Lost another hen today...graphic pic

[Kev]

I assure you.... they do. Experienced it myself. On only one acre, ducks were confined to back half.. carcasses were all inside this back half. Yes most were covered extremely well, some were discovered only by smell a couple days later. A couple were left in the open and looked very much like that picture.

I mentioned *clean* cuts to the broken bones. I don't see how a bird of prey could do that? They can't bite through bone, just 'grab and pull'? Cats have large strong shearing teeth and the bobcat made very clean cuts through rib bones and also removed the spine on some of the carcasses.

the carcass also looks very fresh, perhaps predator was interrupted- from being covered up if it was a bobcat.

If the cochin was a giant, doubt bird of prey could have dragged very far & would seem to give more support to it being a bobcat.

Is it normal for large birds of prey to drag carcasses anyways? I haven't heard of that.. if they don't eat all on spot, it seems to be partially consuming carcass on the spot then carrying off to a tree branch...

 

[cowcreekgeek]

We haven't lost a chicken to a predator in over 3 months. Before that it was like clockwork...every 2 weeks. Our neighbor has set out traps for coyote and fox, so we thought we were in the clear - until this morning. Our chickens free range during the day and when I checked last night - everyone was safely in the coop.

I found my favorite white leghorn dead within 15 feet of the coop this morning.

The other 2 layers were hiding in the nest boxes. It looks like whatever killed her left most of her there - head, neck, wings, legs - and even her egg she hadn't laid. She was still pretty much intact - unlike the other losses we've had up to this point. Here's a picture of her.


Any idea what might have done this?

My top rooster - a buff cochin - is still missing...

Sorry for your losses, and ... hopefully, he's hiding, but if by 'top rooster' you mean this is a member of 'his flock' then you'll find him most probably in similar condition. Study closely, like a forensic investigator at a crime scene, to identify the predator(s) and protect your remaining birds.

Before the sun sets, you need to closely inspect your chicken house for the possibility that you've missed point(s) of entry. Don't just look for big, obvious ones. Or, only at the floor -- but start there, and dig around a bit.

Study 'the crime scene' again. The size/shape of any wounds. Look for tracks. Anything. Here's a short list of clues, so as to give you a better idea of what you're lookin' for …

1. Several birds killed:
   • Birds mauled, but not eaten? Dogs.
   • Birds killed by small bites on body – neatly piled – some heads eaten? Mink, or Weasel, or similar related animal.
   • Heads and crops eaten on several birds? Raccoon.
2. One or two birds killed:
   • Birds mauled, abdomen eaten? Opossum.
   • Deep marks on head and neck, some meat eaten? Owl.
3. One bird gone – feathers remain? Fox or Coyote.
4. Chicks killed – abdomen eaten – lingering smell? Skunk.
5. Several birds gone – no clues? The most evil of all predators, Man (to differentiate – snake with legs).
6. Any number (esp. chicks) gone - no feathers? Snake without legs.

This is a modified reposting of my response to another's thread, some time back. Hope it helps ...

 

[zazouse]

I assure you.... they do. Experienced it myself. On only one acre, ducks were confined to back half.. carcasses were all inside this back half. Yes most were covered extremely well, some were discovered only by smell a couple days later. A couple were left in the open and looked very much like that picture.

I mentioned *clean* cuts to the broken bones. I don't see how a bird of prey could do that? They can't bite through bone, just 'grab and pull'? Cats have large strong shearing teeth and the bobcat made very clean cuts through rib bones and also removed the spine on some of the carcasses.

the carcass also looks very fresh, perhaps predator was interrupted- from being covered up if it was a bobcat.

If the cochin was a giant, doubt bird of prey could have dragged very far & would seem to give more support to it being a bobcat.

Is it normal for large birds of prey to drag carcasses anyways? I haven't heard of that.. if they don't eat all on spot, it seems to be partially consuming carcass on the spot then carrying off to a tree branch...

I watched a hawk drag a full grown hen under a bush because it could not carry it off, i have had birds fove 40 years and have pretty much seen it all here over that time.

 

[Chickenfan4life]

That is so sad. I am so sorry. I think it sounds like a bird of prey.

 

[heybarb]

Well, GOOD news - my bantam girl - Sophie - showed up this morning as perfectly put together as God made her. She's sitting on a clutch of eggs. Wow!! The timing is pretty poor and I can't reach the nest as it's way under an old log building. We lost Millie & Scooter on Thursday and haven't had a loss since them...

To answer a few questions that seem to have come up...Millie, my hen, was killed very close to the coop but it was out in the open. There is an apple tree near by, but she was found 1/2 way been the tree and the coop. I do not have any kind of pen or chicken yard surrounding the coop - as my chickens free range all day long. The coop door opens at 7:30ish and I found her at 10am. I do believe that either I interrupted the predator or my rooster did. My "top" rooster was a bantam buff cochin, but he was almost the same size as my standard sized Leghorns. So he was a not a little fellow, but not giant either. I have seen him attack two dogs to protect his flock, so I wouldn't doubt that he would attack a bird of prey or cat that had attacked one of his girls. But his mode of "attack" was more of a "Come get me instead" and then he'd run at the predator, then run away, then run at the predator, then run away. So, the fact that his body was found so much farther away, doesn't really surprise me. His body was mauled a lot more. There wasn't as much of him left - so I'm not sure if that makes him the first or second to die, I guess I won't ever know.

Would a bobcat attack during morning, daylight hours? Our neighbor hunts and traps a lot around our area (about 5 mile radius) and he has not trapped a bobcat, but he has trapped 42 coyotes and about 24 fox since January of this year. That doesn't mean there isn't a bobcat around, it just seems really unlikely. I have spotted several hawks - and a really big Red Tail Hawk - on Friday afternoon, so I have to admit I'm leaning towards bird of prey...

I want to thank everyone for all your words of wisdom, sympathy and encouragement. It's nice to have a place to come where everyone understands...

 

[Gallina Sarda]

That is heartbreaking. Would it be possible to make a covered run until you can determine what kind of predator you have? Maybe only let them free range under supervision? I know a lady who has a 10x10 ish fenced in area attached to her coop. she then used string to "cover" the area (spaced about two feet apart and intersecting). She also tied white fabric pieces from the cover in random places. Best of luck protecting your flock.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Had to second Galena Sarda's suggestion; although I've seen redtail hawks swoop, tumble 'n roll through tighly woven branches to pick of my favorite squirrel that never came closer than five feet, but rarely failed to follow me around. First instinct? Headed for the shotgun, as it was perched w/in range. But, no further than that same short distance, my knee-jerk reaction gave way to the fact that this is the way it's meant to be, and it's I that was intruding upon the relationship that they've had since this place became more than void.

To answer your question, I do believe that Bobcats will hunt during daylight, as I've had the pleasure of watching one repeatedly miss the biggest rabbit I think I've ever seen. And, my Niko had one treed in the late afternoon, despite no prior knowledge we even had 'em nearby. And, I suspect the scenario you speculated upon to be highly probable. And, that one predator, with the first interrupted, had it's fill w/ the second bird.

Another option would be to use tractors, or movable sections along fixed fences, so as to rotate their ranging areas. And, still another? Accept that there will be losses, and only provide additional hiding spots and other cover ... depends of course upon what your flock is for, and what you prefer to do (including the setting of live traps specifically targeting bobcats, which I believe to be much different than catching what your trapper targets).

Do hope it works it's way out to your satisfaction ... the last flock here (my younger brother's) was taken one or two every day or two, 'til all that remained was the rooster w/ about 1/8 of his original tail feathers (in his case, our many redtail hawks ~'-)