Active predator

[Ol Grey Mare]

Are you open to the addition of electric fencing to your perimeter? A strand top and bottom will do wonders at discouraging ground predators such as fox, coyote, etc....those who are inclined to burrow under or climb/go over fencing.
Aerial predators are tricky as many are protected species so taking them, even if they are taking livestock, can land you in legal hot water - however, they also generally will give up and move on for new hunting grounds if the flock is penned up for several days.

 

[Texas4T]

Are you open to the addition of electric fencing to your perimeter? A strand top and bottom will do wonders at discouraging ground predators such as fox, coyote, etc....those who are inclined to burrow under or climb/go over fencing.
Aerial predators are tricky as many are protected species so taking them, even if they are taking livestock, can land you in legal hot water - however, they also generally will give up and move on for new hunting grounds if the flock is penned up for several days.

I definitely agree here... electric fencing may be the best answer for you. Most guardian dog breeds need more than two acres...unless you could find an Old-Time Scotch Collie (I highly recommend them!), but there is time investment that your current birds just don't have. Also, the height of your fences won't keep coyotes out. I have seen them free-jump a 6'fence and scramble over, even with a barbed wire run on the top, and it only takes them a minute to dig under, even with barbing. Hungry canines are almost unstoppable. That said, electricity will deter almost everything, even humans and bears, but not aerial predators.

 

[HenriettaC]

I definitely agree here... electric fencing may be the best answer for you.  Most guardian dog breeds need more than two acres...unless you could find an Old-Time Scotch Collie (I highly recommend them!), but there is time investment that your current birds just don't have.  Also, the height of your fences won't keep coyotes out.  I have seen them free-jump a 6'fence and scramble over, even with a barbed wire run on the top, and it only takes them a minute to dig under, even with barbing.  Hungry canines are almost unstoppable.  That said, electricity will deter almost everything, even humans and bears, but not aerial predators.

 

[HenriettaC]

I definitely agree here... electric fencing may be the best answer for you.  Most guardian dog breeds need more than two acres...unless you could find an Old-Time Scotch Collie (I highly recommend them!), but there is time investment that your current birds just don't have.  Also, the height of your fences won't keep coyotes out.  I have seen them free-jump a 6'fence and scramble over, even with a barbed wire run on the top, and it only takes them a minute to dig under, even with barbing.  Hungry canines are almost unstoppable.  That said, electricity will deter almost everything, even humans and bears, but not aerial predators.

Thanks so much, this is very helpful. I think we even have some electric fencing from raising feral hogs... Turns out they didn't need it. Except for the babies, they stay put. For the longest time I thought they grunts and growls protected our chickens, sadly I was wrong.

 

[gifters]

Old-Time Scotch

mmmm. that sounds delicious

 

[Thebirdwisperr]

Is it possible the predator is a domestic dog? I have had them kill 5 chickens before. I doubt it would be a hawk or owl 'cause it takes a pretty big one to lift a chicken, normally they pick it apart on the spot. Coyotes kill chickens frequently (I have had to deal with one before) but they normally take one at a time. If it is a coyote or fox, a 17HMR would take care of that. If its an hawk or owl you should contact the DNR or a falconry club to get rid of it, they are the only ones with permission to trap or kill raptors which are protected under the Migratory Bird Act. Best of luck to ya!!

 

[Texas4T]

In my past experience, the tell-tail sign of domestic dog attack on the chickens is mass carnage and very little eaten. Domestic dogs, not feral, exhibit chase behaviors and "play" rather than kill, so many chickens will be injured or mangled, some killed, feathers everywhere, lots of damage. Coyotes and foxes take their kills, so you may find a few feathers, but the bird will be missing. Raccoons, opossums eat the crops out of the birds and heads, pull them apart through wire. Weasle family predators kill many, leave them lying around and gorge on one or two. Rats kill one bird at a time and eat very little. Sorry this is so graphic/gross, but helps to identify the predator.
Here is a website that may help
http://icwdm.org/inspection/livestock.aspx

 

[HenriettaC]

I agree, I don't think it's a dog. Seems like they are getting picked off one at a time. Yesterday we had another attack, right in front of our house, this time. We've seen a couple very large raptors...3 foot wing span. Some times there is not a trace of the bird, some times we've found feathers. Yesterday the attack happened at 445pm.We have lots of red-tailed hawks and there is no way they could have taken our chickens. We lost huge rooster at the beginning of this ordeal. He had to be 8 lbs at least! I so appreciate the information about how each animal attacks and what they do with the bird. We thought coyote or Fox, but now with this attack yesterday, it seems the culprit could only get away so quickly if it was to escape by flight...right before the attack my husband heard a hawk and ran outside. Unfortunately, he checked the back end of the property and saw nothing. We are only a year into raising chickens and have had lots of great experiences...just two months ago we had a her reappear with 17chicks!im not giving up. Sadly, this is a learning experience. One I didn't want to have, but maybe I'll be able to keep future flocks more safe.@Thebirdwisperr thank you for the information on who to contact to remove a raptor... I did know they are protected. @Texas4T I appreciate your graphic description and the website, that is exactly the information I need to help identify my predator. Seems like a fox or coyote, but with all the other evidence, I think we've got a large hawk... Or two. I saw two a couple days ago. Thanks again!!

 

[Texas4T]

If it is aerial...you could try giving the chickens cover. We have used a "hoop-house" type structure, just two cattle panels hooped and wired together in the pasture where the hens range with a piece of that camo-netting draped over it (you can buy netting in the hunting department of Wal-Mart). I have even used camo burlap, something that breathes but messes with the raptor's visual perception and that the chickens can get under is all that is needed. The panels would work alone, but offering shade makes the chickens want to get under it and get used to using it for cover. Hope this helps and you get the problem under control! Good luck.