both my hens were killed last night

[peacebird]

one ripped apart, the larger not. Feathers everywhere, including some of the roosters own. NO sign of anywhere a predator could have gotten in.

Could my roo have done this?

the little girls head was missing. the other girl had no noticable marks....

 

[justusnak]

I doubt it was your roo. Sounds to me like a coon maybe. They are running rampant this time of year with babies to feed. I am So very sorry of your loss.

How is the roo acting today? I hope he is not the next victim. Lay a path of flour around the coop. That will show any foot prints of possible predators.

 

[Motherhenandflock]

So sorry for your loss!
This link might help you identify what got your hens.
http://www.welphatchery.com/predator_diagnosis.asp

 

[peacebird]

my poor Roo has been crowing non-stop for hours now... my dear hubby searched everywhere around the coop and found one small opening burrowed. He plans to reinforce/secure the perimeter tonight after work.

I am just sick... poor little creatures....

I will put flour around the outside - should I do that just before bedtime?

 

[khable]

I am soo sorry to hear of your loss...

Sending big hugs your way!

:aww

 

[birdlover]

I, too, want to say how sorry I am about your chickens. Poor things! So glad your hubby is going to reinforce the perimeter tonight!!! I used to have a coop with a dirt floor and I constantly worried about something digging in. When we built our new coop, the first order of business was a wooden floor!! I sleep much better at night! Is your roo all alone now? I feel so sorry for our animals when they don't understand where their loved ones have gone. Take care. :aww

Ellen

 

[CHICKYDEB]

I too am so sorry for your loss. :aww. I lost one roo and two hens Sunday morning by an unknown attacker. Whatever it was ripped the tale feathers right off another roo, but he survived...shaken and shell shocked. My heart goes out to you.

 

[chicknmania]

Coon. That's what they do, is destroy everything. So sorry.

 

[peacebird]

thanks for the hugs everyone...

Poor Mario has crowed all morning. He finally stopped just before noon. I think he is exhausted. And now he is all alone again.

Hubby is going to install motion sensor lights near the coop in addition to reinforcing the perimeter.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Sorry for your lose. If you found one hole there will be more I don't know if lights are the answer when we lost ours, I suggested that to but the locals around here just laughed and said why you want to give them light. Making sure you have a floor in your coop is the best answer I feel alot better now that my DH has done that. After we lost one of our goslings we rebuilt the coop and put a wooden floor in. The coon came back the next night but couldn't get in. It scared my other goslings for awhile but they finally settled back down. They were very noisey for the first few nights. We have fort Knox now . Micki