All chickens killed on Christmas!!!

[Scoop]

So sorry for your loss! Hugs to you and your wife and daughter. It hurts a lot, I know. I would bury them as soon as possible, secure the coop, then get online and decide what breeds I want next, maybe some of the same. The first few days are the hardest but just try to look to the future.

 

[bishopschickens]

Sorry to hear about that and especially on Christmas!

Brandon

 

[Hound]

Quote:
There is no such thing as a totally secure coop when it comes to poultry, as anyone with experience keeping birds will tell you.

The attacks were on two different coops by two different bobcats, both of which are dead. But thank you for rubbing salt into the wound, that sure helps. One of them climbed 8' then squeezed though a small gap where the hog panel had come unwelded on top. What you think can happen and what actually can are two very different things, quite apparently.

Raccoons don't take the head off in this part of the South, must be a regional thing

 

[Talihofarms]

If I was a betting man, I would say that you have a cat problem. Bobcat, Lynx will bury parts for later. Canids will also, but lack the climbing ability. Racoons like to eat the crop and head. I have never heard of a coon placing the heads under straw.

Cats are fairly easy to trap if they are hungry. The live trap method I use is to wire the dead chicken parts in the back of a large live trap.
spread a can of cat food in a trail under the live trap so they can smell the cat food but can't eat it through the wire. Put some weight on top of the trap so the larger cat can't push the trap over.

In order for the trap to be effective you have to keep your birds locked down.
If you see the killer and get a shot take it. I like my 12ga with bb/buck. cats are fast and you rarely get a second shot.



Just my.02

Good Luck

 

[uglysteve]

Quote:
I buried them right away, and tore down the coop. My wife does not want to have any more pets killed.
I will have to bait a trap with a store bought chicken.

 

[Staceyfeindt]

Sorry to hear. As soon as I read the headline I thought, "That's something that would have happened to me!" I've had similar issues, but it was a raccoon. Killed all the birds. Some missing the rest just bodies mangled. No bobcats here where we live, or so I hope! Give it time and you will be back to rebuilding come spring I bet. Sorry to hear it though. Some of us just have awful luck!

 

[twister]

raccoons do not normally bury prey but will kill everything--eat very little.

sounds to me that you have a bobcat. for it to bury birds and eat a whole bird... that is not a coon.

 

[Wisher1000]

Steve - I'm so sorry to hear of your tragedy! I am also sad to hear that you tore down your coop. The only thing worse than having your chickens killed is not having any chickens. Here is the speech I gave my kids when I brought home the first birds.

"Chickens are prey. Everything eats chickens. The neighbors dogs will come to try to eat them, our OWN dogs will try to eat them. Opossums eat chickens, raccoons eat chickens, hawks eat chickens, rats eat chickens. Heck, WE eat chickens! Chickens are food. Something will eventually eat them. Do you understand?"

With that said, we first acquired six chicks and still have five of them over a year later. One was lost to some mysterious ailment. We have, however, lost many guineas and six of the next twelve chickens we bought. By the way, the boys took the losses much better than I did! Losing birds is part of keeping birds, just as falling off a horse is part of riding. Please don't give up. Get back on. Okay, the old coop is gone, what a wonderful opportunity to build a bigger, better, more secure coop to house the new chicks that you will get in the spring? Your wife and daughter will be stronger for the experience if they see that life goes on and that they can get through and over it. Don't let it end in defeat! Here are some suggestions on a better coop, you can find mmmmmany more here and maybe doing the research on coop security would make a great family project.

1. Figure out how many chickens you want to keep
2. Plan for your coop to hold at least twice that number
3. Build enough room that they don't have to be let out to free range (even if you plan to let them)
4. Make it as secure as possible. It will cost more at the onset but will be worth it later in peace of mind and in reducing losses.

I know that my coop (pics on my page) and run are not predator proof, but I don't worry at night when they are locked up, about the "big" ones. No dog, coon, possum, owl, bobcat, coyote, etc. can get them. I still haven't made it weasel/mink proof or snake proof as those can get into a much smaller hole. I have 4x4's set in the ground for supports, 2x4 welded wire covers the entire outside and is buried down 6" then turns out 12". The top is covered with metal roofing. Once they are locked in at night, I sleep soundly. All of my losses have happened during the day when I let them out and as heart breaking as is is to lose one, I still let them out to be chickens. That is the choice I have made. If you simply can't take the chance, then leave them up unless you are out with them (although there is still no guarantee, as some have reported having birds snatched right in front of them.)

I know you are mad (at the cat) and heartbroken for your wife and daughter, but it really can be turned into a learning and growing and strengthening experience if you just don't give up! Go ahead, put your foot in that stirrup and climb back on... you're not beaten until you give up and quit.........

*NOTE* The above message was meant to inspire, how'd I do?

 

[silkiechicken]

Sorry for your loss. I haven't known a coon to burry their food, just drag them off whole. That said, the 30lb coons here are crafty suckers which can open doors.

I think a cat could make it through an 8 inch round hole. We temporarily had a 65lb dog that suffered from separation anxiety, which in 30 minutes, pulled wires off his petmate door to a solid sided kennel and squished out of a 5x9 gap. No idea how he did it, or how he fit, but he was out, only slightly bloody on the paws. I swear animals can shrink when they are desperate to get out of cages.

 

[Scoop]

Quote:
I buried them right away, and tore down the coop. My wife does not want to have any more pets killed.
I will have to bait a trap with a store bought chicken.

Oh, so sorry you tore down the coop! We all learn from bad experiences. I wouldn't give up. Remember that your birds still had a much better life than a battery chicken that never sees the light of day. Have you ever seen some of the videos on youtube? Maybe they would change your mind, but I know that yous have to make that decision for yourselves as you know what is best. Good luck! Do check out those videos of rehomed battery chickens, too, there is one on there that is set to the song "I'm Coming Out", I cried all the way thru it!!! Just awesome!