Chickens killed last night

[BLaBauve]

Thank you all for your kind words and advice. We used to lock them up every night when we first got them. But we started feeling bad not letting them out until 9 or 10 in the morning. Lesson was learned the hard way and they will be locked up from now on. We were shocked by how much damage the raccoons did to the chickens. The saddest part is the one that survived is so sad and lonely. We're getting her a friend tomorrow to stay with her while we work on coop adjustments.

Thank you for your support and thoughts.

 

[annie3001]

sorry about your loss

 

[dawg53]

I'm sorry about your loss and I can relate. I live in extreme southeast Georgia and last year I lost 4 chicks, and 1 pullet to snakes. I almost lost a full grown buff orpington to a yellow rat snake in the middle of the night.I heard a commotion outside and a hen screaming,when I got outside I observed about a 5' long yellow rat snake(known as chicken snakes around here) trying to coil around the buff orpington in the glow of the back porch light.The snake had literally dragged her off her perch from inside the hen house out into the pen onto the ground.Needless to say I quickly disposed the snake and then I took my hen in the house and thoroughly checked her out.She was ok and I returned her to her perch.The next day she layed me an egg and she still lays to this day.Mothballs were useless as I had already dumped 4 boxes around the perimeter of the coop.I eventually caught 4 snakes and disposed them.Luckily there hasnt been any snakes around this year.I recommend using a couple of animal traps outside your coop with a can of sardines in them.The next morning you'll no doubt have your culprit(s) in the trap(s).Good luck.

 

[koifarm]

Nothing but the heads off sounds more like a weasel, mink or fisher.....which could easily get through the deer netting.
Glad you're going to keep them locked up at night....

 

[BLaBauve]

Actually the heads were still intact, just bloody. Most of them had intestines hanging out. yuck

 

[happyfrenchman]

Definitely Racoons. You have to use something pretty strong to keep them out. I would use dogwire. And I would wire hardware cloth over it to keep out small birds. Sorry for your loss. Good luck with your next flock..

 

[BLaBauve]

What is dogwire?

 

[mdbokc]

I would run electric fence. The top of the wood fence would require an additional ground wire. I am just a big, really big, believer in electric fence.

 

[lorihadams]

I lost 10 of my 15 Friday, same thing, forgot to shut up the coop door. Sorry for your loss, I feel your pain.

 

[BLaBauve]

Aw, I'm sorry to hear you dealt with the same thing.