Tell How Predators Got Your Chickens. Save Somebody Else From The Bad Experience

[vtpenguin]

Whilst working in the yard one spring afternoon, I noticed a handful of our "free range" chickens were in the neighbors yard. I also noticed a small dog with a really long, puffy tail running around. Once my brain caught up with my eyes, I realized i was looking at a fox. I immediately gave chase. I happened to be bare foot and was running along the paved road while the fox, with a 2 month old Hamburg chicken in its mouth, was running along the edge of the same road but in the woods. We met at the bend and our eyes met. We held each others gaze for what seemed like 10 seconds. Then, suddenly, The fox turned around, and "vanished" into the woods like a puff of smoke.

I returned to my yard, cursing under my breath. I tried to round up the remaining 17 or so chickens, but they were so spread out and so freaked, that I could not get them back to the coop. And then the unthinkable happened... the fox returned. She took another chicken. I was helpless to stop, as the fox did not have any fear of me at all. Minutes later he returned again. I watched helplessly as the red fox stole chickens from my yard and surrounding neighbors yards, repeatedly until stopping after the 7th chicken, and then probably only because she ran out of room for them in her den.

I manged to get them back in the coop by dusk. we determined our loses, which amounted to about 1/3 of our original 20. We were very disappointed that we lost the friendliest chickens we had.

At about midnight I heard a strange thunk from the coop. I looked out the window and saw our "fancy pants" had not been taken and had returned to the coop. I was so happy that she was alive as she was every ones favorite and still is.

For the next week the chickens stayed in the coop while i proceeded to take on an epic construction project to erect what is now "fort wing" complete with electrified fence.

While we miss seeing our chickens roam the yard, I feel much better knowing they are safe from the sly fox that lives down the bank.

 

[dlockey]

Here is my story, any ideas regarding my problem are appreciated.

We have 9 coops of various sizes, each is surrounded with fencing. We have 9 acres of land, surrounded by woods and an occasionaly house. We had about 50 chickens, 20 of which are 17 weeks old. The young ones are allowed to free range in the back yard, which is fenced.They go into their fence/coop at night. But, on this night we did not lock them up. We had something come in and kill 17 of them and a cat. Only found 4 bodies, and they were mostly intact. No other bodies found. Lots of feathers, no bodies. No tracks, no digging/scratching marks. We are thinking pack of dogs or maybe coyote.


What do you think?

thanks,
debbie

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Could be a/several racoons too...I assume something climbed over the fence...so that narrows it down. They will kill many and drag them off, why they left four is hard to guess unless they were startled away and had their fill. It sure does sound like more than one.
Another reason why I carry a weapon at night especially, even just the gunshot alone will scare off a predator in progress. Just do not shoot into the air (like the rootin tootin cowboys on TV) bullets travel for miles and miles and can do alot of damage when they land. Helpful tip of the day.

 

[marianne7]

Here is my story, any ideas regarding my problem are appreciated.

We have 9 coops of various sizes, each is surrounded with fencing. We have 9 acres of land, surrounded by woods and an occasionaly house. We had about 50 chickens, 20 of which are 17 weeks old. The young ones are allowed to free range in the back yard, which is fenced.They go into their fence/coop at night. But, on this night we did not lock them upp. We had something come in and kill 17 of them and a cat. Only found 4 bodies, and they were mostly intact. No other bodies found. Lots of feathers, no bodies. No tracks, no digging/scratching marks. We are thinking pack of dogs or maybe coyote.


What do you think?

thanks,
debbie

Sounds like a family of coyote, or foxes, for them to kill the cat as well, there was definately a pack of something, Foxes will occasionally kill cats but only if they are a threat to their young....sounds like a family of one or the other in training. how terrible, unfortunately the only thing for you is an enclosed pen...once these predators have been once, they will most certainly be back, so sorry for your loss - Marianne

 

[pafh]

We just started our adventure of backyard chickens this year, building a house and a run. Really did a lot of research on how to do both. We enclosed the run with chicken wire then use dog wire on the sides over the chicken wire and buried 2 ft of all wire in the ditch. Threw in large rocks etc... to block digging on the outside of the run. We haven't lost any chickens but glad to hear about the racoons. I will have to double secure my gate lock to prevent any from opening the gate. Our girls go in to roost at night then I close the door to secure them. We also put double wire on the windows of their house so we could help keep it cool inside.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Whilst working in the yard one spring afternoon, I noticed a handful of our "free range" chickens were in the neighbors yard. I also noticed a small dog with a really long, puffy tail running around. Once my brain caught up with my eyes, I realized i was looking at a fox. I immediately gave chase. I happened to be bare foot and was running along the paved road while the fox, with a 2 month old Hamburg chicken in its mouth, was running along the edge of the same road but in the woods. We met at the bend and our eyes met. We held each others gaze for what seemed like 10 seconds. Then, suddenly, The fox turned around, and "vanished" into the woods like a puff of smoke.

I returned to my yard, cursing under my breath. I tried to round up the remaining 17 or so chickens, but they were so spread out and so freaked, that I could not get them back to the coop. And then the unthinkable happened... the fox returned. She took another chicken. I was helpless to stop, as the fox did not have any fear of me at all. Minutes later he returned again. I watched helplessly as the red fox stole chickens from my yard and surrounding neighbors yards, repeatedly until stopping after the 7th chicken, and then probably only because she ran out of room for them in her den.

I manged to get them back in the coop by dusk. we determined our loses, which amounted to about 1/3 of our original 20. We were very disappointed that we lost the friendliest chickens we had.

At about midnight I heard a strange thunk from the coop. I looked out the window and saw our "fancy pants" had not been taken and had returned to the coop. I was so happy that she was alive as she was every ones favorite and still is.

For the next week the chickens stayed in the coop while i proceeded to take on an epic construction project to erect what is now "fort wing" complete with electrified fence.

While we miss seeing our chickens roam the yard, I feel much better knowing they are safe from the sly fox that lives down the bank.

I would have been surprised when he came back for chicken #2. When he came back for #3 I would have gave him some #4 buckshot and saved 5 of them

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Here is my story, any ideas regarding my problem are appreciated.

We have 9 coops of various sizes, each is surrounded with fencing. We have 9 acres of land, surrounded by woods and an occasionaly house. We had about 50 chickens, 20 of which are 17 weeks old. The young ones are allowed to free range in the back yard, which is fenced.They go into their fence/coop at night. But, on this night we did not lock them up. We had something come in and kill 17 of them and a cat. Only found 4 bodies, and they were mostly intact. No other bodies found. Lots of feathers, no bodies. No tracks, no digging/scratching marks. We are thinking pack of dogs or maybe coyote.


What do you think?

thanks,
debbie

I too think coons if they climbed the fence. Dogs or Coyote would try to go thru the fence or dig under the fence. Coons travel in groups of 5-6 at times so it would be easy to do with that many killers in your coop.

 

[dlockey]

until

Could be a/several racoons too...I assume something climbed over the fence...so that narrows it down. They will kill many and drag them off, why they left four is hard to guess unless they were startled away and had their fill. It sure does sound like more than one. Another reason why I carry a weapon at night especially, even just the gunshot alone will scare off a predator in progress. Just do not shoot into the air (like the rootin tootin cowboys on TV) bullets travel for miles and miles and can do alot of damage when they land. Helpful tip of the day.

My DH was outside early this am, about 4am, and will do the same tonight. With a spotlight and a shotgun, he saw what may be either a coyote or large dog, and shot into the woods where he ran. Plan is to continue this until either he kills something, or runs it off. I have other chickens, ducks, and outside cats and do not intend to lose anymore if we can help it.


debbie

 

[real_redhead]

I was just browsing this forum when my hubby left for work and he asked if the chickens were locked up for the night! of course YES. After a dog attack several months ago we built a coop/run that is better than the zoo (we were at the zoo today and I was surprised at some of the exhibits thinking my coop is more secure, I digress...) A few min. after hubby left the phone rang and it was him telling me he saw a opossum running across the street a block over (we live in the city) so out I go and I just set the trap with some cat food! Gotta get all those critters that like a chicken dinner!

 

[real_redhead]

I was just browsing this forum when my hubby left for work and he asked if the chickens were locked up for the night! of course YES. After a dog attack several months ago we built a coop/run that is better than the zoo (we were at the zoo today and I was surprised at some of the exhibits thinking my coop is more secure, I digress...) A few min. after hubby left the phone rang and it was him telling me he saw a opossum running across the street a block over (we live in the city) so out I go and I just set the trap with some cat food! Gotta get all those critters that like a chicken dinner!