Is it a fox?

[philippa@65]

In the past 3 months we have had 3 different attacks on our chickens. The first time there was feathers but just one bird had bee taken. The 2nd time two were killed laying behind our allotment gate. One had teeth marks on the back of its neck the other with no marks. Today my cockerel has been killed and left near the gate again and our maran in deep shock. I have 5 bantams none of whom seem worried and a light suusex that wpuld have been with the other two that didnt seem bothered? is it a fox or could it be a dog?

 

[Countrywife]

my experience is limited, but I would think no, its not a fox. A dog maybe. A fox kills to eat, not for sport. So if it were a fox the poultry would not be left behind. The one time we had the trouble they were all gone. Might want to get a trap out there, and then you will know for sure what it is.

 

[CTChickenMom]

I would also look at the size of the teeth markes. Dogs are going to leave a larger puncture wound than a fox. I'm guessing also that it was a dog. I've never heard of any wild animal hunting for sport. I would keep your chickies in their run until you find out. Your predator will return.

Are you finding them dead inside their run? The one near the gate, was that gate going into the run? Dogs will chase anything that runs. If your chickies freerange, I'd leave the run door propped open so they can get into the pop door. Unless your predator is a small dog, this would allow a means of escape for your chickens.

 

[philippa@65]

The gate goes into the allotment and is locked and shut when we arent there and the run gate is always open so they can get back in the hen house. I might go and sit and wait for he culprit!

 

[CityChicker]

Well, from what I've read, foxes will indeed kill for sport (although this doesn't sound like a fox). I have read previously, including in the Holderread duck books, that they will sometimes get in and kill entire flocks in one night, leaving as many as 30 dead, uneaten birds. They don't kill *entirely* for sport though. There will be some birds missing entirely and some eaten on site, not just uneaten ones.

This really sounds like a predator big enough to kill, but not to get the prey out since you say they were by the gate. I don't know what you have in your area, but I have seen skunks do that on occasion (not often though). They will eat eggs and sometimes catch birds, but not move them far. It could also be a dog or maybe even a cat. It could also be any number of things that we don't have around here, so I am not aware of how they attack. Everything else we have here, like raccoons, do not leave whole uneaten birds.

 

[chickyfuzz]

I lost a duck to a fox. the male foxes will leave birds dead where as female usually take them back to there den. But it could have been a dog.