Help identifying predator

[Manwilder]

I have a situation that doesn't quite match what I've read via searching. Every evening I let my guineas and chickens out to free range in the garden and around the barn. I've never had an issue. A few days ago I lost 9 guineas, 2 hens and a rooster with 2 hours. All I've found are a few piles of guinea feathers. The rooster was injured on his tail area and died a day later. The feather piles were in several different areas and I haven't found any other remains. A few months ago my neighbor lost a few chickens to a fox, but at a rate of only 1 every few days. I set out a live trap next to my coop and caught my neighbors rooster. Several other live traps with bread and peanut butter only captured ants. I put out a predator decoy and call in the pasture behind the coop and waited from the loft of the barn with no response. Any insight as to what would take this many birds all at once without leaving a carcass? I've seen a couple of hawks circling the area since this happened, but the evidence doesn't fit what I would expect to find.

Thanks

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Where do you live?

With 12 bird disappearing at a time with no remains, it is likely a large pack of coyotes, foxes or dogs.
Mink and weasels will kill all birds in a flock but won't eat any.

Bread and peanut butter aren't bait for meat eating predators, more appropriate for mice.
You need meat or fish for bait.

 

[ShellyBear]

Do you have a fenced in area? If so try to think of anything that might be able to get threw it. I believe its a pack of coyotes. they some times pluck the feathers and drag the corps eating everything leaving nothing. It also could be a raccoon. I've had 5 chickens killed in one day just by one and they also hide their food. Oh, don't put peanut butter in your traps put raw chunks of meat. The predator might be to big for your traps. Good luck!

 

[Manwilder]

I have a large trap with meat, feathers and egg shells. I have 3 smaller traps with the bread and peanut butter thinking it might catch a racoon. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

fish and marshmallows IMHO work best for raccoons.

Is your large trap coyote size?

 

[Manwilder]

The trap is 42x15x15. Maybe a little small for coyote. I was thinking more along the size of fox or raccoon when I bought it. I haven't heard any coyotes in the area, but that may not mean much. Oddly enough there are a lot of domestic cats that don't seem to be on the menu.

 

[ShellyBear]

I would rather eat a chicken then a cat, maybe that's why.

 

[CochinLover1]

That sounds like the destruction of the Coyote.

 

[ShellyBear]

Any luck yet?

 

[CochinLover1]

Ferrel Cats have been known to kill chickens. I would recommend you set up a game camera to know for sure