Help please! - Graphic photos

[Cwm197]

Looking for some help/feedback. Lost 4 of my birds over last two nights. Lots of feathers. No bodies left, just the wings of this in pic. Birds are locked up at night. No evidence of being dragged out. Very confused. This is all I’ve found of four birds.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Where did you find the remains?
Do they range during the day or are they locked up in a secure run?
Do you count your birds every night when they are closed in?

Where in general are you located?
In town?
Rural?
USA?

 

[Cwm197]

Suburbs. Long Island, NY. They are secured in a 40x40 area with six foot high fence. Found remains in neighbors yard, over fence. There is a strip of wooded area but it is residential.

 

[21hens-incharge]

If there is no wire, netting or roof on the 40x40 area critters can get in.

Here in Colorado in my suburb a neighbor lost a hen to a fox. A different neighbor saw the Fox sitting on the sidewalk in front of my house chewing the wings off so it could carry the carcass easier. I know this because after I got home from work the witness neighbor was at my door concerned about my birds. The Fox took that bird during the day.

I myself have seen fox go over 6' tall fences like it was nothing.

We have no wooded areas but we definitely have fox.

I really think you lost the birds to one or more fox.

Was this bird present at coop closing or already missing?

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome, and so sorry for your losses.
Your birds need a predator proof coop; they aren't 'secured' in your yard at all.
Lock your survivors up right away, and make them a better place to live.
Post pictures of your coop and yard, that's a big help here, and set up a game camera, so you can see who's out there.
Mary

 

[50-45-1]

i think i am reading that the birds are in a area and i assume you have a chicken coop within that area.
are the birds not locked in there coop at night?
the outside enclosure will allow many different predators in. especially at night when most predators hunt. if your coop is open, your chickens are completely vulnerable.
i hope you can secure what birds you have left until you get your coop fixed.
i had a feral domestic tom cat clean me out of young chicks once. all he left behind was wings and legs. kind of reminds me of your picture. my coop was not secure back then.
also possibly a family of possums would leave remains like that.
good luck

 

[Cwm197]

If there is no wire, netting or roof on the 40x40 area critters can get in.

Here in Colorado in my suburb a neighbor lost a hen to a fox. A different neighbor saw the Fox sitting on the sidewalk in front of my house chewing the wings off so it could carry the carcass easier. I know this because after I got home from work the witness neighbor was at my door concerned about my birds. The Fox took that bird during the day.

I myself have seen fox go over 6' tall fences like it was nothing.

We have no wooded areas but we definitely have fox.

I really think you post the birds to one or more fox.

Was this bird present at coop closing or already missing?

 

[Cwm197]

Thanks for all the feedback. Just a few things. They are secured in a coop at night that is locked. No sign of entry. The coop itself is enclosed in a 40 x 40 area. I think it is happening at dudk or dawn. I made sure to put all 4 remaining bird in last night and they were safe and sound this morning.

 

[twendt]

Have you looked around your perimeter to see if an animal dug under your fence? Is your fencing buried at least 18" out? If something climbed over, it's a raccoon. I find them inside my fenced in area at night when I do a security check . They go flying up my 5 foot fence when they hear me coming. My girls are always safe in their coop. If I were you, I'd set out a trap and shoot the offender. I had to to do that with one raccoon who was a nuisance. My hens have free range inside my garden, I live in the suburbs (have to keep them contained), the raccoon was coming in to eat my vegetables. I didn't like the fact he was so close to my girls every night, he had to go! So sorry for your loss, I would be heartbroken and FURIOUS if anything ate my girls.

 

[cmom]

I would suggest if you have a game camera, put it up and then you will know what you're dealing with. The predator knows you have birds and will keep coming back looking for an opportunity. You may not see the predator but I'm sure it's around. Here most of the predators roam at night. You may not have noticed the predator last night but it will be back. These are the visitors here last night.