Penny and Hazel Are dead.

[joebwe25]

Two of my favorite chickens are dead, Penny and Hazel.
I awoke to the sound of squawking, which usually doesn't concern me, because I've been woken up 3 or 4 times lately, and found nothing, but today I decided to get up. When I came outside, feathers were everywhere. I first thought some kind of big molt overnight, but looked down and found Penny.

She was lying dead on her side, with a big wound on her side. She was the leader of the flock. She was very smart, friendly,and just a good chicken. We couldn't find Hazel, but we found her torn up in the nest box.

Hazel was one of our newer chickens and the only companion to our chicken Daisy, who is still alive.
We are back down two three chickens now.

We had just bought two more. Back down to three eggs...
We checked the coop for any damage, but couldn't find any holes or anything. the door is an old screen door, but is kind of old. we have two latches on it to prevent predators to get in.
Our last chicken that got killed a few years ago, was just dead, so probably a cat. And plus the door was left open.
Any clue on what it was? We have had Raccoons come and eat 25 big Koi in our pond, and rip up the pond liner (that's another story!), so could it have been them? There are possums in our yard, so maybe them. We do know there's a family of coons living in our neighbor's attic.
Please help with the predators
Here are some pictures in memory.

Penny the EE, very friendly and smart:

Here are the last eggs penny laid:

And here is Hazel, Silly, friendly, and fun loving.

I am very very devastated that they got killed. Now we are left with two stupid chickens, and a very sad and sweet chicken.
Hopefully we will get eggs from daisy in august.
Thanks for the support,
Joebwe25

 

[birdseyeview]

Don't have a clue on the predator but I'm so sorry for your loss!

 

[chickensioux]

I'm so sorry for your losses. What beautiful girls they were.

 

[gumpsgirl]

I'm so sorry for your losses.

If the door was shut and latched, I'm betting on a raccoon, especially if you are having problems with them and the fish anyways. It sounds like it's time for reinforcements on the door and time to catch and eradicate some raccoons.

Again, sorry for your losses. Your girls were beautiful.

 

[joebwe25]

Thanks, I'm feeling better.
Today We borrowed a trap from our friend, Kyckingar!.
We will try to catch them tonight or another night.
We repaired and reinforced the door, so maybe no more carnages.
Thanks to kyckingar! for your help with everything.
We are planning to get two more, maybe a bit more full grown.
Thanks again,
Joe

 

[The Chicken Lady]

I had an old farmhouse screen door on a coop "back in the day." We reinforced it with chicken wire on the inside of the door, so that the screen wasn't the only thing in-between the chickens and predators (if I would have known better at the time, I would have used hardware cloth). Do you think you could try something like that?

Gumpsgirl is right about just keeping that door shut, too. Anything that slows a predator down will help tons!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

do you have a motion detector light? might help too...

sorry about your ladies - i know it must have been terrible to find them.

keep on keepin' on - we're pulling for you!

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

You said you had heard the chicks making a fuss but didn't see anything. Maybe whatever it was ran off.

The chickens don't normally make a fuss once put to bed and it's dark out do they? First time chick owner here with eight 20 weekers.

I'd make the bottom of the door solid and add hardware cloth everywhere else. Any tiny holes that a weasel could fit through? They say they can go anywhere a hot dog would fit through.

Hope you find what it is and how they're getting in before you get more birds.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your lovely two.

 

[joebwe25]

My screen door does have chicken wire. We didn't forget this to close the coop door this time, so they just pushed their way through. kycklingar! said it was probably a baby coon, since they are smaller, and just as mean. Our neighbor with the coons in his attic set the trap up tonight, so hopefully he will catch something tommorow. I will let you know what happens. Thanks a lot for your support. P.S. I am typing from a blackberry, so hopefully it looks okay!

 

[Bizzybirdy]

Awwwwwwww...so sorry for your loss. Penny and Hazel were beautiful!

Hope you catch what did it, probably a racoon. They seem to be awful this year.

Chicken wire is useless for keeping out racoons. Welded 1/2 X 1 inch wire is much better and it has to be fastened really well. I still use a hot wire outside.