Need help, entire flock gone **warning- graphic photo**

[McChooky]

You might consider putting live traps on your property at night. If you catch the cat or dog, does your island have an animal control? Otherwise, when it comes to livestock harm you have probably legally have the right to kill predators, even if they belong to other people, so long as they are on your property. However, when in doubt (and honestly even when you're legally protected) practice the three S's: Shoot, Shovel, and Shut up.

You could trap it, pray you don't get bit and have a huge hospital bill then put it in a kennel until you can find its owner(who has already heard what its done by now thru the grapevine and won't claim it)
The closest shelter to me is in the next county -an hour away (are they required to take it? No) We don't have a shelter where we can surrender a dog or cat.The 3 S's is the only option for many sadly

 

[Mother of Chaos]

@CabritaChicks I just came across this. I don’t usually read this subforum. I’m so sorry; I have no words.

 

[Pigeony]

I am so sorry for your losses, that sounds just so brutal,frustrating, and heartbreaking all at once.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Cabrita, I'm so so sorry. This has been such a rough start for you guys, and I know how much you love your birds.

We’re in the process of building a larger, more functional structure (can we say a run so big I dont feel guilty?).

Don't feel guilty! My birds are penned 100% of the time because they wouldn't last a week out here. My neighbors free range and have constant losses, but they also have large flocks with birds that are just for eggs. You have to do what works for you. I know you have a wealth of knowledge on animal welfare, so whatever size run you end up building, I'm sure your flock is going to have everything it needs to be content and thrive!

 

[CabritaChicks]

Cabrita, I'm so so sorry. This has been such a rough start for you guys, and I know how much you love your birds.


Don't feel guilty! My birds are penned 100% of the time because they wouldn't last a week out here. My neighbors free range and have constant losses, but they also have large flocks with birds that are just for eggs. You have to do what works for you. I know you have a wealth of knowledge on animal welfare, so whatever size run you end up building, I'm sure your flock is going to have everything it needs to be content and thrive!

For the run, I still need to work out the finer details (because I’m that kind of person).

My plan is a living jungle gym with rocks/trees, live homepathic plants like moringa, planted fodder beds, destroy-able herb garden in the center, a tiki hut with solar fans, two more water and feed stations... 165 ft of fencing shipping to the island. I’m thinking roughly 60 × 30 ft (open air- not with a roof accept the tiki hut, aerial predators are not my issue). It wont be a true rectangle as I am working with, not against the landscape... and I still need 'sexy' in the description.

Thanks for the reassurance. It’s funny with chickens — whatever you thought your plans would be can change in an instant. It’s an ever-evolving hobby!

 

[thecatumbrella]

It wont be a true rectangle as I am working with, not against the landscape... and I still need 'sexy' in the description.

Sexy convex polyhedron. Rolls off the tongue.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

 

[CabritaChicks]

Sexy convex polyhedron. Rolls off the tongue.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Thanks! I will give updates soon.

 

[Mamahen64]

I've had my fair share of struggles as a modest, early chicken keeper—one hen stolen, and my beloved rooster killed by a stray dog that jumped from a construction vehicle. Both were dear pets to me. May they rest in peace—my Rhode Island Red and my sweet Splash Marans mix rooster.

Yesterday around 6:30 PM, I noticed no chickens had returned to the coop (they free-range during the day). My husband went out searching and managed to find one. (Moderator, please help hide the photos if they’re too graphic.)

• It’s now 5:30 AM, and I’m about to go out and see what else I can find once the sun rises.
• There were no feathers scattered around. No sign of a struggle. Just a dead chicken in the aggressive neighbors property.
• Whatever it was didn’t even eat the bird—just tore through the skin and left it there. The incision looks clean and smooth in the photos.

View attachment 4188929

As of now, all four of my remaining chickens are gone—taken within a two-hour span.

That means I have 0 chickens. Maybe one or two might return by daylight, but right now it’s looking grim?
The thing is—we don’t have the usual suspects here. No foxes, no cougars, no raccoons. Nothing like that. I do suspect a human might be involved. Someone has been targeting me—did he release dogs? Did he do this?

I just need to know what kind of predator I’m dealing with, my first inclination is a canine with human assistance. This is just heartbreaking, heart wrenching, yes I feel like time doesnt go by fast enough for dawn- so I can search through acres of property to find anyone who is alive.

Do u lock ur chicken's up at night? I learned a really hard lesson in not doing that,now every evening when they go in their hut I shut the door. I use to just let them go in and roost like they do every evening never locking them in so they could get out at their own time every morning til it happened. So when I got all new ones I put a camera where I could see what got them and it was an OWL it took one off and I guess would have came back for the others if I hadn't already found them.So no more they get locked up now right after I see they are all in the hut. I'm so sorry for ur loss, it is sad we get close to or chicken's just for something to kill them. Ialmost gave up but didn't and now I keep a closer eye on them.

 

[McChooky]

For the run, I still need to work out the finer details (because I’m that kind of person).

My plan is a living jungle gym with rocks/trees, live homepathic plants like moringa, planted fodder beds, destroy-able herb garden in the center, a tiki hut with solar fans, two more water and feed stations... 165 ft of fencing shipping to the island. I’m thinking roughly 60 × 30 ft (open air- not with a roof accept the tiki hut, aerial predators are not my issue). It wont be a true rectangle as I am working with, not against the landscape... and I still need 'sexy' in the description.

Thanks for the reassurance. It’s funny with chickens — whatever you thought your plans would be can change in an instant. It’s an ever-evolving hobby!

Netting is simple and easy to install.You may not have a problem now but everything eats chickens especially when they're small.My 5 week old chicks spend the biggest part of the day hiding under bushes after crows spotted them

 

[CabritaChicks]

Netting is simple and easy to install.You may not have a problem now but everything eats chickens especially when they're small.My 5 week old chicks spend the biggest part of the day hiding under bushes after crows spotted them

Thank you for the suggestion. Netting wont work in my area- and is also illegal. We dont have crows- or flying predators. We had HUMANS with canines that stole birds, and deliberately killed them. Since then- the bridge has been removed that they illegally built and we the property is covered in barbed wire. I suppose they could enter through the beach- but the coral reef would destroy your boat, but everything is blocked and since the police got involved... (and all the government agencies, with court dates in which we won) we have a different outlook.