Predator hauled off 11 chickens in one night what could do this?

[Cowgirlgrace]

I had something get into my coop last night and all that was left were 3 chickens that roost in the rafters and some pullets in a separate cage. There were some feathers in the coop and a few in the field next door with a bit of intestine but for the most part these chickens are just plain GONE! There are 11 bantys gone. Was it a pack of something? I found a few prints that looked like dog but that were not from our own. No other prints were found. What kinds of predators can take that many and leave almost no evidence? It wasn't human.

 

[magoochie]

Sounds like you had a couple fox or a family of raccoons to me. They usually take their kill elsewhere to eat. Possibly coyotes.

Fox and coyotes are mating this time of year, so it is highly likely that if they are in your area, you had a few come in.

 

[Lbrad7]

Sounds to me like you were visited by a few coyotes. I hope you catch/kill them before they completely clean you out.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

So sorry for your loss.

Whatever it was, you need to find out how it got in and fix the problem because it will be back now that it knows there is food available. Good luck.

 

[Talihofarms]

Sounds like yotes. The easiest way I found is to set up a game cam and learn their pattern.
They like to visit on a regular schedule. ( once fed ).
Then wait and take care of business.

Other option is to call them in, which is what we like to do in the winter when the fields are open.

We don't have any problems from the 4 legged preditors,

Hot wires at 4,12,24" around the runs and coops.
Gaurd dog on duty 24/7
Security Cams.




just my .02

 

[centrarchid]

Coyotes I say as well. They likely consumed just a couple birds, rest probably cached in holes for later consumption. Should not be hard to track if snow on ground to cache sites.

 

[terrilhb]

I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you find whatever it is that did it.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Quote:
What do you mean by call them in? are you talking about chickens? or yotes?

 

[BlackBart]

Do you have coyotes in Gig Harbour?
If something like that happened here I would say a Raccoon family.
Electric fencing/mesh is the safest bet for protection.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Our address is Gig Harbor but we are actually on the Key Peninsula. It's pretty rural here and at the end of our dirt road is a 8000 acre tree farm and there are lots of coyotes out there. I've never seen them down at our end and only rarely hear them in the distance but there is nothing stopping them from coming down to our place. This may be hard to believe but in the 15 years we have had chickens here the only predator we've had to deal with was a Bald Eagle. But its highly possible the coyotes are working their way down here. Someone suggested the coyotes were storing the chickens and also feeding pups. I never heard a ruckus and I usually do. They were very quiet and quick.