Hmmm Who is the Myster Predator(s)

[LadyTurkey]

So us and our neighbor share some chickens for eggs mainly. Although we do have some of our own ( to young for eggs yet) Our little guys are locked up at night so that they are safe. The neighbor's however are in a open coop, they can come and go as they please on both of our properties . Well the other morning we went out to collect eggs and feed them...and saw feathers every where!
One of our rooster was on the ground dead with his back end eaten out, and a whole bunch of chickens had been taken, out of 20 chickens we are down to 10! I'm not really sure what took them .....my husband says raccoon but I say coyote because what ever it was took allot of our very large hens. I have the trap set and baited....last night we didn't catch one....but I know they will be back eventually...... Just wondering if anyone might be able to shed a light on what this predator might be? Because if its bigger then a raccoon My trap will not catch it :S

 

[amberflea]

If it's a coyote or fox you won't catch it in a live trap anyway, they are pretty smart for that, and unless you are a professional trapper that knows all the intricacies of setting odor proof traps, both are a tough catch.
TYPICALLY from what I have learned, fox and coyote will carry off their kill a safe ways away to eat it, they do not like being that close. Could it be a dog? Alot of times a dog will just kill and kill, and then eat some. Racoons tend to like eating the head...and to me it would seem odd they would kill that many and eat hindquarters... sounds very dog-like to me.
Sorry for your loss, most learn to lock up the coop at night after things like this happen. I have a hard enough time keeping mine safe free ranging during the day, won't take the chance of an unlocked coop at night.

 

[LadyTurkey]

If it's a coyote or fox you won't catch it in a live trap anyway, they are pretty smart for that, and unless you are a professional trapper that knows all the intricacies of setting odor proof traps, both are a tough catch.
TYPICALLY from what I have learned, fox and coyote will carry off their kill a safe ways away to eat it, they do not like being that close. Could it be a dog? Alot of times a dog will just kill and kill, and then eat some. Racoons tend to like eating the head...and to me it would seem odd they would kill that many and eat hindquarters... sounds very dog-like to me.
Sorry for your loss, most learn to lock up the coop at night after things like this happen. I have a hard enough time keeping mine safe free ranging during the day, won't take the chance of an unlocked coop at night.

Yeah our neighbour isnt interested in the chickens much and more and wants to sell them, so we are picking our favorite and will be locking them up at night soon and the others will be sold. But untill then...Im worried about them at night. I have no way of closing her coop up Yeah my husband mentioned that the trap will not catch the coyotes or foxes. I think my husband and my neighbour thought it was a coon because the bite marks didnt look that big on the one that was left, but yet all his insides were eaten out

I never thought raccoons would carry off that many large hens.

 

[MrsShady]

We have the same problem except our chickens are in the coop all night. Went out this morning and found two with their heads missing and one with a huge hole in the side. We do not know what it is as we have wire and fence around the whole thing. Any suggestions??

 

[amberflea]

We have the same problem except our chickens are in the coop all night. Went out this morning and found two with their heads missing and one with a huge hole in the side. We do not know what it is as we have wire and fence around the whole thing. Any suggestions??

First off you need to find the hole that the predator got inside the coop in, obviously somehow it got in. Once that is fixed you shouldn't have any problems, doesn't matter what it was, but to me it sounds like a coon, weasel or maybe a possum. Weasels can get in some pretty small holes, so look closely.

 

[good ole boy]

if you have open eaves on your coop make sure you hardware cloth them, i had a coon and possum both climb into my barn a few years back and i lost over 30 birds. you might post some coop pics so someone might see something you don`t. good luck