Animal killed my chickens!!! Don’t know what it is

[roosterhavoc]

Thanks for all of your helpful replies!! Last night we set up a game camera and placed a trap in the run. All the chickens were locked inside. Nothing got into the run but we did see a raccoon outside of the run walking around and yesterday my neighbors caught a raccoon right near my chicken coop. I’m starting to think it’s a raccoon. I’m going to lock the chickens in again tonight and set up the trap again just to make sure that nothing is getting in. Would a raccoon kill as many as it could. I don’t understand why they would kill so many chickens but not eat them all.

If I were you I’d close all gaps as best you can. Yeah raccoons will get in and the birds start playing pinball so the raccoon just goes nuts grabbing everything it can. They’re smart animals but they can be brutal and wasteful.

 

[Natalia-anc]

If I were you I’d close all gaps as best you can. Yeah raccoons will get in and the birds start playing pinball so the raccoon just goes nuts grabbing everything it can. They’re smart animals but they can be brutal and wasteful.

Yes I am going to try to best cover any holes that seem big enough for any animal. It’s awful how these animals attack chickens like this and than waste them. Thanks for the reply!!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Put a trap in your run overnight with meat, etc., (after the chickens go to bed) and see if you catch it.

 

[Natalia-anc]

Put a trap in your run overnight with meat, etc., (after the chickens go to bed) and see if you catch it.

Yes I did try this last night and nothing got in. But two nights ago I also put meet in the run and something did get in and eat it. It might have been a mouse or rat but I’m not sure.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I think the key takeaway here is the need to close the coop every night. When going away for overnights it's important to arrange with a neighbor to close the door at night and open it in the morning.

 

[Natalia-anc]

Yes I agree this is good advise and I’ve already arranged with my uncle to have him come and lock up at nigjt when I am not home. Thanks

I think the key takeaway here is the need to close the coop every night. When going away for overnights it's important to arrange with a neighbor to close the door at night and open it in the morning.

 

[Sasha-chickens]

Hey, I have a little issue and I need some help. I’ve had chickens for 2.5 years and I’ve never had any issues with animals digging or getting in. I came home from a weekend trip the other day and found 12 of my chickens dead. All of them were headless. At first I thought raccoon but there were no holes big enough for a raccoon. Than I thought fox because we found a little digging hole so we filled that in. Last night we planted a little trap. I locked the hens up in their coop so nothing could get in there and I placed some chop meat in the run to test if anything got in and ate it. I woke up and all the meat was eaten but there is no digging and no disturbance to the run at all. I’m starting to think it’s a weasel that’s very small because it can get through the small holes in my gate. Has this happened to anyone and does anyone have any ideas of what it could be? I live on Long Island, NY and the weather is pretty hot here rn. I just really need to figure out what the animal is so I can take control of the situation quickly. Thanks!!

If the chickens are headless then it was a Weasel.

 

[Chookwagn]

im going to guess Ferret

they rip heads off and just kill for fun.... once they start they will kill as many as they can get...

bastards!!! i dont know why people call them pets!

 

[Natalia-anc]

im going to guess Ferret

they rip heads off and just kill for fun.... once they start they will kill as many as they can get...

bastards!!! i dont know why people call them pets!

Oh really? That’s awful. That’s definetly a possibility than.

 

[Sammi_0411]

Not gona lie i love ferrets know they not kindest but so adorable husband wont let me have them cuz they stink apparently lol