Something killed my chickens

[aplynn]

Thursday night while I was sleeping something got into my chicken coop and killed my oldest flock of 14 chickens, they were all about 4 months old, I am so sad.

We found where it came into the coop and have since secured it, however I still do not dare to put my other chickens back in the coop I build a temporary space for them in my garage but how long do I wait to put them back in the coop? I was told that whatever got them will deff be back. I am so afraid of losing them again, not to mention that this sets us back on eggs for another 6 weeks, as my other flock is about 6 weeks younger then the flock I lost.

SO sad!!!!!!!!

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Can you tell us how many chickens died and what their injuries were like? That would give us a clue on which predator did this and how to deter it.

 

[aplynn]

I lost all 14 of my flock and whatever killed them only removed their heads, it opened the slide door to the coop so it was also a smart animal. (the door now has a lock on it and a second door with a lock on the other side). the chickens bodies were all their and accounted for just missing the heads off of 12.

 

[keesmom]

If it opened a door I would bet raccoon. I also have a problem one this year, first time in a while.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Agree with keesmom, if it opened a door it is usually a raccoon- they are very strong and have fingers. There are some other animals capable of this, but raccoons are usually to blame. They are highly intelligent.

 

[aplynn]

We set a trap in the coop. I hope we can catch it. I have been keeping my other chickens in the garage for the time being at night until we catch this thing.

 

[mucduc]

I'm still new to chickens so I haven't had any experience raccoons and trapping them at the coop. But I do have plenty of experience trapping them to keep them away from my corn in the woods. I use a live trap with honey buns and/or sardines. It was almost a guarantee. That would make sure they would go in the trap But that may also attract more animals to the coop.

Maybe stand guard with a .22. I haven't yet but plan on putting motion lights outside my coop in hopes it will scare whatever away. And that would also assist with alrting you if you were to stand guard a night or too. From a distance of course

 

[sourland]

I would lock the coop at night and set the live traps.

 

[Ringtailtwister]

I'm having the same problem.It took my pullet or ate all of her and killed my rooster and left him. That makes two pullets that have just vanished. Please let us know asap if you catch something.

 

[tcstoehr]

We found where it came into the coop and have since secured it, however I still do not dare to put my other chickens back in the coop I build a temporary space for them in my garage but how long do I wait to put them back in the coop? I was told that whatever got them will deff be back. I am so afraid of losing them again, not to mention that this sets us back on eggs for another 6 weeks, as my other flock is about 6 weeks younger then the flock I lost.

If you secured the coop, then your chicks can go in there immediately. But you still seem worried about the predator returning which tells me the coop is not secure. If it is secure then it can be occupied at any time. If it is not secure, then it can never be occupied. You're right, the predator will be back. It doesn't matter how long you wait, it will come back. The coop must be ready and able to withstand the predator's return.