Predator Slaughter Problem

[ShannonR]

Dog or raccoon is my vote

 

[straychicken]

Dog or raccoon is my vote

Thank you!

 

[ShannonR]

Thank you!

You're welcome, and good luck in finding and fixing the culprit!

 

[aart]

Secure run and camera.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Sounds like a dog to me.

Good luck!

 

[50-45-1]

I wish i could see the condition and manner of the birds as You are finding.
Can you snap a couple pictures?
I would disable this automatic door that is letting your birds out early, and open them manually from now on untill you figure this out.
Could be neighbors dog, or your dog.
Could be hawk or owl, damage done will tell us the story.
Invest in a trail camera, point it over the imediate yard area where you find the dead ones.
If you can keep them confined in a secure coop and run, maybe you wont loose all of them.
Good luck!

 

[Howard E]

Not sure how to say this without coming across as a jerk....more like tough love.....so I'll say it anyway. You asked why this is happening? The answer is you are free ranging. With true free ranged flocks, I'm not sure why anyone would expect anything different. And yes birds are happiest that way, right up until something comes along and kills them. With free ranging, I liken that to sending a hormone laden teenager off to an all night, unchaparoned bikini beach party at an STD clinic. What could possibly go wrong?

So the solution is "yarding". Similar to what you are doing, except you establish a zone or perimeter of protection using an electric fence. I'm on my second flock and have yet to lose a single bird to a predator. What protects them is an electric fence.

They get to run around and enjoy life with a security blanket out there to keep them safe. Do look into it if you want to keep your birds safe.

 

[be4morgan]

I am so sorry to know about what happened to your chicken, is it possible that you install CCTV all over the place to find out who the killer is?

 

[hillbilly91]

Not sure how to say this without coming across as a jerk....more like tough love.....so I'll say it anyway. You asked why this is happening? The answer is you are free ranging. With true free ranged flocks, I'm not sure why anyone would expect anything different. And yes birds are happiest that way, right up until something comes along and kills them. With free ranging, I liken that to sending a hormone laden teenager off to an all night, unchaparoned bikini beach party at an STD clinic. What could possibly go wrong?

So the solution is "yarding". Similar to what you are doing, except you establish a zone or perimeter of protection using an electric fence. I'm on my second flock and have yet to lose a single bird to a predator. What protects them is an electric fence.

They get to run around and enjoy life with a security blanket out there to keep them safe. Do look into it if you want to keep your birds safe.

That electric fence don't stop hawks or owls

 

[centrarchid]

That electric fence don't stop hawks or owls

Will stop most ground predators. What stops most raptors will not stop most ground predators. Integrated approach, do not be one dimensional.