Entire flock murdered

[Catastrophic]

I went to my coop in the morning and found all my chickens slaughtered. I found some dead where they sleep. Some dead in the run and one dead outside none of them seemed to have been eaten and only one bite mark and one seems to have been kicked by a human. I do not live on the property so some one could have came and killed all of them because there were three holes around the coop through the wire. There was also dog fur. I am unsure what to do now that my flock is dead.

 

[STACEYH]

I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[Cluckerdoodle]

Oh man....that is terrible. So sorry

 

[cmom]

So sorry for your loss. I've been there too. My suggestion would be to put up a camera. If it was a predator it is likely it will return and has probably been lurking and then you will know what you're dealing with. Good luck...

 

[Catastrophic]

I believe it was mostly Likely raccoons and not a person or dogs. But rather strange in how all the chickens were intact and how they only had one bite mark. But seems strange for a raccoon.

 

[Banana01]

Dogs can kill by breaking the neck and leaving no bite marks. I witnessed a dog yesterday do this to one of my younger ones. Sorry for your loss.

 

[50-45-1]

A dog will leave the chickens slobbery and scattered everywhere.
If your birds have no sign of this and no viable injuries or bite Mark's, I suspect a weasel. (Mustela)
They range from chipmunk size to cat size (mink) depending on the variety, sex and type.
The least weasel, the one I have encountered here in Michigan, can squeeze himself through a mouse hole.

He will cashe kill. (kill as much as possible at one time to have food for later)
Not sure of your location, but one variety or type of this guy exist almost everywhere in the US.
I co-exist with my resident weasel now because he keeps rat and rodent population in check.
Just make sure to lock your coop each night and make SURE you have no gaps or holes over half an inch.
The coop I have now is a direct result of one preditor type after another showing me where my weaknesses were.
I am sorry about your chickens.
Most if us have been in your shoes.

 

[Isadora]

I also suspected weasel, based on the account.

 

[bruceha2000]

I'm sorry for your loss, devastating.

I agree with @50-45-1, it was a weasel of some sort. The smallest ones can get through chicken wire. If you have any openings covered with anything larger than 1/2" hardware cloth, use that to cover them. There are no predators that small.

A lady around the corner raised 100 meat birds this spring, pre-paid. Lost almost the entire group one night to a weasel. Dead birds all over the night coop area. It wasn't secure against weasels. She re-stocked since most people prepaid and put them up in a more secure area overnight.

 

[Tonyroo]

If you don't reside on the property where your chickens are, how do you know when there sick or protect them from the unknowns?

And sorry for your loss. I know how it feels.