Cannabalism

[JesseMT]

Weasel? Rat?

Not at all sure. The two pullets are spending their nights in a box in the garage until I can figure this out. I might get a critter-cam, but at a minimum, the Orpys are in solitary confinement until the coop is here in a few days.

 

[yinepu]

I live in a large, built up subdivision outside the county line. I have been here for five years and have not seen either a fox or a raccoon in this area.

Just because you haven't seen them doesn't mean they aren't there..

Heck.. there are raccoons, foxes and even coyotes in New York City

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Sorry for your loss, it's tough to learn the hard way

 

[Vicky2479]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was a cat, I had one come in and try to take a full grown hen right out of the coop, luckily I heard the ruckus and went out which scared it off

 

[bluegrasslady]

I lost a bunch of chicks to feral cats this year. They are THE worst because they will reach through whatever wire you have (I have small woven wire covered with chicken wire) and hook the chicks and kill them that way. I got rid of the d@&m cats but had to start over. Still need some gold laced polish but haven't found any locally. Going to probably have to order from cackle. Was able to replace the others locally thankfully but it's very, very frustrating anytime there is predator loss.

 

[Sk8inChick(en)]

That would have to be a predator. Install some hardware cloth and secure all windows and doors on the coop to ensure it does not happen again.

 

[WaterfowlWierdo]

Oh predators are horrible! I live plum in the middle of town with a mallard and an African Goose in the same pen and a frickin hawk got ahold of my mallard! he is ok but its pretty bad considering he is housed with an african goose and a plott hound! absolutely stupid!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes, it was at night. After 10pm but before down. The group had been together about 10 days. ... Near that chick was a pile of scat that was neither from a chicken or a domesticated cat. The plot thickens, as my chickens free range in a yard completely enclosed by an 8' fence. We have an assortment of wild birds in our trees, and a few stray cats; but, no raccoons, possum or coyote.

If it was in the dark, I guarantee it wasn't the pullets.
The 8' fence tells me it was a raccoon. They can climb anything including sheer walls. They're the only animal that can descend a tree face first.

Just because you haven't seen them doesn't mean they aren't there..

Heck.. there are raccoons, foxes and even coyotes in New York City

X2
If you live in North or Central America anywhere from Central Canada to the Panama Canal, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean - you surely have raccoons.
One of the biggest concentrations is in Chicago.
Their original range was river bottoms of the SE US. When Europeans arrived, coons spread across the continent with us.
Another interesting tidbit is that they have a large range and usually don't sleep in the same den every day but make the rounds so coons that visit your property might only come around once a week. Other families range will overlap though so you could have different coons visit on multiple nights.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was a cat, I had one come in and try to take a full grown hen right out of the coop, luckily I heard the ruckus and went out which scared it off

That is also quite possible.
About half the time a cat kills, it will take the prey home. The rest of the time they eat on the spot.


Daytime predators are usually just dogs, cats and hawks and the occasional eagle.
Night brings out every native omnivore and carnivore as well as dogs and cats - and they all like the taste of chicken.

 

[GD91]

How big was the Scat? Larger or smaller than a cats?

I'd be so upset already if that happened to my three, I hope you find the out what the culprit was so you can take measures to prevent a repeat

Sounds like they were just easier to get at because they were not on a perch...

 

[donrae]

I agree, if you live in the US, you have raccoons. An 8 foot fence won't keep them out. Now they know where dinner is, you need to secure the rest of your birds.