lHave Lost two Chickens now.HELP ME ID SUSPECT LIST POST #6

[Teresaann24]

What kills with no sign of blood but feathers left no body nothing just feathers plucked?

I am thinking fox the prints we found were not raccoon prints but a dog like print. Fox?

We lost a free range hen and lastnight a rooster.

Comes at night lastnight it was 3a.m. Came first time after a big rain came lastnight after a big rain.

Has been about 4 days since it killed the 1st one.

Raccoon or fox? I figured if it was a raccoon it would keep coming back?

does not like to work for its kill takes easy prey?

I need help!!! I am installing hardware cloth on my runs tomorrow will this work to keep them out?

Whatever it is tried to push up under my runs but didn't try to tear them open?

I'm clueless I have never had a problem with anything other then dogs?

 

[chickaddict]

I lost 2 to a raccoon. Found the same that you did no blood lots of feathers.

 

[Teresaann24]

Ugh I was so hoping it was not a raccoon.

Another thing when whatever it is is scared off it does not leave what its killed it runs off with it.

 

[SoJoChickens]

Sounds like a fox to me. It is common for foxes to carry off their prey.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm thinking fox but you might check out this link. You might see important clues that you would never think to mention.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=18670

Good luck!

 

[Teresaann24]

Ok here is what I know:

1. It does not wanna work for its food it gets easy food..(Hen what was roostering outside of coop) Rooster that was in a temp pen with unlacted top. (Tried to get into my better runs but gave up easy.

2. Only comes around about every 3-4 nights NOT every night.

3. It can jump or climb.

4. What prints i did see were not raccoon like almost like a dog print.

5. does not seem to be killing just to kill but getting what it wants out of hunger.

6. when scared off takes what it killed with it no bodies found only feathers ripped out.

7. is very quite and sneaky

8.comes about 3a.m. everytime it does come.

9. whatever it is have not been able to spot it.

10. has came both times after a big rain.

11. has not ripped at chicken wire or tried to digg under kinda tried to push its way in up under it which is double fenced seems to gave up quick.


?????Fox? Raccoon? Bobcat? I'm clueless I cannot afford a live trap being a single mother to two kids its hard enough for me. trying to find someone to borrow one off of.

I live in eastern kentucky.

 

[yotetrapper]

Sounds like a fox to me.

 

[chickee]

I have lost a duck to a fox during the night, but the bob cat comes during the day. The fox left a pile of feathers, feet and beak, and bob cat carried off the chickens leaving a trail of feathers. The fox scared the duck and it flew out of the pen and was caught, the bob cat went over the fence, even through 3 strands of hotwire. Adding some height to the fence with the hotwire on top and hotwire at the bottom to keep predators from digging under, plus locking all the chickens in the chicken coop at night has stopped the attacks for now.

 

[Teresaann24]

I reforced my runs today with hardware cloth will this keep it out? If it can't get anything anymore will it give up and go away? or keep coming back?

 

[chickee]

Covering your runs will help. Yes, the predator always returns when it has learned it can get an easy, free meal! I have a pen for my chicks that is covered with netting to keep the hawks from getting them and the Bob Cat has never gotten into it. Sorry for your loss

and GOOD LUCK!