Chicken Attack! Lost Some~~What is it?

[chickens4jojo]

I lost some chickens today.

Both were about 14 months old and laying some very nice eggs for us.

My beautiful BO was ripped up on its back to the muscle & died quickly after I found her. She was not eaten~~just attacked.

My White Ameraucana (first chick we ever hatched) died from pure fear or shock. I found her shivering & shaking & tried to revive her with water and holding her gently. She just up and died within a few hours. She had no signs of injury at all. My child is very upset about loosing this little friend of hers that was so sweet & she helped raise. And, well, so am I.

I thought the run was closed tightly last night, but it was opened when I went out this morning. I am puzzled.

I am hoping I can find the "culprit" soon. We have never had this problem before.

Just needed to tell someone about it~~never had that happen before around here. Thanks for listening BYC folks....

 

[arlee453]

What kind of latch on the gate?

I hope you figure it out and don't have any more losses! Sorry about your birds...

 

[chickens4jojo]

Oh thanks so much!

~~I don't really have a latch. My dh didn't really want to made a regular gate for the run so I have to shove the left over rolled-up fence between the last fence post & the chicken coop...not good at all, I found out today.

So, I am off to research how to make a gate myself~~

 

[Chirpy]

I'm sorry you lost your two girls. I'm also sorry you found out the hard way that you need a real latch.

Raccoons are great at moving things, even undoing latches, so get something really good. It's worth spending the money so you don't lose anymore. Especially since whatever did it now knows where to come back for more.

 

[chick4chicks]

I am so sorry for the loss of your 2 girls, it is always so hard to lose them. I wish you the best on getting a gate and good latch.

 

[Chickenfortress]

Maybe, instead of a gate, you should get a used storm door. If you have 2x4 framing around your run, it's easy to screw a storm door right to them. You may have to add some wood to make the spacing correct for the particular door you get, but that isn't hard. It's also easy to add a locking handle to the door. You could hang the key there on a wire for easy access that a coon couldn't figure out. Make sure its all glass, or has a metal bottom, and glass top. Or, if you get a screen door, a few dozen self tapping metal screws, washers, and a bit of hardware cloth and you're set.

You can pick up used storm doors in the paper, or on craigs list under "materials". Or, since you'd spend a fair amount on hinges, wood, latches, mesh, and etc. you may be ahead to just buy a new one at home depot once you factor in that you know this door will function as you need it to, and a person without experience may not produce a reliable gate on their first try.

I have 2 storm doors on mine. One at the coop, one for the run.

 

[dixygirl]

when i make a door, i cut out the piece of fencing where i want it. Then i nail 1x1 wood in a frame around the piece of fencing i took out.

I screw on 2 hinges. One at the top and one at the bottom.
I screw on 2 latches on the other side. One on the top and one on the bottom.



Also they are not left loose in the pen at night.
They are closed up in the coop that is inside of that pen. That way even if something gets in the pen it still has to get in the coop.

 

[tiffanyh]

Sorry for your loss.

I agree that they will come back for many night followinng an attack so be sure to put your chickens in a safe spot for now. I would think it is not a raccoon but maybe a dog or something? Raccoon dont usually do what you mentioned in my experience.

 

[chickens4jojo]

Thanks you all so much for your help on what type of door I need~~I am examining your pictures & ideas very carefully, too.

tiffanyh: I believe you are right! I got up very early this morning & my neighbor's Jack Russel Terrier has tried to get at my chickens TWICE by 8:22!! He was also out there when I discovered my other dead chickens yesterday standing on "his side" of the property line. I have run out to chase him off, but he keeps coming back.

I locked them up carefully last night the best I could....but I am going for that better gate anyway.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

We have a regular house door on one of our coops. I actually bought and put on a 6" latch with a key lock!
I take the lock off during the day and it hangs by the door by the key because I put the key on an old dog chain and nailed it beside the door. I know raccoons are smart but I have yet to see one take a key, insert it in the lock and open a door. The lock also has a latch that turns so I can keep the door closed during the day if I want. We also put the hinges inside the door so they couldn't be pulled off from the outside. Still, I don't trust predators.