Oregon

[BlueCamas]

I'm sorry for your loss, it's so hard when something like that happens

Are your dogs outside with your chickens often? Often when a dog kills something, it just snaps it's neck and if the dog isn't hungry there is no blood. That's the way my dog kills pests, just breaks their neck or suffocates them, there is no blood.
If it was a wild predator however, there would have been no chicken or a very torn up remains.

I suspect it was your dog, even if they don't act interested with you around, it could just take sudden movement from the chicken to get their prey drive going.

Hopefully other's will tune in as well.

 

[chickened]

I was wondering if anyone had an idea of what might be attacking our chickens.

Here's some details & history:

I'm in Raleigh Hills area of Portland and we just had our chickens attacked by something in our backyard.

We have a pretty large lot with lots of trees & greenspace one 1-1/2 sides of our house. It is well fenced although I think a large rat could probably get through in a few places. The chickens free range all day.

About noon today I noticed our chickens hiding in our backyard and then noticed about 15 silkie feathers on the ground. I found our splash silkie hiding in some ferns. It appears that her leg is slighty injured. There was only a speck of blood and a slight lump there. SHe's a bit wobbly but walking around a bit .

2 days ago I we came home late and found my favorite silkie dead in the corner of our backyard

. No blood that i noticed, she was just lying in a bit of a dirt hole. ??? We though is was our Llasa Apso's, although they hadn't showed aggression towards the chickens before or since the attack & the chickens don't seem to be scared of them or the dogs seem to even notice the chickens.

Any ideas or treatment that i should give to the injured silkie? i will add antibiotics to its water and set up a little nesting area for it that it's resting in. I was thinking of leaving them in the run for a few weeks to avoid any more potential attacks.

Thanks!

Sounds like a hawk they sometimes will kill a bird then get spooked off the kill. Most other urban predators attack at night.

 

[Suzierd]

I'm thinking Cat, if it was a dog it would be wet from slobber. A cat will kill for fun and not eat the chicken. Can you set a live trap put some yummy smelly canned cat food in it and see what you catch. If you don't have one and don't know anyone you can barrow one from you could put a add on Craig's list to rent one ( cheap) for a few nights. I would keep them in the run if you can't sit with them untill you find the culprit.
So sorry you lost one, silkies are so sweet and very easy pray.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I was wondering if anyone had an idea of what might be attacking our chickens.

Here's some details & history:

I'm in Raleigh Hills area of Portland and we just had our chickens attacked by something in our backyard.

We have a pretty large lot with lots of trees & greenspace one 1-1/2 sides of our house. It is well fenced although I think a large rat could probably get through in a few places. The chickens free range all day.

About noon today I noticed our chickens hiding in our backyard and then noticed about 15 silkie feathers on the ground. I found our splash silkie hiding in some ferns. It appears that her leg is slighty injured. There was only a speck of blood and a slight lump there. SHe's a bit wobbly but walking around a bit .

2 days ago I we came home late and found my favorite silkie dead in the corner of our backyard

. No blood that i noticed, she was just lying in a bit of a dirt hole. ??? We though is was our Llasa Apso's, although they hadn't showed aggression towards the chickens before or since the attack & the chickens don't seem to be scared of them or the dogs seem to even notice the chickens.

Any ideas or treatment that i should give to the injured silkie? i will add antibiotics to its water and set up a little nesting area for it that it's resting in. I was thinking of leaving them in the run for a few weeks to avoid any more potential attacks.

Thanks!

I gotta agree, sounds like a domestic predator.

 

[1chicken fan]

I know my dogs who killed rats woud kill no blood, my cats don't mess with the chickens, skunks, and rats also can get your bantams. I am very sorry I know, I love all my chickens. ( even the naughty ones)

 

[Urbanfarmerpdx]

I'm sorry for your loss, it's so hard when something like that happens 

Are your dogs outside with your chickens often? Often when a dog kills something, it just snaps it's neck and if the dog isn't hungry there is no blood. That's the way my dog kills pests, just breaks their neck or suffocates them, there is no blood. 
If it was a wild predator however, there would have been no chicken or a very torn up remains. 

I suspect it was your dog, even if they don't act interested with you around, it could just take sudden movement from the chicken to get their prey drive going. 

Hopefully other's will tune in as well. 

Thanks! The dogs aren't out too often with the chickens & not when we are gone. They are definitely not left unsupervised now.
Today the chickens were inside though, so it wasn't them. It was quite strange since we have huge floor to ceiling windows and were home at the time. I would have thought the dogs would have heard a cat, so maybe it was a hawk. Hmmm...quite a mystery.
Thanks for your insight.

 

[Urbanfarmerpdx]

I know my dogs who killed rats woud kill no blood, my cats don't mess with the chickens, skunks, and rats also can get your bantams.  I am very sorry I know, I love all my chickens.  ( even the naughty ones)

Thanks so much. I might set a trap, however that wouldn't help if it was a hawk.

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

Thanks so much. I might set a trap, however that wouldn't help if it was a hawk.

Last November, I had a BSL pullet who got killed by a hawk or possibly a owl. Owls leave nothing behind, same with hawks. All that was left of the pullet was blood on the outside of the coop and 1 feather.

 

[chickened]

Thanks so much. I might set a trap, however that wouldn't help if it was a hawk.

Game cameras are the way to go. You can get a decent digital one for about $100.00 That is how I figured I had an owl problem.

 

[Suzierd]

Thanks! The dogs aren't out too often with the chickens & not when we are gone. They are definitely not left unsupervised now.
Today the chickens were inside though, so it wasn't them. It was quite strange since we have huge floor to ceiling windows and were home at the time. I would have thought the dogs would have heard a cat, so maybe it was a hawk. Hmmm...quite a mystery.
Thanks for your insight.

C

Cats are very quite and sneaky. A hawk would have tore the bird up.