Stella's Social Club

[The Sheriff]

Is it possible that a weasel or mink or something similar killed them? They can slip through very small openings, and often execute group massacres. Plus they can climb or shimmy through barriers.

Wonder what the predator threads folks would come up with. Just horrible beyond belief.

I don't think we have weasels or minks here in northern CA.

 

[The Sheriff]

Kelly

I went out and checked my girls a couple of times today after we talked. I actually found an opening under the run fence large enough for something to squeeze under! I shoved two rocks in it for now, but tomorrow I am going to do something better.

I was telling Kelly this morning that when my Dad came by to bring me some tomatoes yesterday morning, a coyote crossed our driveway right in front of his car! In town, broad daylight!

 

[ronott1]

I don't think we have weasels or minks here in northern CA.

We have weasels--The long tailed weasel.

Minks are here too--except for the arid parts of CA. Ferrets too.

 

[Cynthia12]

Weasels..they will suck the blood of the bird. They don't eat them..but then you said, one was missing a head.
Oh man, I am soo sorry..that is a lot of loss!

 

[drumstick diva]

gruesome

 

[ronott1]

Even though we have weasels and similar in California, I would still lean towards a fox.

Keep the dog out during the day, unless the dog does not go after critters that walk into your yard.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I agree, it does sound like a dog attack, heck, it looked like one. But there is just no way that a dog got into my run. I thought I had a pretty secure set up, but all it takes is one animal to prove you wrong.

Fox was the other animal I was thinking of, but I've never heard of them killing just to kill. I know foxes can climb. And my dog chases anything she can find, so she will be out during the daytime in case it comes back.

This is my run.

 

[Cynthia12]

I agree, it does sound like a dog attack, heck, it looked like one. But there is just no way that a dog got into my run. I thought I had a pretty secure set up, but all it takes is one animal to prove you wrong.

Fox was the other animal I was thinking of, but I've never heard of them killing just to kill. I know foxes can climb. And my dog chases anything she can find, so she will be out during the daytime in case it comes back.

This is my run.

Wow, you have it set up pretty tight from the looks of it. Some animal sure took it's time finding that spot. :/

 

[robhuncor]

All you need is a hole as small as 1 1/2 inches for a weasel. Dogs can force their way in and then get out and you may not find the spot unless you test the whole fence line. Just a year ago I had a Fisher get 15 of my hens in what I thought was a very secure run. It found one spot only 2 inches where the fence had pulled away in a corner - probably frost heave. We know this because my husband had set up a video camera after the dog massacre. There that miserable Fisher was - squeezing through that tiny hole. And Fishers are bigger than weasels. Another tearful burial detail. I set traps all over the place and the next day ( it came in the early AM) we watched the video of it jumping on all the traps and setting them off. Then it went away and never came back. That horrible animal just killed for the sport. It bit them in the head and left the bodies whole. On a couple, it bit a chunk out of their neck and ate a couple vertebrae. It has been my experience (and I seem to have an awful lot of experience!) that foxes mostly hunt for food for their kits and take the chicken away with them. You usually only find a small pile of feathers. Do you have Fishers in California?

 

[ronott1]

All you need is a hole as small as 1 1/2 inches for a weasel. Dogs can force their way in and then get out and you may not find the spot unless you test the whole fence line. Just a year ago I had a Fisher get 15 of my hens in what I thought was a very secure run. It found one spot only 2 inches where the fence had pulled away in a corner - probably frost heave. We know this because my husband had set up a video camera after the dog massacre. There that miserable Fisher was - squeezing through that tiny hole. And Fishers are bigger than weasels. Another tearful burial detail. I set traps all over the place and the next day ( it came in the early AM) we watched the video of it jumping on all the traps and setting them off. Then it went away and never came back. That horrible animal just killed for the sport. It bit them in the head and left the bodies whole. On a couple, it bit a chunk out of their neck and ate a couple vertebrae. It has been my experience (and I seem to have an awful lot of experience!) that foxes mostly hunt for food for their kits and take the chicken away with them. You usually only find a small pile of feathers. Do you have Fishers in California?

It looks like they go down the Sierra: