Predators--What killed my chickens

[Morgansfarm]

Ia newbe and have been reading everything I can, I still can't figure what killed the chickens. Lost all 6 of my chickens 2 nights ago. Nothing left except piles of feathers and 1 with a leg and back. No blood, pieces, of the others. I saw nothing that something dug under. Happened between 9pm and 8 am. Have a 6 foot fence. How can I tell what kind of predator to look for? How can I fix the problem? Kids are so upset. Want to get more but want to fix the problem first. I live in SE PA and have foxes and coons. any help?

 

[rancher hicks]

I'm so sorry for your loss tho I can't say, cause I'm new to chickens too.

 

[deerman]

Thats many in one night, coons.

 

[SurprisingWoman]

That sounds like a coon to me, just based on reading here in the P&P forum.

Sounds like you need a trap and some wire that's buried with rocks on top.

Little monsters are too clever.

 

[peepdaddy]

More info would help! What kind of fence? Do you have a coop? Are your chickens locked up at night? If your fence is a run is it covered etc., etc.?

 

[jqs birds]

IF you have wood corner posts and don't wrap them in roof flashing or something else coon will climb right up them and into your pen.
It sounds like coons to me too.

 

[Morgansfarm]

Thanks for succh quick responses. They have a coop. Closed in at night. I think auto door closed and they didn't get in. It was closed in the morning when we found them. I have a 20x40 foot run 6 foot high fence 2x4 wire. Open on top.

 

[deerman]

Coons,

other like owl ,foxes , carry them off only one or two.
Dogs will kill most all in a day, but dont eat many.

 

[joanie_maine]

Quote:
Auto door?

You mean there were chickens left out in the open top run??

 

[peepdaddy]

Sounds like a coon. You may never know for sure but whatever it is may come back. Set a trap and you may catch it (or them) and know for sure. Cover your run with wire. There are several other ways to be pro-active in protecting your chicks if you should decide to get more. I wont try to list all these here but there are many good "how to predator proof" threads on this site.