Help Identifying Predator

[Weeg]

I had a Newfie chicken killer so I agree after watching him "pin" chickens. BUT I really don't think it was dog. I neglected to mention that outside of the kennel they "free-range," I call it free range because I don't think flimsy chicken wire fencing stops anything. But indeed I have chicken wire fencing around a half acre of woods that they "free-range." And I checked all of it, no place a dog could have gotten through..... I wonder if it was something that was actually scared off by the other hens? Or maybe my dog came out and barked at it? We know we have racoons, I've seen their prints at the river. I've seen so many prints at the river for that matter. Bobcat, cougar, we even had a bear a few years ago.... But nothing big went through the chicken wire part. I did have an old shelf that was up against the kennel (another dumb thing I did Sunday, put it out there to burn later.) I moved that as it would have really helped something crawl over the chain link.....

Could the dog have jumped the fence?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Agreed. It is odd to me that whatever it was only killed one. Seems like likely a dog at that point. Weasels usually don't skin them, just leave the body. A dog might give up if the others were roosting and not running. Maybe this one was lagging behind?

Good point that some lag behind. I know those 2 well, they're my older ones that take their precious time. This one however was a younger EE, not usually a lagger, oddly super bonded with her other EE sister that she brooded with so I'm surprised it was only one of them.....

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Could the dog have jumped the fence?

Hmmm it's 4ft. but yes the right dog.... I could never see a dog jumping the kennel but possibly the chicken wire. I just thought I'd find a part of the chicken wire mashed or something and I didn't. One neighbor quite a ways away has a small Aussie that run's loose....

 

[Weeg]

Hmmm it's 4ft. but yes the right dog.... I could never see a dog jumping the kennel but possibly the chicken wire. I just thought I'd find a part of the chicken wire mashed or something and I didn't. One neighbor quite a ways away has a small Aussie that run's loose....

I think a determined dog could easily jump that. Unlinked that it owed jump the kennel, but the chicken wire yes. By the way this hen was killed it sure looks like a dog to me. The skinned back, head intact, only one death.
Ah ha! Aussie could easily jump that fence. Those guys are very pretty driven, and very sporty. You may have found your attacker.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Thank you everyone, appreciate your help. I'll just keep watching the cam, never neglecting my evening chores and hope for the best. If it's the neighbors dog I'll consider it my problem to solve for instead of dumping on him. Peace with neighbors is very important in our little Mt. community. I have no problem dispatching a coon but I'm not getting into any dog wars when providing adequate, maybe even electric, fencing solves the problem.....

 

[Weeg]

Peace with neighbors is very important in our little Mt. community. I have no problem dispatching a coon but I'm not getting into any dog wars when providing adequate, maybe even electric, fencing solves the problem.....

Agreed. I live in a little Mountain town as well. Sounds like you have a good plan. Good luck, and I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[McChooky]

Yes I agree! By putting up an electric fence you can keep the dog out and prevent a war .I would do the same! Best of luck to you!

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Electric fencing is for sure the best, I had it in Alaska for my horses, does a great job keeping bear away.

As an update: After hanging out in my coop all weekend, I now think this was a hawk attack. I've seen hawk every day. 3 circling overhead at one point Saturday, one yesterday, they seem to be coming back daily. So I attached "Steve" (short for Steven SEagle) the plastic Eagle to my coop roof. My hens + pullets are not allowed out in the chicken wire property until the hawks give up and move on.

 

[McChooky]

Electric fencing is for sure the best, I had it in Alaska for my horses, does a great job keeping bear away.

As an update: After hanging out in my coop all weekend, I now think this was a hawk attack. I've seen hawk every day. 3 circling overhead at one point Saturday, one yesterday, they seem to be coming back daily. So I attached "Steve" (short for Steven SEagle) the plastic Eagle to my coop roof. My hens + pullets are not allowed out in the chicken wire property until the hawks give up and move on.

Hawks usually eat the head and/or breast hmmm

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Hawks usually eat the head and/or breast hmmm

I can't be certain because it hasn't happened again and I didn't see it.... It's just I really doubt dog. If you could see our place, a dog would have to sneak more like a wolf or coyote through the woods and enter from the River side of without alerting my dogs. It just seems unlikely and I haven't ever seen a dog that came to our property that way. If anything, ever, they come up to our driveway gate on the other side to fence fight with my dogs.....