My beloved Orps are gone...potential suspects!

[shelleyb1969]

I am still so numb and in shock from the sight of the massacre this morning. I've cried until my eyes are swollen and hurt...I have no tears left. My heart is aching as well. And what's worse...this ruthless slaying could have been prevented by me...my beautiful Orps were not as protected as they should have been, and I know that. So that's only adding to my grief because I'm just as much at fault as the predator who brutally attacked my birds last night. This was my first night time predator attack EVER. It's such an awful feeling to know that what you always knew could easily happen has actually come to pass.

I'm thinking a raccoon, but I'm not sure. 7 birds were killed...1 of those had the head eaten off, and another one's neck was stripped down to the bone, but the head was still attached. 5 others were just killed...nothing eaten. Feathers all over the place. The birds were scattered in about a 10 x 15 foot area...not sure if they were trying to get away or if they were dragged after death. My Orps were BIG heavy birds...so whatever killed them was fearless. My only blue rooster, 1 of my splash roosters, and a blue Cochin hen did survive...they were still on the roost....terrified.

Would a raccoon leave survivors untouched? It's almost as if whatever it was got tired after the "fun" of killing the 7 and chose to leave the rest...maybe to return tonight. But instead of this predator returning to claim the remaining 3, it will have the barrel of a shotgun to deal with this time. Not such an easy adversary.

 

[Katy]

I'm sorry about your birds.....it can happen to any of us unfortunately. It sounds more like a dog to me tho than a raccoon.

 

[rancher hicks]

I am sorry for your loss. I too was the victim of a one and only pred attack, and like you it could have been prevented. In my case I got some bad advice. I caught the coon in the mist of it's attack and went into a rage beating it with anything I could. It got away but not unscathed I think.

After you stop feeling so bad go and close that barn door to protect what's left.

I hope you feel better soon.

Rancher

 

[hennyannie]

I am thinking that a coon would have only killed what it was going to eat right then. That is alot of birds. So sorry for your loss. This is not your fault, thye sometimes get in even if you have a fortress built. I am guilty of not taking all precautions myself.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Quote:
I had considered a dog attack...but wasn't sure if they would leave the birds behind. I have found tracks out in the pasture behind my coops before...coming from my neighbors house about 6 acres away. My neighbors will have 1 less dog tomorrow morning if that's what comes back tonight.

Not saying that I'll actually shoot a domestic dog, but I'm sure not gonna let it "play" with anymore of my chickens. Animal control can come and pick it up...IF that's what killed my chooks.

 

[ChooksChick]

I'm soooooo sorry Shelley!

I hope you can find the guilty party and prevent it from being a constant worry.

I saved back one Blue, one Black and one Splash when I sold my flock, because they were too good to let go of...so when you're ready for eggs, let me know!

 

[onthespot]

Oh shelley, your birds were gorgeous! SO VERY SORRY for your loss... no words here, just so sad for you.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Quote:
Hopefully tomorrow I'll be updating my original post with pics of the culprit...dead or alive.

Today is DEFINITELY one of my worst chicken days E-V-E-R...I do have some eggs in the incubator from HenThymes. But the first indicator of this horrific day was when I woke up to see my clock blinking because we lost power sometime last night. I don't know how long the power was out, but the eggs in the 'bator were cold.

By the time I got back inside from the "scene", the power was back on. Only time will tell with those eggs...they were supposed to hatch next week.

I'm going to candle them tonight and see what's what. If it's not good, which nothing today so far has been, then I may just contact you chookschick...thank you.

 

[axion_lotus]

Quote:
I had considered a dog attack...but wasn't sure if they would leave the birds behind. I have found tracks out in the pasture behind my coops before...coming from my neighbors house about 6 acres away. My neighbors will have 1 less dog tomorrow morning if that's what comes back tonight.

Not saying that I'll actually shoot a domestic dog, but I'm sure not gonna let it "play" with anymore of my chickens. Animal control can come and pick it up...IF that's what killed my chooks.

(Please forgive me if this is a bit graphic. Knowledge is the best tool when it comes to predators.)

A dog (or possum) is much more likely to leave its kills behind than a raccoon would. Raccoons usually don't kill for sport like a dog would, and will drag its prey to a water source to "clean" it first. Possums will just pick at its kill and eat what it wants from the corpse on-site. Possums prefer to chew heads off and eat intestines, and suck blood. This definitely sounds like a dog to me.

You have my utmost sympathy for this happening. A possum got my entire flock last year, and I'm having to start from scratch.

It was horrible; I feel your pain.

I only hope that it wasn't a possum that got your girls. Possums are very cruel. They like to torture their prey to death first. At least a dog or raccoon would have been quick.

Good luck, and may you bring that predator swift and merciless justice!

 

[shelleyb1969]

Once the freezing rain lets up, I'm going to go back out and see if I can find any tracks leading away from the pen. But we had, and still are, having another winter storm...it was freezing rain this morning, and we got about 4 inches of snow before the freezing rain set in. Since I didn't see any tracks this morning, I'm sure that whatever made the attack did so before the snow started falling...very late last night or super early this morning.