Help With a killer

[Animal123Animal]

Hello All
I had something get in my bantam coop last night and it killed one of my showgirls. I have had chickens at this house for about 17 years off and on and have not lost a chicken before last nights. I live in the middle of the city and have no big critters out there, I do have Skunks, Coon and opossums come by every now and then but have never had them do anything to the chicken before. The hen was in a small rabbit hutch with a little door on it so just the bantams use it to roost the bigger hens have a shed to roost in. The other bantams got me up at 5:30 just screaming their little heads off and when I went out they were all over the chciken yard up high. I told them all was cool and to come down, But no go so I went to the coop to see how they got their door open and thats when I found the showgirl, The door was has just a simple latch and it just up and open. She was still in the coop and one side of her is gone and the insides have been eatten. I found no tracks and the chicken yard is one big cage and I see no were that the killer got in. The chickens are down eatting right now but still very jumpy. Would a coon stay in the coop and eat or would they carry the bird off? Would a trap work on a coon? I'm going to put all the chickens in the big coop tonight and set a trap in the other. I feel so bad for my little hen and the other girls that are still scared. Thanks for any help you can give. Dennis

PS: I just went out to the coop to clean up and all the serama eggs from the coop are gone and there are no shells to be found.

 

[flip9109]

thats awfull. my guess would be racoon. they are very clever and fantastic climbers. a friend of mine had the simple hook and eye latches on the doors to his coop. a couple racoons figured it out and in 2 nights killed 9 hens.
I like to use hasp and staple with a little carabiner as lock.
racoons will go in traps. leg holds work the best, snare work well too.

good luck.

 

[LynneP]

If it had happened here we'd say a coon, too. If you have the stomach for it you can bait a trap with the body, but be assured, that predator is coming back. Anything easily opened by a human hand is nothing to a raccoon, so latch improvment might be an option. I feel so badly for you- obviously in all those years you have had a secure flock, so I'm betting you'll solve this immediately...

 

[Animal123Animal]

Thanks for all the help. I have the traps set and the cameras out and no go the last two nights but I hope to get something tonight. All the chickens are in the big coop the last few night also and I have been screwing the door shut at night and openen it back up it the morning. I'm not taking any chance of losing anymore of my chickens to this little killer. I'll let you know how I do. Thanks again Dennis

 

[nccountrygirl]

Dennis, I see you have a webcam, did you happen to catch on it what ever got your girl? I'm sorry for your loss and hope you can catch the murdering varmit.

 

[Animal123Animal]

Hello
Nope no luck with catching him on camera. Still no luck with catching him in a trap, But I do know it's a coon for sure now, As my brother saw it out front last night when he was leaving here to go home. Thanks again for all the Help Dennis

 

[gumpsgirl]

I'm sorry about your showgirl.

That's terrible and my worst nightmare. Now that you know that it is a coon for sure, that should make things a little more simple in trapping it. My nephew hunts coons and they are very curious animals. I would try a live trap with some cat food in it and something shiny to catch the coons attention. They LOVE shiny objects and will usually go to all lengths to get the shiny item! Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[VaM715]

I'm a hobby trapper here in VA. I use a can of sardines in a live trap. Works every time. The best is the kind in oil. Whole sardines, not kipper snacks.
Another thing a buddy swears by is Marshmallows. I've never tried them, but he does catch ALOT of coons!!!