All 5 chickens dead or missing

[Macchickenman]

My chickens free ranged. I knew it was risky and I was planning on getting the run finished this spring. I ran out of time last fall and the ground froze before I could get the posts in. I only found one carcass, my buff orpington. Only her neck was eaten. I've found the feathers of the other 4 but no bodies. We've been hearing something in the woods for the last couple of days.

What attacks during the day and would carry the bodies off? And why would it leave one behind?

I am so sorry to hear this... Mine are a year old and Thank God, fine, but I have a buff orpington and she is my favorite!!

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Vulpine, canid, mustelids, birds of prey.

I feel like a kindergartner here.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I found 4 of the chickens alive later this evening. All are wounded, one I don't think is going to make it. She has deep wounds on her back, she's unable to get up on the roost, and isn't supporting her weight with one of her legs. I put Vetericyn on her wounds.

I think we also saw the culprit. It looks like a 45-50 lb cat. My daughter and I just happened to look out my bedroom window into the back yard where we saw it stalking what later turned out to be the most gravely wounded of my chickens. All are locked safely in the coop. Of course, it was my favorite hen that was killed today. She's sitting on my shoulder in my profile picture. I am heart sick still but so happy the rest of my girls are home.

bobcat ? So sorry for your loss.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Congratulations on getting some of your birds back.
Could you see enough of it to tell if it was a lynx or bobcat?

 

[roosterhavoc]

I feel like a kindergartner here.

I’m not sure why people use the scientific nomenclature either.
Fox, coyote, mink, weasel, hawk and owl in normal terms. Lol

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I’m not sure why people use the scientific nomenclature either.
Fox, coyote, mink, weasel, hawk and owl in normal terms. Lol

well, there you go throwing even more at me ! Google getting a workout tonight. LOL
Nomenclature =No-men-culture ?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Love that Granny great giggle for the night

 

[Fishkeeper]

"Nomenclature" is another word for "terminology", i.e. "terms", i.e. names.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I feel like a kindergartner here.

Easier for me

 

[brendave]

bobcat ?

Could you see enough of it to tell if it was a lynx or bobcat?

We didn't get a good look at it. We were surprised by how large it was. About the size of my mutt and she's about 45 lbs. Small cougar or very large bobcat. We'll be putting a trail cam on the coop this week to see if we can figure out what it is. In the mean time - chickens will be staying in the coop until I get the run built. Thank God I built a Woods coop with the scratch shed on the front.