Lost Whole Flock

[Papas Chickens]

So, it doesn't sound like they were eaten at all? If that's so, I would suspect a dog.

Could be a dog, i have to rule out the hawks since it was done during the night. It could be a Owl as well there are four Owls that can kill your chickens in AZ. Barn Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Great Horned-Owl and the Spotted Owl wich is endangered, they all hunt on small mammals, rodents and birds.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Or a weasel or raccoon. A weasel can squeeze into almost anything and a raccoon can climb anything.

 

[Papas Chickens]

If it happened in early morning it could have been Harris Hawks since they hunt in cooperative groups of two to six. Thats why i asked what part of AZ he is from lol

 

[sean30ber]

4 were killed in the pasture, small puncture marks up to about 1/8th to 1/4 in diameter, feathers everywhere. 1 was hiding under the horse trailer, unharmed, two are missing. the whole neighborhood is keeping an eye out for them. neighbor said they heard a ruckus about 400, 430 but didn't think anything of it and didn't look. that's about the time they come out of their coop. I live in San Tan Valley. Out in the horse community. each have enclosed 3 acre tracks. 100% fenced. Except the irrigation canal that runs between the back of each property. 6 foot no climb along there. We have seen Coyotes run along there but no one has ever had a problem, until maybe now. I'm just surprised a coyote would leave a kill. never heard of a hawk killing that many at one time but who knows. Doesnt really matter now. Well raise some new ones and build an enclosure. My dad said he has seen Coyotes jump those fences with no problem also. I'm sorry my draft Mule wasn't out. He will kill any dog he sees

 

[ChuskaMtns]

4 were killed in the pasture, small puncture marks up to about 1/8th to 1/4 in diameter, feathers everywhere. 1 was hiding under the horse trailer, unharmed, two are missing. the whole neighborhood is keeping an eye out for them. neighbor said they heard a ruckus about 400, 430 but didn't think anything of it and didn't look. that's about the time they come out of their coop. I live in San Tan Valley. Out in the horse community. each have enclosed 3 acre tracks. 100% fenced. Except the irrigation canal that runs between the back of each property. 6 foot no climb along there. We have seen Coyotes run along there but no one has ever had a problem, until maybe now. I'm just surprised a coyote would leave a kill. never heard of a hawk killing that many at one time but who knows. Doesnt really matter now. Well raise some new ones and build an enclosure. My dad said he has seen Coyotes jump those fences with no problem also. I'm sorry my draft Mule wasn't out. He will kill any dog he sees

Bobcats have been a problem in San Tan Valley before it was STV. They're stealthy predators and you won't even know they are there most of the time. The only reason why I knew my place was predated by bobcats was by hooking up a camera like the type hunters use. Saw the bobcat on the camera but that was the only sign. Got a couple of Anatolians, installed electric ribbon and wire and bobcat problem was solved.

 

[Sill]

Sorry for your loss.

Harris hawks do hunt in family groups and this time of year they usually have youngsters just learning to hunt. It could be that while the adults killed and the family ate some birds the young hawks may have been practicing their hunting techniques on your other chickens.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Chicken wire is intended to keep chickens from escaping, no-climb fence is designed to keep horses from escaping by either bearing down on the fence with their neck, or sticking a hoof in the wire, becoming entangled and then pushing the fence to the ground. A bored horse or one with time on its hands is a destructive animal.

I don't know of any major chicken killing vermin that couldn't climb a no-climb fence. I vote for a bobcat. What ever keep us posted.

 

[Papas Chickens]

My advise set up a few game cameras in different locations were the chickens were killed, keep them up for a few nights then look and see what you have creeping around your property.
Now that the predator knows there is a food source there it will be back guaranteed.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...
I don't know of any major chicken killing vermin that couldn't climb a no-climb fence. I vote for a bobcat. What ever keep us posted.

A big X2.

No climb fencing is a perfect climbing wall for raccoons and many other vermin.

 

[sean30ber]

Found the big rooster half eaten in a field bout a 1/4 mile away. My wife talk with a neighbor and the horse properties 3/4 mile away had a Bobcat issue a couple weeks go. Im starting to think the slaughter and one carried away might be his doing. we never had issues this far into the flat land with them before. Now everyone in the area is watching.