I think it was a human - 2 dead chickens

[JulieZ]

Reader digest version ... Neighbors not happy with us, we are clearing land, last time we did something on our property they had the attorney out on us & their son was spotted walking on our property before.

Today ... I was clearing more land when I went to wondering what was up with my chickens. They were mighty quiet. As I walked in, I found 1 dead LB & 1 dead BR. No blood, no feathers, no sign of entry & if anyone has read how our coop is build ... our fencing & metal pool lining go 3 feet into the ground. I inspected not only the birds ... which had snapped necks ... but also the coop/run. There's no way in & no way out unless you are a small weasel & I don't know if North Central Florida has any of those in my neck of Trenton.

My daughter told me about 2am she heard some mild clucking. I told her that any noise at that time of night is a bad sign & she needed to come get me. Not her fault, she didn't know but what gets me is now the rest of my babies are so tramatized they will not even come near me. When I walk into the run, they ALWAYS run up to me ... now they run from me.

One of my girls is hurt now. She breast looks like it is pushed to the right side, she does not walk straight, her tail feathers are down & her back side (when she walks) is pushed to the left. I suspect she will die later today. She just stands there. I did place her in the nest so she could relax & if she goes she'd at least be comfy but she got up and is standing at the water.

OH ... my BR was in the run when I found her & the LB was in the actual shed coop.

Snapped neck, no sign of entry from a predator, about 2am this may have occurred and no blood. Predator ... maybe a snake ... or human?

I'm SOOOO devastated & heart broken !!!!
Julie

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Sorry about your losses. Check the wounded bird for an impacted crop. That's what it sounds like.

 

[JulieZ]

Impacted crop?

 

[JulieZ]

I'm reading an article that says to slice my chickens chest open. Please tell me there is an alternative method?

 

[huntercf]

Sounds like someone snapped their necks and the other was kicked. I think if it was a four legged predator there would be a few feathers around and the birds would be missing or at least partially eaten.
It might be worth it to stay up and see if the perps come back. If you confront someone, be careful, it may just be better to take photos and dial 911. You might even put some sand or loose dirt around your coop (or at least at the entrance) to check for tracks.
I would also invest in a lock for the door. That may be the best way to keep out 2 legged predators.

 

[JulieZ]

My gut tells me it was human & it rained last night so I can not find tracks any where.

If she was kicked ... what can I do?
if it's impacted crop ... what can I do?

Photo's? Try a gun ...

Julie

 

[mikeh]

wow sorry to hear what happened preditors is one thing but humans is another.I think you need video cams.good luck in the future

 

[Casey3043]

How come the neighbors have anything to say about you clearing land? Is there a boundary dispute or something? I would invest in a game cam and go after them for sure. But in the meanwhile, some good locks are the thing. Snapped necks with no other damage does sound like a person did it.

My coop is locked at night and no one can get in unless he can unlatch and crawl through the pop door. Pretty nasty as the roost is right there and all the poop.

The people door at the other end is locked.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[will hunt for food]

It rained? There must be some bare soil where you can find tracks. Guessing if someone went into your coop and broke a neck, there would be more than "mild clucking". Also, there should be feathers from a lot of flapping if grabbed by a 2 legged predator. Dunno. No lock on the coop door? Go to your neighbors, ask them if they heard anything on there property last night because some of your birds got killed. You should be able to tell if they are lying. Unless you know something for sure, I would not jump the gun blaming anyone. It will only cause more animosity. It may be a mystery you will never solve.

Get a lock for the coop/run.

 

[Jeeper1540]

Exactly, ask them if they heard anything, see what they say
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