Thoughts on what killed my girls?

[LadyBug7]

The girls are all fine with our dogs being out and around them. Found a spot in the fence were we thought something could get in. We fixed the fence Monday so the hubs had me let them out Tuesday. Lost one of the young ones, only 2 1/2 months old. I left at 7:35 am, though the kids got on the bus around 7:50. Came home at noon and the girl was dead. There was a circle of feathers, a hole in her chest (I could see the crop) and a chunk from the wing again. We live in NW Ohio and I've been told there are mink and weasels around. Tomorrow the hubs is planning to sit quietly on the back porch all day and wait to see what comes for the girls. It's really frustrating to say the least!

 

[Mary's Backyard Chickens]

It was probably a dog or cat.

 

[twilightgecko]

[sorry for your loss] one thing i remember reading more than a few times, is a circle of feathers is usually a hawk attack.. dog usually leaves trails of feathers, as they play the chicken to death.. right now i am dealing with a fox.. so, sadly, i'm learning what patterns they leave..

 

[lazy gardener]

FYI, weasel are in all 48 states. You will rarely see one as they are secretive, however, they will make kills in the middle of the day. It's possible that OP has more than one predator.

 

[1Cherokee]

Let me preface by saying we have had chickens for three years. They have 1.5 fenced acres on which to range. There's an empty grassland lot on one side and field on the other two. They are out sun up to sun down. We have never lost a bird. This week, we lost two- one on Sunday and one on Monday. Both happened during the daylight hours while we were away. The odd thing is, save one part of the wing missing/broken there was nothing eaten off them. The second one did have the neck sliced open also, but nothing else. We have two bichons and a cat, but they are afraid of the chickens and the girls stand up to them. I'm at a loss?? What kills just to kill?

 

[1Cherokee]

First off, sorry about your loss. Secondly, if one had its neck sliced open, more than likely it was a weasel. Weasels love the blood from other animals. Had it been a fox, the head would have more than likely been eaten and it would have come back later for the rest of its meal. They, foxes. do the same with other animals (cats, small dogs, rabbits and such.) Birds of prey would have "plucked" your chicken and you would have seen slice marks at the base of the plucked feathers or in the shaft of the feathers. My guess is a weasel, though. They, a weasel, are not really big enough to eat the chicken but are definitely able to take one's life. It may be time to reign in the chickens until you can take out the weasel. In a hen house, a weasel is an artful adversary of getting into a hen house and out again. They will go for the eggs as well.

 

[happyfrenchman]

So if I read correctly, you have lost a third bird. A small one. with a circle of feathers and a torn crop. I am sorry. The circle of feathers and the crop torn open sounds like a hawk.(probably a Coopers hawk). Not a dog which is good. (not your dog which is very good). A hawk would be a simpler explanation. It is not uncommon for a hawk attack. They will return if you leave the carcass out. Wait with a rifle if you have one. Don't get caught.

If it didn't eat much, it was likely because it was interrupted and they usually do not go far. The bad news would be that if this hawk (assuming it is a hawk) has gotten skilled at killing chickens. (Not all hawks bother chickens but those that do learn will keep coming back.) A Weasel? A weasel would (IMO) be less likely but possible I suppose. I know very little about weasels (thankfully). A fence would not stop a weasel and they would not need a hole. From what I read they attack at night and more typically inside a coop. But as I say, I have no real experience with weasels. To me, I am thinking hawk now. Your husband watching might be the most revealing thing. It would have been better to leave the carcass out to see what returned. Because I assure you, they do come back. I had to wait until just before dark on one... but it was worth it. I was looking up and it came from low down and quite stealthily. But not stealthy enough. LOL. Good luck. This is an interesting thread although it is assuredly painful for you. I hope you can stop this predation on your flock.
I would also add that early in the morning is the worst time for hawks... apparently if they are able, they eat in the morning and then spend the day feeding off their kill. I was able to drastically cut down on attacks by letting the birds out after lunch. The hawk is hungry in the morning. If still hungry later it is because it was unsuccessful. This is the case later in the season and in the winter when game is scarcer.

 

[happyfrenchman]

[sorry for your loss] one thing i remember reading more than a few times, is a circle of feathers is usually a hawk attack.. dog usually leaves trails of feathers, as they play the chicken to death.. right now i am dealing with a fox.. so, sadly, i'm learning what patterns they leave..

Twilight Gecko... this fox... is it making off with it's victims?

 

[twilightgecko]

true..

So if I read correctly, you have lost a third bird. A small one. with a circle of feathers and a torn crop. I am sorry. The circle of feathers and the crop torn open sounds like a hawk.(probably a Coopers hawk). Not a dog which is good. (not your dog which is very good). A hawk would be a simpler explanation. It is not uncommon for a hawk attack. They will return if you leave the carcass out. Wait with a rifle if you have one. Don't get caught.

thank you for the lengthy post.. i thought i was dealing with a hawk when it was a fox.. but i'm always learning.. sorry too for the OP's loss..

 

[twilightgecko]

Twilight Gecko... this fox... is it making off with it's victims?

yes happyfrenchman.. i have started a thread here, with photos..
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/dealing-with-a-fox-erghhh.1207344/
i hope i linked that properly..