Something killed almost ALL my flock

[hunter1158]

I had 20 pullets and 5 ducks. Now I am down to 2 ducks.. After investigating and disposing the corpses a majority of them had a chewed up head, while others were completely mutilated entirely. What could have been the cause of this? Did, weasel, mink? No worries though, the ducks have been secured in a wire cage with no way ANY other critters could get in. Traps have been set all around the coop. If anyone could maybe give me some answers that would be best.

 

[cppeace]

Hmm were many of the bodies missing? Head gone is usually a raccoon or weasel. In my experience a raccoon only kills a few a visit though, but I suppose a small family unit could kill many. A weasel or mink will try and kill them all though. It is just in their nature.

 

[WhitecatFarm]

I had a raccoon kill my whole flock of OEB at one time, She later got into my other coop and killed 4 or 5 at a time. I killed2 big fat females that summer. Lost nearly my whole flock

 

[hunter1158]

Yes, like stated before some heads were chewed up while others were entirely mutilated. Racoons have been seen around once and a while. I live in middle TN and havd never known weasels to be a problem here.

 

[coleco]

Did it eat the meat or guts? Were they found within a few feet of the entrance? Any found over 15' away? Its not a fox or coyote, theyd be gone. Almost surely raccoon.

 

[hunter1158]

Some of them were eaten.. Some were only a chewed up head. There were feathers everywhere in the coop.

 

[MysteriaSdrassa]

Sounds like coon to me. They can wipe out an entire flock in one night. Eating off the heads and leaving the rest lie. They will hunt either solitary or in family units,, sometimes just for fun, killing everything they can get there bloody little paws on. Coon are in my opinion the worst chicken predator there is.

 

[hunter1158]

I most likely caught the culprit of flock massacre. It was indeed a coon. It has been "relocated"

anyhow, thank all of you for your input. I'll still have some traps set to possibly catch more of them .

 

[cppeace]

good work hopefully you moved it at least 3 miles away.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry! I hope the raccoon is relocated underground; the only solution. Having birds is a continuing learning experience, and many of us have discovered that our facilities need upgrading the hard way.

Mary