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

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Looks like a rat snake, a large one, and he is probably after small ponies. all of the easy game has been eaten, so he is looking for anything...prob just passing through, since he can't get into your coop. Eggs or chicks, mice, small birds, grasshoppers...anything. it's dry there, it is looking for a better place, maybe a new watering hole...

 

[cheeka]

Chicken snakes are not one particular species or type of snake. Instead, chicken snake is a term applied to several different kinds of reptiles that are nonpoisonous and tend to feast on eggs, rats, and small birds. Along with referring to this group of snakes as chicken snakes, there are several other common names applied to the group, including rat snakes, corn snakes, and pine snakes.
The chicken snake is found in various locations around North America. Some species of the chicken snake are relatively small in length and diameter, although it is possible for a chicken snake to grow to over seven feet long. Some types of the chicken snake will constrict their prey before consumption. Most will coil and attack when they feel cornered or threatened in any way. While their bite is not poisonous in most cases, it is usually extremely painful.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Chicken snakes are not one particular species or type of snake. Instead, chicken snake is a term applied to several different kinds of reptiles that are nonpoisonous and tend to feast on eggs, rats, and small birds. Along with referring to this group of snakes as chicken snakes, there are several other common names applied to the group, including rat snakes, corn snakes, and pine snakes.
The chicken snake is found in various locations around North America. Some species of the chicken snake are relatively small in length and diameter, although it is possible for a chicken snake to grow to over seven feet long. Some types of the chicken snake will constrict their prey before consumption. Most will coil and attack when they feel cornered or threatened in any way. While their bite is not poisonous in most cases, it is usually extremely painful.

Very interesting. Thats good to know. Thanks cheeka

 

[2plus2 is44]

Dogs can kill lots of birds in one night. They kill for sport and the fun does not stop till sun up. Hungry predators kill to eat and usually stop when Full.

 

[2plus2 is44]

A Black snake ate a 6 week old Polish. I guess he did not put up much a fight.Usually they just eat a couple eggs a day.

 

[cheeka]

2plus2

i saw 2 dogs running up a major road in my area while driving to work, my immediate thought was... these dogs will be killed... big trucks fly along here...
turns out they went up about another mile, to my friends property, got in the Cadillac of all Chicken coops, killed all the chickens and 16 lambs. Her DH shot one of the dogs, but the other got away, it took weeks to find the dog, and even longer to get the dog destroyed... and here I was, worrying about the dogs... when they were on their way to a killing spree...

 

[clogan98]

Has anyone heard of a full size chicken being killed by a cat? I've heard that cats aren't an issue when the chickens are adults. That is all I have around here at night is cats. My chicks are locked in their coop at night, but I mean during the day if they happen to come across one.

 

[CAjerseychick]

Has anyone heard of a full size chicken being killed by a cat? I've heard that cats aren't an issue when the chickens are adults. That is all I have around here at night is cats. My chicks are locked in their coop at night, but I mean during the day if they happen to come across one.

I know we have feral cats in the brush at the end of our field-- I think the only thing keeping them away from our chickens is our 3 dogs...
So far have found a dead rabbit, a few rats, and 2 dead squirrels(our dogs would love to , but are not fast enough to catch these things)-- I am pretty sure the cats are killing them -- I dont know if a domestic cat/ well fed pet would go after a full grown chicken.. but a hungry wild cat, I think, yes....

 

[Coop Deville]

My free ranging chickens have never been threatened by any of the domestic cats that make their way through the backyard. In my neighborhood, chickens have been lost to dogs, raccoons, possums (I lost four to one), and, rumor has it, a fox, but never a domestic cat. I've seen my hens chase away domestic cats.

 

[Earthologie]

I am currently trying to figure out what type of bird of prey ate my pullet. I built a small aviary to keep some birds in. I noticed the young pullets and a polish roo were not getting enough food since they were low on the pecking order. I assumed I was helping them by putting them in the aviary to eat all day undisturbed. I was wrong! The aviary is made out of wood 2x4's and welded wire fence. Apparently two of the pullets were just small enough to get out of the fencing. They went for a stroll in the woods. quite a ways away, I found four piles of my chickens BLUE feathers. mixed in and right beside the feathers I found two white and brown striped feathers (either down feathers or contour feathers) that were NOT from my bird. Either an owl or a hawk ate my chicken. I was not able to find the remainder of her body. There was no blood and her feathers were cleanly picked from her skin. I feel so horrible! These pullets were so sweet and tame, and I thought I was helping them. It did NOT look like they would be able to get out of the fencing on my aviary, but I guess looks can be deceiving, because they did. There was NO sign of a struggle at the aviary. That's how I am pretty sure they simply went for a walk and was attacked. One of them died, the other one came running back home. ****** SO please make sure that the fencing you use has small enough holes!