They are ALL GONE!

[max101]

I am from Australia we dont have bears but we have dogs.
Dog kill and they are known here to take away the carcuss to play.
The feathers left behind are when the dog shakes the bird.
Alot of feathers are lost yet no blood.
A dog got 5 of my hens in little more than an hour. I have never found their bodies yet I found their feathers scattered everywhere.
The dog came back for more that is how I found out what animal it was.
We arent allowed to carry guns in Australia very tight gun control here which is a bummer cause I really would have loved to shoot it.
The bear print found may have been one walking by.
Bears are quite heavy surely it would of left some form of impression in the grass or land where the feathers are found. They have claws surely they would of even ripped up the earth.
A dog dont leave many tracks in grass

 

[highcountrychickens]

Lovemybob, I'm heartbroken for you...

so so sorry you lost your sweet and beautiful birds. I would concur with a lot of opinions here that the track you photographed looks like a bear. I would call your local game and fish office and report this - They may come trap the bear to relocate it...(or whatever) before the bear becomes truly haibtuated, endangering your dogs too... in any case the electric wire precaution is a sound idea to consider as you look at starting a new flock.

Again,

I'm so sorry - I found piles of feathers like that too when a fox nabbed my favorite hens - it's just awful.

 

[KKatknap]

Heartbroken for you and your beautiful birds. So sorry.

 

[Sequin]

Oh no!!!!

I am sooo very sorry!!! I wish you lived here in SW WA - I would give you my lovely EE roo and his two girlfriends to help take some of the hurt away ... I am sure you are just devastated!! I know I would be.

You will have a lovely flock once again in short order, I am sure of it!

 

[Sjisty]

I'm so sorry for your loss! Where are you in Florida? I'm just north of Tampa. When you are ready to start over, I always have lots of extra chickens and will be happy to help you rebuild your flock.

 

[allaboutdemchicks]

Poor Misty.....

Poor you!

I certainly hate to hear this about anyone's flock. I am so sorry. Those pictures tell a heck of a story, I've never seen so many feathers.

The whole last half of '09 I fought off coons, opossoms, and now it's hawks that are taunting me! I couldn't imagine waging war with what I think you have...a bear.

My suggestion would be to put you a loaded gun by the door, stay up for about three nights and when your alarm system (dogs) start I would barrel out the door and take revenge. Bear pot pie would be tasty, shoot fire, let Misty dine on it too!

 

[hensonly]

Quote:
Cat prints don't show claws. Dog, coyote, fox, wolf....racoon, possum, fisher/martin, weasel....it's hard to tell in the photo how big the track is...but NOT a cat, I think.

 

[Luvmybob]

I wanted to update-- FIRST OFF---thank you to everyone, each post was heartwarming and funny, so I needed the laugh! I wish I could quote most of you but I don't know how to do that so I will try to answer you, if I miss something please let me know-

I live in Keystone Heights, Florida just north of Gainesville--and ya'll offering to help me rebuild my flock and all of your advice, it's the sweetest thing I've ever heard and I thank you for that! My local Ace will order me chick's and I've told my children that they can pick any chicken they want come spring so they are very excited about that. It's amazing how quiet it is now without them poking their heads through the back door--my kids miss them so much.

That was a bear print, no doubt, but I'm thinking it came because of the smell because the dog (s) came back last night....my husband and I trapped one ( but got away ) they are 2 chocolate labs, one has a red collar and the other a green. I thought it was only one dog until my husband pointed that out---no wonder I couldn't get the color right! The dogs are identical!

Only the one with the green collar was back in my yard laying (again) under my children's window with my FAVORITE hen (Rosie)- licking her and gnawing on her. They killed all of them and hid them somewhere and decided to come back to MY yard and eat her--I've taken all of my dogs around the property ( not every inch of the 10acres yet, but I'm trying ) to do a search to no avail--

I wish my husband shot him but he wanted to try and catch him, chain him up and wait for the owners to come find him and let them know what happened. I hate to kill a good dog, a pet of someone and we tried that route more than once yesterday and it didn't work, it's like he is taunting us by coming back, but we sure put a good scare in him last night---All bets are off now that he got away---I have a 410 sitting by the front door and the shells are in my pocket---

We took Rosie and buried her--The dog didn't come back again last night, but we are going to wait for him (them) tonight.

God Bless!!
Dana

 

[Chicken Chaperone]

Oh, Dana, what awful stuff to have to go through! I'm so very sorry for your loss! Thank heavens you found your one girl before any other predators did. If it is a bear, please be wary of having your dogs out near them. Maybe my dogs are big wimps (ok, I know they are..) but I'd be concerned about a 100lb dog taking on a 500lb bear. Take good care of all of you (dogs, kiddos, Misty and yourself!) and know we're sending y'all all our best thoughts for the best outcome possible!

 

[kota1369]

Looks to me like you have a black bear coming to visit. The track is not from a dog or a cat........ as stated earlier (retractable claws). I have seen mountain lion tracks many times and they do not look like that.
With a mountain lion or a bear you will need electric wire for sure! I had a neighbor who had a very durable 2x4 constructed coop who had a mountain lion break 2x4's tearing into the coop for the chickens. A bear or cougar can do some serious damage to a building. You will want to start keeping household trash under wraps as the odor will also attract them. You will want to get in touch with Game fish and Parks and make them aware of the situation and problem.
Chickens are prey animals, so often when attacted in their home will not make much noice if any. The bear doesnt need to make any because they are easy pickings for him. Your dogs were in the house and most likely did not hear much, if anything. If they would have been outside they most likely would have alerted you, but they also may have gotten hurt also. I know when the mountain lion was at my neighbors house doing damage, their 3 husky mixes and my samoyed could not have pounded the door down any faster. As they were all outside. We couldnt figure out what was going on till we went outside in the morning. My dog wanted in like right now........... and come to find out the next day my neighbors dogs acted the same way. They looked outside confused as to why the dogs were so addament about coming in, but saw and heard nothing.
I am soo sorry you lost your babies. I have 4 really neat chickens and can only imagine your pain.
Get ahold of Game Fish they need to know about it. And if there is food outside of any kind he may come back. So, they need to be aware of it and inform you how to act if he does come back.

The lady with 4 dogs and 4 city chickens