean the coop more and then replace the wall. I am going to get the coop ready again and build another one next to it to provide more room for living quarters. I have already made another order for more chicks. I have 14 others in two other coops. They were untouched and safe. I will continue. I will put an animal box trap that closes when the predator enters and springs the trap door.

 

[mlwhite]

What a devastating loss. I can't even imagine the level of hurt! I know I would be camping out for a few nights, that's for sure. Did you ever catch/find what did this to your chickens? Every time I see a post or video with this kind of devastating loss I know it is a reminder to me to get my coop secured better. What a terrible loss for you, sorry you had to suffer this.

 

[welasharon]

You need to make sure that you fix what let the predator get to them. You can post pics and people on here can help you make a more secure pen for your new babies.
Can you tell where/how it got in?