Attack During the Day

[JackE]

Sounds like a classic fox attack to me. They are a 24/7 threat. I lost 16 birds in two daylight attacks. The answer for me was 600' electrified poultry netting. I've had the fence up for almost a year and a half, the foxes are still around, but the birds are safe.
Jack

 

[hcurrie7]

We bought a electric fence this weekend. It is short though. My BF says that it is enough. He is an electrical engineer. He said 4500 volts were going thru it. And of course one of the bantams flew over the fence. I have had them in the new fence for 2 weeks and no one has cared to fly over it. Poor little Jill wanted to get the treats first she flew a good 30 ft. She is sick and tired of getting left overs. LOL I lured her away from the fence and put the bowl down while my BF turned the power off. Close call

 

[16 paws]

I had something take one of my Silkies Friday. It was right at dusk, barely dark and we were all home. I never found her but I found a few feathers. We moved the coops/pens away from the tree line and built another fence around them. Only once has one flew over the fence. It was a bantam. The bigger ones do not fly anymore.

Now today at 11:00 am in broad daylight something got my Rhode Island Red Hen, Miss Fussy. One of the bantams were out of the pen. I went to let her back in and noticed Miss Fussy was missing. I started looking around and noticed her feathers. Then right inside of the woods their is a huge pile of feathers. Like everyone of her feathers. I do not see any blood. Also I found feathers starting at her pen and leading out the new fence. I hate to sound paranoid but it looks like a human did this. How else would her feathers be inside and lead out the exit. She is the biggest bird we have so if someone was to choose to eat one. She is the only full grown bird I have besides the rooster.

Am I wrong? Is their an animal that attacks during the day. The fence is right up next to the house. How did we not hear anything? I have never had any problem with any neighbors but I just got chickens. So I cannot figure out what is attacking them or how to keep them safe if it attacks day and night. What should I do?

We had the same thing happen, it was 11am on a overcast day, we found the chicken had been drug about 50 feet away and was beheaded. I know it was an animal and I think it was a raccoon or a coyote. We came out right after it happened and found her.We also did not hear a sound! I don't think it was a human that got your chicken IMHO.... I am so very sorry for your loss.

 

[ChickenAndMore]

Sounds like a coyote. I have a coyote eating mine, he comes in at 7:20 a.m. I got him on a game camera so I am going out early in the morning to see if I can stop him.

 

[shmccarthy]

Sounds like a fox to me. They will commonly attack during the day, and leave little to no evidence of the attack, usually just feathers. They are pretty sneaky about it.

 

[coop-er]

Coyote and fox are doing the same deed here-I lost 3 hens and my neighbor lost 2 the day before. Middle of the day with plenty of noise and dogs present. They are very sneaky and merciless-sorry about your hens, it really kind of takes the fun out of "chicken- keeping" doesn't it?