Chicken massacre last night. Five dead, two injured.

[jnicholes]

I’m very sorry for the predator attack and deaths. You can try to nurse the 2 injured chickens for a few days, in case they can recover, but sometimes putting them down can be the kindest thing if they are in pain. Hardware cloth 1/2 inch is what I use to reinforce the chicken wire at least 3 feet high. Making an apron on the outside of the run that extends out from the run can keep predators out. Raccoons can reach through chicken wire with hands, and weasels can pass through a 1 inch opening. If you can keep your chickens inside a basement or safe place tonight while you try to use a game cam to see what come around the next couple of nights, that would be good. You can use the bodies as bait. Here is a video of a hardware cloth apron around the run:

https://www.youtube.com/

Let me make sure I got this right. You only use hardware cloth 3 feet up from the bottom of the run fence? You also put down an apron so nothing can dig?

Is this correct?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If you haven't put the two down yet, try giving them a day or so. I've had birds in shock before, and sometimes they aren't necessarily hurt enough to be immobile, they just don't seem to realize they can walk until they calm down more.

 

[jnicholes]

If you haven't put the two down yet, try giving them a day or so. I've had birds in shock before, and sometimes they aren't necessarily hurt enough to be immobile, they just don't seem to realize they can walk until they calm down more.

They aren’t down yet, but I will take your advice.

 

[ed33935]

I went out to check on my chickens today, and I saw that there was a break-in. Two of my chickens lay dead outside the coop, three lay dead inside the coop. Two of my chickens are injured and are unable to walk now. I found one chicken alive and uninjured outside the run hiding. I was able to pick her up and help her.

There is little snow right now, so I couldn’t identify by footprint what broke in. My best guess is a raccoon, because it broke through the chicken wire fence. It was literally pulled open.

Here are pictures of the crime scene.

View attachment 4012090View attachment 4012091View attachment 4012092View attachment 4012093

And here is the one I just found outside the run, alive, but very scared.

View attachment 4012094

I have multiple questions on what to do. I’ve never had this happen before.

First off, two of the chickens are injured. They can’t walk anymore. They’re just sitting there waiting for death I think. How do you ethically put down a chicken?

Second, what could’ve done this? I mean, leaving the bodies after killing them? I’m pretty sure it was a raccoon, but I’m gonna set up my trail camera and set a trap tonight to try and figure it out, but I need some input.

Third, my chickens are quite scared. How can I help them get through this ordeal?

Finally, what can I do to further fortify the run?

I need help, so any advice is appreciated.

Horrible. So sorry to see that.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Very sorry to hear about your losses.

I agree that reinforcing with hardware cloth is a good idea.

 

[Eggcessive]

Let me make sure I got this right. You only use hardware cloth 3 feet up from the bottom of the run fence? You also put down an apron so nothing can dig?

Is this correct?

I only put the hardware cloth over chicken wire 3 feet high. The thought was that no raccoon could reach through while my chickens were on the ground. But you can put it all the way up which is even better. The apron is very good, although I did not have that, but it is a very good idea. Some animals, such as foxes or dogs will dig under a run or coop to get into them. I never used an automatic door because I always was home to let them out in morning and close them up in evening. Also, I like to do a head count when they come to the roost.

 

[AGeese]

I’m very sorry for the predator attack and deaths. You can try to nurse the 2 injured chickens for a few days, in case they can recover, but sometimes putting them down can be the kindest thing if they are in pain. Hardware cloth 1/2 inch is what I use to reinforce the chicken wire at least 3 feet high. Making an apron on the outside of the run that extends out from the run can keep predators out. Raccoons can reach through chicken wire with hands, and weasels can pass through a 1 inch opening. If you can keep your chickens inside a basement or safe place tonight while you try to use a game cam to see what come around the next couple of nights, that would be good. You can use the bodies as bait. Here is a video of a hardware cloth apron around the run:

https://www.youtube.com/

I don't see the vid there.

 

[AGeese]

Let me make sure I got this right. You only use hardware cloth 3 feet up from the bottom of the run fence? You also put down an apron so nothing can dig?

Is this correct?

Personally I'd use hardware cloth for the whole thing, but that's just me. Lots of things can climb.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry here is the video.

 

[21hens-incharge]

A tip on the apron...

Using 1/4" crown landscape edging pins that are 12" long gives a more secure anchoring. Those wide landscape fabric pins with a wide top simply don't hold well in most soils.

Haven't watched the video yet so not sure what they used.