Devastated, lost my entire flock in one night.

[angelbrenn]

I have an enclosed pen, wire nailed to posts buried a foot underground, walls are about six feet high and deer netting over the top. Last night something went through the top of the pen, killed all 12 of my chickens. None were missing or eaten. They were all attacked on their heads and necks. It's like something came in through the netting six feet off the ground massacred all 12 then left back out the netting on top.Just killing for the fun of it. Any ideas on what it could have been?

I could have wrote this exact same post except, I lost 27 seven week old chickens. The next night my dog was barking and I ran outside and caught a possum in my pin, it had gone between the bird netting and the wire fencing so I went around and connected the bird netting with wire I also bought electric fencing I haven't put up yet. but I haven't had anymore trouble since I connected the bird netting with wire.

 

[angelbrenn]

You do have red foxes down there and they will climb 7' fences and go in from the top.

Omg for real fox's Climb

 

[kadizkidz]

Sounds like a fox to me, this time of year they are hunting for their young.
I had the same thing happen last year in March, the fox killed all chickens, and left them lay.

 

[retlaw]

Its not a Bobcat.
Big cats only kill if they can take their kill with them.
They will never climb into a fenced zone to kill unless they know they can get out with the kill.
Since all the birds were left there that rules the big cats out.

 

[aart]

I would think that 1" is big enough fro birds to stick heads out and become a target like poor Sparrow's flock.

Weasel can get thru 1" . 1/2" hardware cloth all the way, nothing can squeeze thru that!

 

[cobbcruiser]

Thanks for the advice to all. I did a search to see if weasels were native to GA and found the following entry in a forum about trapping weasels. I'm planning on building a couple of these to keep my hens safer... Good luck to all!

http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/443270/weasel_boxes.html#Post443270

 

[mhjm chickens]

i am so sorry. how disappointing and frustrating at the same time. i had one older chick go MIA and that was bad enough, i can't imagine a whole flock. i am really, really sorry. i have seen and heard of racoons doing the same thing. my in-laws had them come in, kill the whole flock and leave. they pulled some of the birds out and left them for dead around the yard as well. none were eaten. wretched creatures! wish i could help you, i feel for you!

 

[TW1Kell]

Worrying about "Nawth Gawgia, up above May-retta", you should really watch the 'yotes with your goats and chickens. We stake out a goat and shoot 'yotes away from them, as a hunting tactic. THAT is the reason for AR's in today's hunting world; keeping your "bait" safe from harm. I've lit-up as many as 7-8 'yotes at a time using a tied-out goat. That old goat sure does like me. haha He knows who's the one who kept them off him.

As for weasels, I believe there are weasels in every continental state. Mink, Ermine, Weasel, Ferrets, all about the same thing consdering different colors. Viscious lil buggers, and better at "getting in" than a Ranger.

Also, 'possums will definitely tear-up your chickens, as well. I've had to eliminate a few, this year, and my losses have been reduced to zero, with the singke exception caused by my neighbor's dog, who, uh, doesn't mess around in my chicken pen, any longer. G'luck to all on the critter front. Sometimes ya have to kill a few to let the rest live.