Predator help.

[slordaz]

I’m sorry this happened to your birds and your family. I think it was definitely a canine, probably at coyote or feral dog. That way they’re lined up is pretty bizarre but I just don’t think a human would have done that much destruction to your enclosure I think a human would’ve just come in and killed the chickens and left. I lost my first eight chickens in a very similar incident except for the lining up of the bodies of course. Something tore back the chicken wire and killed all the chickens and we only found one of the bodies. Poor little Chickens don’t hurt anybody but so many things want to hurt them!

ya never know , had egg thieves do something similar, they cut my whole fence and wrung my alpha hen who was broody neck because she drew blood. I try to believe the best in people but some are just kinda whacked . Like the people going around killing farmers cows and their horses just for the hell of it, Police have the blood sample and it's human but no matching data for it and ias it's not a priority probably won't get caught. So I got no problem with letting my neighbors think I'm redneck crazywhen it comes to protecting my flock , was war so sat outside with a bb gun that looked real for a couple days and nobody dares even come close, I also installed a security camera with night vision that is lots clearer than just the game cam. haven't lost a chicken or eggs since

 

[aart]

I’m struggling to think of any animal that would leave them in a perfect line.

This is the oddest part, makes no sense.

 

[azygous]

You folks that know dog behavior, will a trained hunting retriever deposit the dead birds in a straight row like that?

As for the broken 4 x 4 beam, a bear could do that.

Geez! I wish you folks would tell us where you're located so we could have some clues.

 

[slordaz]

You folks that know dog behavior, will a trained hunting retriever deposit the dead birds in a straight row like that?

As for the broken 4 x 4 beam, a bear could do that.

Geez! I wish you folks would tell us where you're located so we could have some clues.

They can, but most trained dogs like that are out with their master and ya can't mistake a chicken for a duck, though it's possible they could have miss took them for a grouse or small land bird they typically hunt.

 

[Folly's place]

I could see a canine of some sort doing that, maybe. I hope the OP has a camera out there now, and is ready for the return of ???
Mary

 

[townchicks]

You folks that know dog behavior, will a trained hunting retriever deposit the dead birds in a straight row like that?

Trained hunting bird dogs are supposed to bring it to the owner and release when told to. The straight line thing is definitely what throws me. Maybe an obsessive herding breed, but IDK.

 

[Folly's place]

I've seen cats do that, although this certainly wasn't a house cat!
Mary

 

[cmom]

Many years ago I had a fox dig under a gate to a pen and it killed several birds and dragged them out and they were lined up somewhat, not as perfect as yours were. I did get the fox. Since I put concrete under the gates to all of the pens. I also have heavy duty covering all of my pens and electric wire around the coops and pens. I do have several game cameras on my property. We are rural on a dead end road. Most nights I see mostly coyotes on at least one of the cameras. Your predator will be back since it made a kill. That is how I caught some fox, possum and a bobcat when they returned for more. I knew from the cameras what I was dealing with. They know the electric wire is there. This is at a chick/grow-out coop.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

first off sorry for your loss to the OP.

maybe a skipped over it but am not sure where the OP is at for predators.

with the line, am thinking weasel family as they will kill just for the fun of it. we had a some what similar event where i was camping a few years ago at the petting farm they had there. (now this camp ground is up north for most peoples standards)
well something broke into the chicken run killed three chickens left two side by side and one with out a head (the head was later found on a walking trail) everyone thought some kids where pulling a nasty prank. i went to go check out the signs and i think it was either a fisher or marten from the signs (and tracks in the mud)

but to the OP do you have any fisher or marten in your area? for example for those unaware a fisher can be up to 8.5 lbs on average according to a quick google search. there just a much much bigger weasel family member. still will kill for fun.

 

[Blij Ei]

I'm so sorry for you! Don't know what to say... Guess it indeed might be some bigger predator ( not a human I think) that killed your birds. So indeed, electrical fence and even more stronger fences might do a good job. Wish you courage and strength with this frightful loss.