Our chickens are being killed

[Batch123]

We have lost 3 cochin and now 1 very large Buff Orpington Rooster. We think they must be killed by a poisonous snake so they can get to the eggs. They do not eat any of the chicken, so they either poison it or strangle it. We check for eggs about dusk so there shouldn't be any eggs left in the pens. Has anyone else had this happen?

 

[angelika]

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[ivan3]

Sorry for your loss. Without some more info,. it is difficult to even reach the ballpark, e.g., did you find the victims in run or were they in coop/condition when discovered (contorted for example)?/did you perform examination (gross necroscopy will answer many questions when COD seems a mystery)? Have you thoroughly poked, prodded and turned over bedding/nest boxes if any, checked around any hiding places in framing (particularly ceiling/beams/corners, any holes/gaps around/in floor of coop - use caution. What constrictors/poisonous snakes are native to your location? What sort of fencing do you use (if pertinent)? Trees/bushes/shrubs adjacent to/over run?

You could test your egg eating serpent hypothesis by supplying putative pred with some fake eggs in nests (only one potential test) - members who've used this method can clue you all on the specifics - and/or you can use Advanced Search to check threads/posts regarding fake & eggs & snake (for example) - just click search button at the bottom of page after declaring variables.

If someone is home during the day, place a baby monitor in coop/run - the chooks will alert to ground pred and you can intervene (a sharpened hoe will do wonders if it is a snake).

Good luck!

 

[Batch123]

Thank you all for the suggestions... you've given us some things to check out. The good news is that our 5 buff hens and 10 other barnyard chickens were AOK this morning. We did leave an outside light on last night which really lights up the pens. We may invest in one of the animal cams to see if we can capture who's snooping around our chickens. Thanks again!

 

[thomasboyle]

Sorry for your losses. I am a big fan of motion cameras for my chickens. I have 1 on my coop, and I am able to see what is coming around when I am not there. Its a fun aspect of raising chickens, seeing all the other wildlife that comes for a visit! Once you know what you are up against, you will have a better idea of how to guard against losses.

 

[bobbi-j]

Were they killed during the night? It could be a weasel. They will leave just tiny bite marks on the neck or under the wing where they will bite and then drink the blood.

 

[Batch123]

Hello! Well, we found the culprit! We had left an outside light on which lit up the chicken pens. Maybe this is what confused the culprit in thinking it was daylight vs night. Anyway, about 6:30 is was a little overcast and Bob went out to the pens to collect eggs. In our Coop, in the nesting box was a huge oak snake! Bob killed it with a shovel and we measured it. It was 6 or 7 feet long and had several eggs in its belly. We are hoping that it didn't have any friends or family! Thanks to everyone for your suggestions!

Sue & Bob