Flock massacred

[deserthotwings]

Time to brake out the 12ga, those coons don't never give up. They got 7 of my pheasants in one night. The next night I got 3 of them. So sorry for your lose Amigo.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Really sorry about that,

my friend had the same problem, I suggested putting chicken wire under the cage so it prevents them to dig. It has worked for me for 5 or 6 years now. The only issue is that the bobcat comes anytime of the day and will kill. No more free range eggs

 

[bloom chicks]

I am so sorry for your loss!

 

[Vamvakas]

Sounds more like a fox attack. Foxes kill everything they see and come back later to pick them up, racoons only kill a few if only 1.

 

[jmc]

but how were they able to get into the coop itself where the birds were locked up?

so sorry for your loss!

 

[centrarchid]

I scrutenized the OP's original account. Predator could also have been a badger.

Regardless of perpetrator, try to think of layers in your predator management. It is very diificult if not expensive to deny all predators access to your flock all of the time using housing structure alone so make it so bad guys have muliple obstacles to overcome. In OP's case, the perp accessed the coop by burrowing under the buried perimeter fencing so it got in and got ALL birds. Think about how perp came into contact with birds. It had to do so or birds would not have been harmed. I ask where did contacts occur, on roost, ground, against perimeter of coop fencing or wall? Also distinguish between initial contacts and where killing actually took place. Many predators that dig well do not climb or jump well. If perp was a badger or racoon, then consider protective value of roost. How can the roost be constructed or placed to limit the predators access to birds? Remember most chickens have at least a limited capacity for flight, usually at least 6 feet vertically. Setup roost so birds can get up there by flying but a dumpy predator like a racoon, badger or oppossum can't. You may not save all birds but losses will be more limited until another layer can come into play such as your dog, or you packing a boomstick. Also as another mentioned, keep live traps set almost continously as that will catch some potential perps. The electrical fencing is also a sound idea if already in use with other livestock. Also, do not forget to get out there and check on things periodically at night.

 

[mamachicken888]

Oh man! What a terrible thing to happen! Not much we can do except sympathize with you. We are raising our first flock of 21 and I can't imagine losing them all!

 

[chickenannie1]

I am so sorry! That is a devastating loss! My condolences!

 

[azygous]

Having just lost one of my hens to a hawk last week, I feel a particular horror and sense of loss over the devastation you've just suffered. Yours is almost the same size as my flock, and I just can't imagine the grief over losing every single one.

During summer, I have a very serious bear and bobcat problem. I urge you to run a hot wire about twelve inches off the ground all around the pen, as well as another hot wire about three feet off the ground. This is an extremely effective means of predator control. It will be even more effective if you smear peanut butter at intervals on the hot wire, and keep refreshing it every so often. Believe me, any predator who samples the peanut butter will get the "message"!

 

[gambit2178]

I am really sorry to hear about your flock...hang in there. Keeping you in my thoughts!