Chicken missing

[Flavum]

Hey Gang

Well i came home yesterday evening to find a pile of feathers outside the run and all my chickens were roosting in trees which ive never seen them do before. They are 17 weeks old EE. Only 1 missing but I noticed the feathers are quite large.

I suspect a feral barn cat that has been stalking them for quite some time now but I didnt know if it were possible for the bird to lose larger feathers like that? Is it more likely to be a coyote or fox? We have both on our property but the coop is close to the house and a fenced creek seperates the two. Anyone see any red flags? Ive also seen muskrat in the creek as well.

Any input is much appreciated

 

[bloonskiller911]

i'd bet coons

 

[SweetSilver]

x2

Raccoons will kill and often pull the bird under a bush to feast on it. It is probably nearby somewhere. That doesn't always happen, though, which makes me wonder if less dominant raccoons do this and others will feast out in the open? I've had both happen.

Cats generally lose interest in birds about that time--sooner if they've had experience with chickens (AAACK!) but later if the birds are bantams. They might seem interested from the other side of the fence, but once face to face the cat usually hightails it. Also, they are not strong enough to yank out feathers the size of a 17wk old.

 

[Flavum]

i'd bet coons

x2

Raccoons will kill and often pull the bird under a bush to feast on it. It is probably nearby somewhere. That doesn't always happen, though, which makes me wonder if less dominant raccoons do this and others will feast out in the open? I've had both happen.

Cats generally lose interest in birds about that time--sooner if they've had experience with chickens (AAACK!) but later if the birds are bantams. They might seem interested from the other side of the fence, but once face to face the cat usually hightails it. Also, they are not strong enough to yank out feathers the size of a 17wk old.

Dang i was kinda hoping it was the cat, a much easier fix. XD

Guess im in the market for some traps. Thanks guys.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

If it happened during the day time, then it might be the cat. I could be very wrong, but any entcounters I have had with racoons have been at night. A trap will tell, hopefully.

 

[NovaAman]

Coons have been doing day time chicken raids quite a bit this year. The mild winter meant less died, more kits survived. The weak rains also mean food is more scarce, so, day time hunting is nothing.

might I suggest a dukes dog proof coon trap as well as the conventional live trap. Coons are smart. If they get caught and released, they remember. If they get caught and get out on their own, which they can also do, then they do not get caught again. And please, shoot, shovel, don't relocate.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Eeeeks! I had not thought about the mild winter and the survial rate going up!

 

[Flavum]

Thank you guys for the replies.

Its comforting to be in contact with people that have dealt with these types of situations before.

Well unfortunately it ended up catching more, started with 16 now with 7. I ended up boarding every little hole I could find on this building and it seem to have fixed the problem. I also started trapping and have caught skunks and opossums. Something keeps setting the trap off without getting caught, I am assuming a large raccoon.


So today I let my chickens out like I always do in the morning and periodically check on the through out the day. The house is a couple hundred feet away through some forest so I cant actually see it from my house.

I probably go out there every couple hours, this time walking up I noticed dozens of crows in the hack berry trees above the coop, Being very loud. As I got closer I could see a pile of feathers. Thankfully whatever it was hadn't had time to finish the job, the chicken was beat up with a patch of feathers missing on its rump. found it outside the run and the other 6 squeezed into corners of the coop. These are crows and not ravens, is it possible they attacked the chicken? or were just excited watching whatever it was preying on my chicks?

I live on 100+ acre land mostly meadow with some woods on the farthest plot back. I know there are fox and coyotes. does this sound like someones calling card to you guys? Also I live in Knoxville,TN.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Whiber02]

Hey, I 'm wondering something..... what preditor of Indiana can kill 9 chickens in one night???

(it happend to me)

 

[Whiber02]

WOW!! same thing happend to me not long ago, but with nine of my chickens!!
I dont think it was a ratcoon that set off the trap , it was definatley a cat if you have one, I have very smart ferral cats doing that.
And if you have any coons around, I've trapped lots of those by my coop, in four nights I trapped three of them, with the trap in the same place the whole time....behind my coop, make sure you keep your traps out for more then just one night, you could find a solution! Also, if you have a day problem.... I might be able to help, HAWKS, I have hawks, terky voltures, and big birds like that!
someone on another site sugested something really cool, she built her coop, (with a run) and put net over the run so no bird preditors could get in...... I thought this was cool! oh, and if you dont have a run and decied to build one....make sure nothing can dig under it and get to the chickens, like a snake!

I hope this somewhat helps!!!!