something eating my chickens

[Chickenlueny]

I lost my last flock to a racoon. Similar situation, we think it was a racoon. We don't live in an area that has a lot of wildlife, so we were't locking them up at night.
We invested in an automatic door for our coop. The only way to open outside of the timer is with a magnet. No little racoon paws are getting in. It can be set to open/close at sunrise/sunset (extra time can be added) or on a programed timer. We also added a latch to the nesting boxes that we secure with a padlock, so critters can't get in that way either.

 

[SpeckledSussex2005]

If you aren't locking them up at night, and the entrails were out, and you haven't caught it, it was probably an owl.

 

[linda07]

well i put out chicken leg and didn't catch nothing. i think tonight we will try marshmellows. my husband has been setting out there but nothing again. we wont stop till we catch what ever it is. will try any thing at this time

 

[linda07]

I lost my last flock to a racoon. Similar situation, we think it was a racoon. We don't live in an area that has a lot of wildlife, so we were't locking them up at night.
We invested in an automatic door for our coop. The only way to open outside of the timer is with a magnet. No little racoon paws are getting in. It can be set to open/close at sunrise/sunset (extra time can be added) or on a programed timer. We also added a latch to the nesting boxes that we secure with a padlock, so critters can't get in that way either.

 

[linda07]

about how much is an automatic door?

 

[linda07]

If you aren't locking them up at night, and the entrails were out, and you haven't caught it, it was probably an owl.

 

[linda07]

yup but does an owl come in at night?

 

[linda07]

Scary would be looking out your door and seeing a big cat, as in black panther in your yard. Yes I have seen a large male, went to the local game warden to verify, and yes they are here, with cubs. I was not so alarmed for the chickens, but I had small kids at the time.

 

[linda07]

omg it could be or we have coyotes here too. i sure hope not but you never know.

 

[linda07]

I use melon (cantaloupe or honeydew) to bait traps for coon, possum, groundhog, they luv melon! I dont use live traps, an adult coon will destroy them.
And I'll second looking into improving the coop! These things must not be able to get in at night.