Help me!! I went from 23 outside birds to only 3!!!

[McChooky]

**I know this is long. Thank you if you read it all!!**


I live in the city in the city. Milton, Florida to be exact. For 3 years we've had 5 coops that had no predators and
starting two weeks ago I had five coop annihilation. It started with my two RIR hens. Gone. Then in my middle coop my biggest Ayam Cemani Roo Grim Reaper was fatally injured, and my ragamuffin and Houdini hens were gone. Then my Nikki the very next day. Then the following day in my last coop his Grim Reaper, my Prince Branch Gristle was headless and dead, along with their Sisters my Jade Onyx and Princess Sugar. Leaving my Peppercorn Chip and Chicken Dumpling. The following day Peppercorn Chip was gone. Then that night I heard my Chicken Dumpling screaming. I ran out there and found her on the ground breathing heavy. I grabbed her up and brought her inside. She had blood on several places on her head. And she was weak. Two days in my 3rd coop my precious Chicken Tender Nike was beheaded, and my sweet Waddles Waffle Bar my cochin hen was taken out of her Hook locked brooder box
opened it, she ran and was beheaded!! Two nights later my Welsummer Bridget Marie was beheaded, then the following night my blue laced Wyandotte Poppy Rose was beheaded, then the following night my sweet girl, my white leghorn hen Ursula Seashell was murdered in the first coop along with Poppy and Bridget. Then 2 nights later, MY BEAUTIFUL Showgirl Roo Lil Man was GONE COMPLETELY!! WE put the last three outside birds in a huge parrot cage and whatever it is, ripped my Icicle Frost my light Sussex head was gone and NECK!!! PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS KILLING MY FLOCK!!! I Went from 23 birds outside(because I have 2 inside bantam and 1 micro bantam bird inside) down to 3 outside bird(although one is now inside due to her injury) But I need help, we just got a game camera to see what the heck decimated my flock so freaking quick. I'm devastated because my birds are my emotional support chickens. But all that's left are my 3 Ayam Cemani birds. The first hatched on property, and the last hatched on property. The three outside birds we have left are my hens Chicken Dumpling, Chicken Alfredo and my roo Ezekiel Malachi. I just need to know, what's killing them?!? I'm so depressed. And I'm still a fairly new Chicken momma, only 5 years.. so I'm not use to this ever happening. Please anyone tell me what is ripping off my birds heads. I can't take it anymore!! In the photos are all my babies that are all gone.
Grim Reaper my Ayam Cemanis
His brother Prince Branch Gristle and their Sisters Jade Onyx, Princess Sugar Cube, Peppercorn Cube, their niece, Chicken Tender Nike who survived impaling her crop at only a month and a half old. then my Ameracuna hens, Houdini, Ragamuffin, Nikki 6, my Showgirl roo Lil Man, then my best friends My Welsummer Bridget Marie and her best friend Poppy Rose my blue laced Wyandotte, then my coop sisters my White Leghorn Ursula Seashell and Icicle Frost my light Sussex. My two RIR hens Cherry Garcia and Banana Pudding, The only living birds I have now are my Micro Bantam my Frizzle Serama General Pinecone, my bantam Cochin hens my molted Cochin Sweet Potato Pie, and my black bantam cochin Pumpkin Pie, my outside chicken who got injured My first hatched On property Chicken Dumpling, and her blood cousin Chicken Alfredo who was the last hatched on property. And my roo Ezekiel Malachi. There

I advise you not to put anymore chickens outside until you've gone over each coop. This predator is waiting for another chance

 

[Predoggg]

I am sorry for your loose. We went through something similar and lost 9 chickens in 1 week. We lost 4 chickens in one night to raccoon, 1 to hawk and another night also 4 again.

8 of them were result of raccoon and we made adjustments. Unfortunately our neighbors have trash bins outside and an overgrown backyard which is not maintained. Beside running a tighter mesh along the fence did we make adjustments to the coop, put up more trail cameras to see what all happens at night and also put up traps to catch the raccoons.

I know how it feels when you keep loosing chickens. We had no issues for 4 years and then that.

Oh we were able to purchase a wood carved eagle and we keep moving it around to keep the hawks away.

Hope some of things we did will help you too.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

If possible I would recommend free-ranging your chickens. It's far safer because the natural response for a bird to predation is to fly away. I'm in your same area and my biggest issue is having too many chickens. They live outside 24/7, sleep in trees and never stop multiplying in number

Raising tougher breeds might also be a good idea. A single game, or landrace rooster would produce nearly invulnerable chickens for you, if they're allowed to live outside where they can escape predators

 

[TheRealRyanGosling]

S

Cover all vents and openings with 1/2' galvanized hardware cloth if you haven't already done so and replace simple coop latches with hasp locks & carabiners to keep out minks and raccoons! I'm sorry for your loss and know you must be heartbroken!Theres a light at the end of this tunnel!Fortunately they didn't kill

If possible I would recommend free-ranging your chickens. It's far safer because the natural response for a bird to predation is to fly away. I'm in your same area and my biggest issue is having too many chickens. They live outside 24/7, sleep in trees and never stop multiplying in number

Raising tougher breeds might also be a good idea. A single game, or landrace rooster would produce nearly invulnerable chickens for you, if they're allowed to live outside where they can escape predators

I've heard muscovow are very protective good mothers and the Drakes are quite loud in warning of danger. Is that true? I know someone with peacock that is full security on property. Is that a potential in your experience?