Chicken Genocide

[Lilorp14]

So, about a month ago a fox with what we suspect is mange killed 4 of our chickens, eating nothing. 4/11/18, what we assume is the same fox came and killed 4, fatally injured 1, and 3 are missing. Casualties adding up to 8 out of our remaining 10 chickens. I though foxes killed what they need and either ate it on sight or took it with them. I've never seen a fox go on such a killing spree. Our rooster was killed and it was not a clean bite to the neck. He had feathers plucked and ripped up skin for about 2 inches, which makes me think it was either a struggle or just blood lust. I saw the fox about 2 weeks ago while I was coming down the road near my house. I drove straight up to him and he acted like i wasn't even there. I'm not sure if mange affects the sanity of an animal, but he's not completely with it either way. Does anyone know what he might have or a way to get rid of him?

I'm thinking a good rifle might solve my problem...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sounds more like dogs to me.

 

[HuskerHens18]

I would set live traps, and solve the issue with your rifle. I love foxes, but when they slaughter ALL chickens in sight, that's not good to have around. Could be rabies too? I would be super careful not to get bit.
Anyone in your area have puppies/young dogs? I had a puppy kill my entire duck flock, leaving them either torn to shreds or injured necks. It was a little guy too, caught him in the act.

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

I had something similar with a neighbors dog. Finally caught it in the act. Told them kindly to please keep their dog in their own yard or they would be minus a pet like I was! But yeah, sounds like a dog.....?

 

[Lilorp14]

I would set live traps, and solve the issue with your rifle. I love foxes, but when they slaughter ALL chickens in sight, that's not good to have around. Could be rabies too? I would be super careful not to get bit.
Anyone in your area have puppies/young dogs? I had a puppy kill my entire duck flock, leaving them either torn to shreds or injured necks. It was a little guy too, caught him in the act.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. The only thing that makes me not think it was dogs was the fact that 2 of the chickens had a small,clean bite to the throat with barely any blood. No rumpled feathers either. Dogs were a big problem with me a few years ago but the ones I had would rip a chicken limb from limb and leave it strewn across the yard. But the live traps thing is a good idea.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. The only thing that makes me not think it was dogs was the fact that 2 of the chickens had a small,clean bite to the throat with barely any blood. No rumpled feathers either. Dogs were a big problem with me a few years ago but the ones I had would rip a chicken limb from limb and leave it strewn across the yard. But the live traps thing is a good idea.

Yeah I agree with you, might as well rid yourself of the mangy fox, you'd be doing it a favor anyway.

 

[Howard E]

What time of day did this take place? And where were the birds at the time?

Bites to the throat or back of the head? If the latter, it could also be a weasel, mink or one of the cousins.

The three most likely candidates when a number of birds are killed all at the same time include coons, dogs and one of the weasel / mink clan.

A fox will kill a lot of birds........but usually one at a time and the take the birds with them. Not sure how sick one has to be if it is acting erratically.

BTW, if you can get close enough, a shotgun is 10X more effective at taking out varmints than a rifle. A 12 gauge shooting 00 buckshot sends out 12 pellets about the size of a 30 caliber pistol per round. A similar load of #4 buckshot (my preference for varmints) about 30 pellets, each a bit larger than a .22 rifle. Effective out to 30 to 40 yards......with a wide margin of error on a fast moving target, with far less concern about collateral damage downrange of your target. A rifle bullet can go a long ways.......half mile or more. Shotgun pellets only a few hundred yards.

Even a dinky little .410 single shot shotgun shooting 3" shells will send about 9 #4 buckshot pellets towards your varmint.

 

[Lilorp14]

What time of day did this take place? And where were the birds at the time?

Bites to the throat or back of the head? If the latter, it could also be a weasel, mink or one of the cousins.

The three most likely candidates when a number of birds are killed all at the same time include coons, dogs and one of the weasel / mink clan.

A fox will kill a lot of birds........but usually one at a time and the take the birds with them. Not sure how sick one has to be if it is acting erratically.

BTW, if you can get close enough, a shotgun is 10X more effective at taking out varmints than a rifle. A 12 gauge shooting 00 buckshot sends out 12 pellets about the size of a 30 caliber pistol per round. A similar load of #4 buckshot (my preference for varmints) about 30 pellets, each a bit larger than a .22 rifle. Effective out to 30 to 40 yards......with a wide margin of error on a fast moving target, with far less concern about collateral damage downrange of your target. A rifle bullet can go a long ways.......half mile or more. Shotgun pellets only a few hundred yards.

Even a dinky little .410 single shot shotgun shooting 3" shells will send about 9 #4 buckshot pellets towards your varmint.

First time it was probably 8 pm. I'd forgotten to let them in and when i went out to do it 4 were dead. Second time was between 2-6 pm. I was at the library while it happened. When i got home at about 6:30 they were cold and stiff. Both times they were in my backyard and/or coop. Bites to the throat. Most of them were ripped up gashes except the two i mentioned. Shotgun does sound better so I'll borrow my dad's.