Something attacked my chickens!

[Tiffy316]

I went out to feed my chickens and discovered the remains of both of them. Their heads were missing, but the wings, feet, and part of the lower body remained. I'm not sure what attacked them, but I've seen evidence of some kind of pest coming around before. I've had feed barrels tipped over, or with lids removed and grain scattered. I've seen something try to eat some very old eggs.

I had a barred rock rooster and a bantam Easter egger hen, both of which were about 4 months old and just starting to roost. They had a large crock dish for water and a wide flat metal dish for food. I gave them chick starter/grower, and scratch grain. I tried putting pellets around that were known to deter racoons and other pests, but I don't think it worked. All that was left of ny chickens was legs, wings, part of the lower body, and a lot of feathers. There were feathers scattered everywhere.

I still have 4 very young chantecler chicks that I decided to bring in for the night. They're about 2 weeks old. I don't know what attacked my other chickens, or what to do to protect my little ones.

What attacked them. How can I stop it.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I am so sorry for your loss! It's heartbreaking, and I imagine it was a shock.


Sounds like a raccoon. They often take just heads. You were right to bring in the chicks. You'll need to do some serious predator proofing. Raccoons will persist, and they are strong and clever. It/they will be back. You can try to trap it, too, and then get rid if it, if you catch my meaning.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

We're they in a oen/coop or outside? Was this at night or the daytime?

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Sorry about your loss! We all lose to predators on occasion, so you are not alone.

I also agree that it is likely raccoon.

 

[Tiffy316]

I am so sorry for your loss! It's heartbreaking, and I imagine it was a shock.


Sounds like a raccoon. They often take just heads. You were right to bring in the chicks. You'll need to do some serious predator proofing. Raccoons will persist, and they are strong and clever. It/they will be back. You can try to trap it, too, and then get rid if it, if you catch my meaning.

More than just the head was gone. Not much was left besides a lot of feathers, feet, wings, and the lower parts of their bodies. Like maybe the pelvis or something.

 

[Tiffy316]

We're they in a oen/coop or outside? Was this at night or the daytime?

I'm not sure when it happened. I checked on them yesterday evening. They were roosting. I was at work till about 4, and ran some errands afterwards, so it could've happened very early in the morning. But IDK when this happened.

I keep them in a barn. We have a barn that's made to have a horse stall, a place to store a buggy, an attic, and an area for the chickens. The area of the chickens consists of the inside part of the barn where the rack, nesting boxes, and chick box are located. It has a large screen window, and a small door that leads to the outside part of the chicken area that's fenced in. The fence is pretty high, but doesn't have a roof.

There are some holes in the screen that need patching, gaps between the barn roof and attic, which have always been there, a couple of kinda loose panels that need fresh screws, and a new hole that I just discovered tonight, which is probably how it got in.

The opening to the outside part is closed off bc it needs some work. There is a fiberglass panel and a few cinder blocks blocking it. The barn door just has a small piece of wood that goes across it to keep the chickens in. The chick box has an indoor part that's mostly plywood with a screen door and a wood panel to cover it on cold days. There is an L shaped piece of wood that keeps it closed. The outdoor part of a mix of grate and fine wire for the babies to get some fresh air. There is a small opening for them to go back and fourth as they please. The top opens up, so I can place cinder blocks on it to deter predators, but not on the inside part.

So they're inside a barn. Kinda like a large room with him and fiberglass panels and some odds and ends for the chickens. Some cinder blocks were placed in front of the door to keep racoons out.

 

[Aunt Angus]

My point was that most other predators would carry off the whole bird (not all, though). Can you tell where/how it got in? That might tell you what it was. A small hole might be a weasel or something similar. A larger entrance would be a raccoon, most likely. Dogs can do that kind of damage, too. You'd know if it was a dog, probably, because damage to the coop/enclosure would be very obvious.

 

[Tiffy316]

I did see a new large hole under the chick box. Whatever it was probably got in through there. Anyway, I heard that dogs lose interest after they die and go find something else to kill. And more than just the head was gone. Everything except for the legs, wings, and part of the back and pelvis area was gone. There were feathers everywhere.

 

[Flockincrazy]

sounds like something a weazle would do

 

[Tiffy316]

Could a weasel also knock down feed barrels?