Totally creepy!

[Tap Dancing Chickie]

I just want to put in my two cents worth and say I agree with Mrs. Green Thumbs. Rock On

 

[bantybev]

I suggest you put a live trap with bait by your coop. Sounds more like a coon to me, especially if the latches, and, or doors had to be opened to get to your "livestock". Cats can't usually open latches and have a bit of a problem with opening securely closed doors.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Maybe it was a chupacabra!!!

 

[Mervin]

Mrs. Green Thumbs :

First of all

Sorry for the loss of your animals. Secondly... I happen to be a sensitive person that respect's life, although... if I find that my animals are being threatened by anything... I will defend them, I don't own a gun but I'll hop my fanny in the car and pick myself up a CO2 bb gun and a 6 pack of beer and stage a steak out. I am my girls protection and I will make sure that even though they don't have a Roo they have me. Next best thing

For the love of Pete, don't shoot a predator with a BB gun. While I applaud your desire to protect your flock, a BB gun probably won't humanely kill anything that's going to truly threaten your flock. I may shoot a cat with a .22, but I'd probably use something a bit bigger just to be completely sure. While my .30-06 may be bloody and gruesome, there is never any doubt that it was swift and painless. I have, on occasion, dispatched vermin with a .22, but I will only take a head shot with it. That way it is either a clean kill or clear miss.​

 

[Mervin]

I'll bet it was a raccoon, based on the cages being open. I'd bet a raccoon started the problem and maybe got chased off by something else. I know it sounds silly, but we used to have a tomcat that would chase off young raccoons. The cats might have just seen an opportunity and swooped in after the fact.

As for the cats, I wouldn't worry about the other folks comments too much. Unless somebody has lived near a colony of feral cats, I'm not sure they could understand how quickly a colony can grow and how much damage they can do. The Declaration of Independence asserts that the "pursuit of Happiness" is my unalienable right. Our chickens bring my family and myself happiness, cleaning up their carcasses and explaining the death of a pet to my children does not. I do the best I can to make sure that family/pets/livestock are as safe as they can be without needless killing, but if push comes to shove, I won't lose a wink of sleep over dispatching a potential threat.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Maybe it was a chupacabra!!!

LOL..i was gonna say that but i couldnt spell it...

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Am I the only one who has seen "Meet the Parents"? Cat's can't flush a toilet, or open a cage latch. They don't have opposable thumbs, Greg!