Any suggestions: I've lost all but 7 of my chickens (out of nearly 60)

[Chellester]

Crystal, who knows, the cat very well may have been your predator. You'll find out for sure when you set the trap again, but hopefully you caught the source of your problem.

 

[Illinois_ Kelly]

Are you sure it's a raccon and not a oppossum? I had nearly my entire flock picked off last year and when we finally sat out there one night to find out what it was, it was a opposssum. THey would literally pull the hens through the wire if they could. Occasionally taking 1 or 2 and sometimes wiping out as many as 10 before leaving with what they could carry. My 125 hens dwindled down to less than 20 and being very fond of my birds, I was devistated. Deveistated enough that I, and my trusty 22 sat in the coop that night and watched. Lets just say THAT oppossum won't be eating anyone's chickens anymore.

 

[rufus]

Birdnutz,

That is a scary concept. The feds are reintroducing the Mexican wolf here, and I am old and slow.

Rufus