Chickens(7) Killed (no heads) w/ Carcasses Scattered in Nearby Fields

[roosterhavoc]

To the OP. Do you plan on trying to catch whatever killed your chickens?

 

[Kirk Williams]

Also in the "old days" we'd sift some loose dry dirt in a spot where the critter was coming in to get it's track... I'm not sure if that's helpful for your situation, but I still do this when I've got my cameras posted elsewhere.

Great Idea!!!
It started snowing about an hour ago, yippie!
Thank You Mother Nature!

 

[Kirk Williams]

To the OP. Do you plan on trying to catch whatever killed your chickens?

No, it was my own laziness & lack of judgment that got 7 of my flock killed. I own that and learned a lesson, I just would like to know what did the damage. After-all...
"Predators going to predator"

 

[roosterhavoc]

No, it was my own laziness & lack of judgment that got 7 of my flock killed. I own that and learned a lesson, I just would like to know what did the damage. After-all...
"Predators going to predator"

No sir. It wasn’t laziness or lack of judgement. However if you do plan to free range birds without supervision you would need to protect them by removing some of the predators. I figured you weren’t interested in actually catching the culprit. Still sucks to lose some.
I’m not sure where you live but it’s most likely a fox.

 

[Trux]

I commend you on owning up

 

[Meg-in-MT]

So, you aren't going to try and rid yourself of the problem? Just lock them up from now on? Just curious, no judgement.

 

[Kirk Williams]

UPDATE:
Another carcass has been taken this morning. Unfortunately, My trail cam lens became snow packed, Uggghhh. But I did find some tracks that led to and from the missing carcass. I followed the incoming tracks & the outgoing tracks, they joined up in the soybean field behind my pond and went to the opposite side of the field and into the brush. Because it is still snowing I was unable to get a good print photo. Photo of tracks below. Any ideas???

 

[Kirk Williams]

So, you aren't going to try and rid yourself of the problem? Just lock them up from now on? Just curious, no judgment.

Well, that's mostly what I'm thinking, but it will also depend on the predator type and if it attempts to damage my coop to get at my hens.

 

[Cryss]

Well, that's mostly what I'm thinking, but it will also depend on the predator type and if it attempts to damage my coop to get at my hens.

May I suggest you build a large run rather than coop your birds up for the rest of their lives? Or install electric fencing?

 

[Chicken crossing the road]

UPDATE:
Another carcass has been taken this morning. Unfortunately, My trail cam lens became snow packed, Uggghhh. But I did find some tracks that led to and from the missing carcass. I followed the incoming tracks & the outgoing tracks, they joined up in the soybean field behind my pond and went to the opposite side of the field and into the brush. Because it is still snowing I was unable to get a good print photo. Photo of tracks below. Any ideas???

View attachment 1694770

Fox tracks should be in a straight line (I think) looks like something else maybe raccoon. A family of them could do damage.