Every last bird dead in the coop....

[aprophet]

So sorry for your loss.

If throats were the only location of fatal injury/consumption, then I'd guess weasel or mink, they can climb very nimbly and squeeze through the eyes of needles (so to speak), raccoon's are rarely so `fastidious'. Set both a standard live trap and - check Youtube for instructions on how-to contruct a `weasel box' (big Victor Rat Trap is main ingredient).

Again, sorry - hang in there - retire the vermin and nurse your gumption.

a weasel only needs less then 1 " X 1" to squeeze into a mink slightly more when using a weasel box bloody liver ( M'rat, pork , chicken does'nt seem to matter )and a little Anise oil works well for bait

 

[Talihofarms]

I would think that you are dealing with a coon if the crop was eaten out.
However unless you have a warm spell the coons are normally hibernating this time of year.
Weasels will kill everything they can get their little fangs on.
I have dealt with Fishers,Minks, Weasels, and it sounds like it was most likely a Mink or Weasel.

If you get fresh snow look for the tracks.
They will be back once an easy meal is located.

 

[littleoak]

I say weasel. The damage you describe is identical to the work of weasels (minks). I had one work his way in through a mouse tunnel. They eat the mice and then follow through to the opening in the chicken area. If it can't get back out it will sometime build a nest in your chicken house and stay there. You might want to empty the house of all boxes and bedding and you may find it.

 

[Funonthefarm]

Definately Raccoon! Two years in a row the took out over 30 chickens. I had fence inside the barn and out and electrical fence around that and they still figured out a way around. The first year they even took out full grown turkeys when they could get the chickens. I finally found the place they were getting in and boarded it up. It was under the eves of the roof. Then I got Duke DP traps and I started taking them out. I have killed 14 coons so far. They will travel up to 3 miles from there den. I even had the Game Warden out to make sure it was okay to kill them out of season. One time I walk in the coop and found 2 eaten and 6 piled in the corner that were just dead from the Coons pouncing on them. The traps are cheap and well worth it.

 

[erinchelsea]

I'm so sorry for your loss. That is a heartbreaking sight.

 

[lmattke]

I am so sorry for your loss. We've lost hens to raccoons when we thought the coop was secure, but those nasty guys found a way to get in. I found three 'coons inside our coop in the middle of a killing spree at 6 AM one morning. Hardware cloth all around the coop from now on. We are in the Washington DC area and in a pretty suburban/ urban area. I'd be surprised if we had weasels or mink around here - I wonder how can I find out?

 

[Going Bhonkers]

Sorry for your loss

 

[1muttsfan]

Zengrrl, so sorry for your tragedy. Regardless of the type of predator, trapping or killing them will not protect your birds - only a predator-proof coop will do that, as a weasel taught me. One way of identifying cracks in your defense is after dark, have one person inside the coop with a strong flashlight and another outside watching where the light leaks out. All of these spots should be covered with hardware cloth. Hope you can reestablish your flock - Mary

 

[Talihofarms]

Any information on who the guilty party is yet?
I would think that with fresh snow from the storms rolling through there would be some signs.
Tracks should be easy to see, unless messed up by dogs sniffing around.
I am here in S. Wis and have seen only weasel and coyotes showing any movement.
Have not seen signs of coon here at the farm or on the trap lines.

 

[moetrout]

Sounds like a weasel to me. I live a little south of you and we have weasels around here. Not many but they are around. I also say the coons are denned up right now. They don't hibernate, but during cold spells they will den up for long periods of time. I catch most of my coon before christmas. After that my catch rate really goes down and it's not worth walking the trap line anymore.