Flock massacre, survivor shock

[13Bettys]

A little background before the story, I am a first time chicken mom and major animal lover! My flock was 13 6 week old BSL. About 4 days ago we had a day trip and didn't get home until much later than we had anticipated. When I went to the coop the first thing I saw was a dead 6 week old chick with its head a foot away from it!! I spot another body laying in the run and can't hear any noise coming from the coop, then my spotlight dies. In a panic/freak out I start back to the house when I hear my husband call my name and all I can say is "they're all dead" so to the rescue he comes, he's awesome like that. We get more flashlights, that work, and head out to investigate. My husband makes me stay out of the coop in case predator is still there. As he goes through the door I hear a chick and announce "I hear one alive, I've got to get it!" And as I'm rushing the door my husband says "wait it's above the door" so I stop, jump back and say "the chicken or the monster?" lol. Well it was one of 3 chicks that survived the attack. I took all 3 in my arms against my chest and walked around holding them as we assessed the situation and I decided what to do with them. The coop was a bloody mess and obviously not secure so I put my 3 survivors in a kennel in my sunroom, where they were before. We cleaned the coop and added security but the chickens stay in the coop all day and as it starts getting dark they go to the door and chirp vet loudly until I get them and bring them back inside for the night. They haven't spent another night in the coop but I know the time is coming that they will have to because I bought 6 more chicks that will soon need the kennel the survivors are in at night. Not sure how to make them more comfortable out there now.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm guessing you had a weasel attack. This is their common MO. A weasel can squeeze through any opening that you could push a quarter through. And a weasel will kill an entire flock of babies or adults just for the fun of it.

 

[13Bettys]

We found footprints that looked like raccoon prints. I am working on borrowing some traps now. It is so on!!! Vengeance will be mine muhahahaha (that's my evil laugh)

 

[lazy gardener]

Do some google searches on how to catch a weasel or a coon. You will obviously need a different trap for either critter. I would have expected the coon to drag the bodies off. As gruesome as it sounds, those little bodies would be the perfect bait.

 

[Hillaire]

so how did the raccoon enter the run? Do you have bird netting or anything on the top of the run? What did you guys do to secure the coop/run.. I'm sorry for your loss mother nature is certainly cruel.

 

[13Bettys]

All but 2 of the bodies were drug off. The next day my husband was on the roof to trim tree limbs and saw blood and feathers up there too. It was so sad. I'm thinking we may have interrupted them

 

[Hillaire]

raccoons are the worst. Once you do catch one in a trap (and you will) keep setting the trap every night. Last year when I got my flock I knew we would have visitors at night so I set it up. In a 2 week span I caught 13 raccoon (all not the same one) I would put old chicken from the fridge or just leave it empty and it worked like a charm

 

[13Bettys]

I also heard cat food works. I really just want them gone!! I am hating raccoons now. But the 3 chickens that are left are definitely a lot more clingy to me and now seem to want me to hold them at times. I just want them to be comfortable in the coop. Any suggestions on that?

 

[HeidelberrFarms]

I am so sorry for your loss.

I hope that you all recover from the shock very soon.

Raccoons wiped out my entire duck flock and 5 chickens last year over the span of one night...in separate coops. I happened to have an incubator full of eggs so I at least have them. But I never, ever, forget that feeling of walking out to the coop and discovering the carnage.

It's devastating.