How to find out what is eating my chickens and to stop it

[bosshog74]

I had 3 chickens that ran free in my backyard. Always cooped from Sundown to sunup period had these chickens for about a year came home after letting him out at 9 a.m. they were all gone by 10 a.m. only left the heads was super bummed out. Don't want to have chickens unless they are able to roam free in our yard during the day any suggestions

 

[bobbi-j]

Sorry for your loss. Predators are always a threat when free ranging, so you may want to rethink getting more if you're not willing to put them in a run now and then. A little more information would be helpful. Where do you live - in town, out in the country? Is your yard fenced? Do your chickens have plenty of cover for hiding? Do you have neighbors with dogs?

 

[carlf]

Sounds like a large hawk or great horned owl (they will occasionally hunt during the day).

 

[bosshog74]

Sorry for your loss. Predators are always a threat when free ranging, so you may want to rethink getting more if you're not willing to put them in a run now and then.  A little more information would be helpful. Where do you live - in town, out in the country? Is your yard fenced? Do your chickens have plenty of cover for hiding? Do you have neighbors with dogs?

I live in the city next to the Foothills in California. Chickens going to cook as soon as it's dark I let him out early morning

 

[bosshog74]

I live Claremont California small town at the foothill. Chickens are the coop right before dark and I let them out morning

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I had 3 chickens that ran free in my backyard. Always cooped from Sundown to sunup period had these chickens for about a year came home after letting him out at 9 a.m. they were all gone by 10 a.m. only left the heads was super bummed out. Don't want to have chickens unless they are able to roam free in our yard during the day any suggestions

It sounds like the predator ate the whole bird, except the head....what about the feathers?

If it ate the bird and feathers were all over the kill site, along with the uneaten head...then I'd say you have an upper tier predator...fox, coyote....that type of predator.

Dogs will kill and move on, they hardly ever eat their kill unless they are strays, and even then they don't usually eat all of it.

Raccoons will eat the head, and open the throat and eat out the crop...usually.

From what you said, it really sounds like a coyote....maybe even a fox.

 

[bosshog74]

I was thinking it was a coyote. The only thing that threw me off it happened at 10 a.m. . Was wondering if there's anything I can put like a scent around the property or some kind a deterrent. Thanks for your reply

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I don't know of any scent that will stop a coyote or a fox, once they know where to go to get an easy meal.

If the property is not well fenced...2 X 4 welded wire, at least 5 feet high, and no way under the fence...it's going to be tough keeping Coyotes and Foxes away.

Canine predators can be around at anytime, day or night. If there is a lot of pressure on them in the area, then yeah, they'll be more nocturnal in their hunting habits. But there is no set time that they are typically most active....

For me, the best way I have ever found to remove a Coyote is the age ole dirt hole set. But I do believe that California might be pretty restrictive on the use of foothold traps.

Second best is calling and shooting, but you get one chance...and if it doesn't work out the animal will never respond to that ploy again.

 

[bosshog74]

Thanks. It probably has a 6-foot fence all the way around. There is a block wall running up to it and I have seen them walk on it I will try to put something there for them not to be able to get over. Thanks again