something got our chickens?

[britt86]

I had three chickens get taken while I was working second shift got a text from my neighbor asking what happened to the chickens so a raced home took a flashlight to check sure enough all three were gone feathers scattered all over inside the coop two chunks of feathers found outside the coop no sign of carcasses. The doors were shut tight unopened and locked wire was all intact no holes or damage one spot looked to be pulled on like it tried to pull one through but couldn't. What could be big enough to take three full size chickens but be small enough to get inside? It had to get them out somehow without damaging the coop or opening the doors? Two days ago I had my bucket of night crawlers out front at night I went back inside for 20 or 30 mins when I came back out something had been in the bucket and ate almost all of them the next morning I found bits of a trash bag on the ground where the bag was sticking out of the trashcan lid a little. I thought a raccoon did it but wouldn't a raccoon just open the trashcan and have at it.its like it was too small to get into the 4 ft tall can and could only get to what little of the bag was sticking out.any thoughts on what it is? Because it's so late I can't really f of anything to protect the others but I did use hot sauce water mixture all around the coop and path to the woods to denture what ever it is.

 

[britt86]

I forgot I'm in southern indiana and have one coop of 7 chickens in my back yard inside a privacy fence the chickens that were taken were in a different coop on the outside of my fence my rottweiler is usually outside so I doubt my 7 will be bothered

 

[slingshotandLAR]

I had three chickens get taken while I was working second shift got a text from my neighbor asking what happened to the chickens so a raced home took a flashlight to check sure enough all three were gone feathers scattered all over inside the coop two chunks of feathers found outside the coop no sign of carcasses. The doors were shut tight unopened and locked wire was all intact no holes or damage one spot looked to be pulled on like it tried to pull one through but couldn't. What could be big enough to take three full size chickens but be small enough to get inside? It had to get them out somehow without damaging the coop or opening the doors? Two days ago I had my bucket of night crawlers out front at night I went back inside for 20 or 30 mins when I came back out something had been in the bucket and ate almost all of them the next morning I found bits of a trash bag on the ground where the bag was sticking out of the trashcan lid a little. I thought a raccoon did it but wouldn't a raccoon just open the trashcan and have at it.its like it was too small to get into the 4 ft tall can and could only get to what little of the bag was sticking out.any thoughts on what it is? Because it's so late I can't really f of anything to protect the others but I did use hot sauce water mixture all around the coop and path to the woods to denture what ever it is.

Sounds like a raccoon but could be a opossum....

Coons don't always knock over garbage cans, I've trapped lots that do exactly like you discribe. Tearing the bags from the outside of the can.

A live trap will take care of your problem and quickly by the sounds, use some of the worms as bait. It already knows they are there and will be back soon.

 

[chickencoop789]

Most likely a coon not a possum. Possums aren't able to grab a latch and try to pull it open like that, but coons definitely can. All signs point to a coon, but the only thing that puzzles me is it taking three whole birds. Usually you're left with a torn up bird, but for three to be completely missing? Seems a little strange to me.

 

[Folly's place]

A family of raccoons. Live trap and shoot. Best luck with more than one trap, and especially with a large sized trap. Mary

 

[britt86]

Talked to my other the guy next door he raises rabbits he says he had a problem with minks and he came over and set live traps just got home from work going to go check it out see if we got something yet.will post if I get something

 

[drumstick diva]

I'd guess raccoon and maybe some family members. Game cams could show the real story.

 

[britt86]

Nothing last night but it got the bait without setting the trap door off got a game cam set up just went out to check the trap shined a flashlight on it from the porch looks like maybe we got something or could be a shadow but could hear growling when I shined but sounded like it came from the woods just behind the trap so backed off just in case it's hadn't got to the trip yet. But sounded like a coon growl to me hopefully we get it by morning. That growl scared the crap out of me so I'm not messing with it in the dark.

 

[colejohnson73]

Exact same thing happened to my chickens. No damage but it looked like there was an area that got pulled. 3 killed just some fathers and a little blood. It was a pair of raccoons that got them.

 

[RR Chick]

We are in No Calif. and had our three chickens. Something took one and one was dead in her nest, no marks just died of fright I think. The other was fine but she stopped laying after a month. And it's been 8 months and hasn't played an egg since. Do you guys think she will ever lay again? Her comb and wattles are now dry. She seems like maybe she doesn't feel right. We did get three new chickens who should start laying soon. But what about our Beauty?

Thanks,
Charlotte (New poster )