Lost all bird inside locked coop

[bbRedMom]

All of my adulte chickens are gone. I went out at dusk last night to lock them up. All were there and snuggled. Checked both doors, went inside.

Came out this morning. Door is still locked, and all five, including 3 roos, are GONE. All that's left are a lot of feathers and blood streaks. No wings, no feet, no heads. Luckily my momma and her three chicks were on the other side of the coop, but whatever it was tried to dig to their side as well.

My coop has a top b/c my bantys fly. I can't find any holes. I've been shoring up this coop for months-the previous owner did a piss poor job at predator prevention.

So no my Momma, her three chicks, and my four chicks I got at the flea market have been moved into my workshop. Completely predator proof, but very inconvienent! We are building a new coop and yard ASAP.

What could have removed the bodies of five full grown chickens in one night?

 

[Jolyn]

Wow i'm so sorry. That must be very disturbing to not know how it happened.
I'm glad that whatever it was it didn't get to the mama and the chicks.

 

[willow]

I am really sorry about you birds. I lost most of mine this week too. Have you found any bodies in the area?? Keep us updated. And again, I'm really sorry.

 

[LynneP]

Here we would suspect a fox or raccoon. Oh my. Is there a way to reinforce your floors, possibly covering them with 1/2" hardware cloth securely seamed and reinforced at the edges? This animal will return.

 

[bbRedMom]

No, I found no bodies. I even let my sherpei and sheltie roam about, thinking they would find anything, but nothing.

I've been losing chicks for the last few weeks, but I though they were just finding places to get out the fence. Now maybe something is pulling them thru the fence.

Luckily the workshop is inside our big fence, and its across from our billy goat. He doesn't put up with any predators. I got him because his previous owner said he stomps snakes!

 

[SpottedCrow]

Sorry for your losses...raccoons will grab pieces and take em through the fence...Diggers sound more like a fox or a coyote.

 

[Chirpy]

I am so sorry! I'm so glad that your momma and chicks are still safe.

You need to figure out how and where the predator got in as that will help in possibly identifying what did this and help you in the future to stop it from happening again. Did it dig in? You can't find any holes - even little ones that are only an inch or two wide? (Weasels can get into those.) This is so hard when there are no real clues.

I agree that it sounds like a coon but without some more definitive answers it's so hard to know. I'm guessing that whatever it was it will come back. If you can sprinkle something like flour on the ground around the coop area you may be able to find footprints tomorrow morning which will help you ID the culprit.

Also- setting a trap may work, again depending on what it is.

 

[Their Other Mother]

Quote:
Or a neighbor's dog.

 

[LynneP]

The foxes usually take multiple birds, sometimes it's a vixen and cubs. They bury a good supply along the game trails between your coop and their dens. A single raccoon will likely take one bird, but I suspect you have a fox problem. Oh and does the run have 1/2" mesh? Raccoons will reach through standard poultry wire.

 

[bbRedMom]

Yes, once again, the PO did a craptastic job on the fence it is "chicken wire", but its not even buried into the ground.

I've been trying to fix it, but as soon as I cover a hole, a new one pops up. The new coop and run are going to be Ft. Knox.

My DH has seen foxes. That would definitely be a possibility.