saddened

[Sarahloveslulu]

Today is a day of grieving. Twas this morning 3 4-month-old sweet babies were killed for game. 6 were left to fight for their lives. No one knows of this creature that hath done this. But it has hit our family hard. Pauline, Clementine, and Etta have fallen to this animal's horrible manner. They were found dead inside the chicken coop with parts missing. We only pray that it was a quick death. This animal had the ability to climb 5ft off the ground up chicken wire and through a 1 and a half ft by 1/2ft hole. There are several chicken people who live near us and say that anything could have done it.☹️☹️☹️

 

[PoultryCQ]

Today is a day of grieving. Twas this morning 3 4-month-old sweet babies were killed for game. 6 were left to fight for their lives. No one knows of this creature that hath done this. But it has hit our family hard. Pauline, Clementine, and Etta have fallen to this animal's horrible manner. They were found dead inside the chicken coop with parts missing. We only pray that it was a quick death. This animal had the ability to climb 5ft off the ground up chicken wire and through a 1 and a half ft by 1/2ft hole. There are several chicken people who live near us and say that anything could have done it.☹️☹️☹️

Thats a big hole. Most recommend never to leave a hole larger than 1/2 by 1/2 inch. I use hardware cloth around the entire coop and a cement ground. If you dont have cement, a 1.5-2 ft. wire apron helps.

 

[Owllea]

Today is a day of grieving. Twas this morning 3 4-month-old sweet babies were killed for game. 6 were left to fight for their lives. No one knows of this creature that hath done this. But it has hit our family hard. Pauline, Clementine, and Etta have fallen to this animal's horrible manner. They were found dead inside the chicken coop with parts missing. We only pray that it was a quick death. This animal had the ability to climb 5ft off the ground up chicken wire and through a 1 and a half ft by 1/2ft hole. There are several chicken people who live near us and say that anything could have done it.☹️☹️☹️

So sorry to hear of your family’s loss. We too had several losses to a predator earlier this season. We believe it was a raccoon that did the deed here in Kansas. It has allowed us to fortify even more than we thought possible to protect the remaining chicks.

 

[PoultryCQ]

Today is a day of grieving. Twas this morning 3 4-month-old sweet babies were killed for game. 6 were left to fight for their lives. No one knows of this creature that hath done this. But it has hit our family hard. Pauline, Clementine, and Etta have fallen to this animal's horrible manner. They were found dead inside the chicken coop with parts missing. We only pray that it was a quick death. This animal had the ability to climb 5ft off the ground up chicken wire and through a 1 and a half ft by 1/2ft hole. There are several chicken people who live near us and say that anything could have done it.☹️☹️☹️

Chicken wire is actually not to great for chickens, ironically. You mentioned that some were spared? Are any of them injured but alive?

 

[nuthatched]

Coon. Chicken wire is ineffective against predators, get welded wire and hardware cloth. if you can get a fist through, a coon can get through.
Sorry for your loss, the first one is the hardest.
but in all honestly... welcome to chicken keeping, where everything is out to eat your livestock.

 

[Sarahloveslulu]

Chicken wire is actually not to great for chickens, ironically. You mentioned that some were spared? Are any of them injured but alive?

We have 6 injured girls. One of them is a 6yr hen. She is not looking good. Two- 4-month old chicks were hurt. One of them is bleeding out of the ear.

 

[PoultryCQ]

We have 6 injured girls. One of them is a 6yr hen. She is not looking good. Two- 4-month old chicks were hurt. One of them is bleeding out of the ear.

How are you treating them currently? In the heat (if its hot where you live), flystrike is really common.

 

[cmom]

Not sure where you live but possibly a weasel.

 

[cmom]

Where in the world are you? It may help some.

 

[Sarahloveslulu]

I live in upstate New York. About 3 miles from the border of Canada.