I just lost my best hen and rooster to a predator. Their bodies were not eaten or even particularly molested just strong bite marks on the neck. Whatever decided to kill them pushed a board loose and squeezed into their private coop. It dragged the rooster half way through the opening and the rooster stuck half in half out. I think the predator basically locked himself back out of the coop. I've had chickens attacked before but somehow this time just is really depressing me, something about their perfect bodies in great health dead and not even eaten, such a waste. I pulled the hen out but just couldnt face the rooster. The rest of my chickens are unhappily stuck in the garage.
Could've been almost anything, but in my case, I realized afterwards, that the husky dog that took out my first flock must have beeninside the coop, from the knocked-over board in there.
i know how you feel weve lost to predation before but we recently lost our favorite roo to a coon and it was just different. sucks, man, sorry
There's every kind of predator known to the south as well as a few exotics where my chickens are. (I saw a coati mundi in Huntsville this summer). I keep reinforcing nailing down, double tying shut a door, and the first opportunity or oversight on my part and I lose a chicken. The board pried loose was the same exact board opened up a couple of years ago. I nailed it down then, after another slaughter and whatever it was worked it loose again. Whatever it is much smaller than a dog, sans the toy breeds that would be eaten up too. I don't even think a good sized raccoon could get into that hole maybe 2.5 inches in diameter.
