Twenty chicks dead, six still missing, older chicks missing too but...

[QueenPeppermint]

Last night I had been hearing noises outside but I chalked it up to normal country noises since my dog never barked once. I was plagued with a bad feeling for hours until I went to double check the birds only to find them torn apart for sport by something. As I said, twenty were found including a momma's babes (momma was found absolutely frightened but not hurt at all) with six still missing! Now I discovered three of four older birds are missing too! I don't even know when THEY went missing because I realized I hadn't seen them at all yesterday (I hadn't done a count in a few days!). My dog had no blood on him, it could have been one (or both) of my neighbors dogs, or even a fox but I don't think foxes are common here (country but still close to everything). I have to tell my baby brothers what happened now. Do you think there is any chance of finding the last few alive? So sad :[

 

[wvfoxhunter]

Sorry to say but it is very unlikely you will find the missing ones alive

. Did you have them in a pen or coop that was shut up? Are there any places that something like a coon or fox could have gotten into the chicks? My first guess, if they were just killed and the majority left laying there, is a coon because they usually kill for sport. Sorry for your loss. And even if you are sorta close to everything you can still have foxes, coyotes, coons, and things like that.

 

[Debbi]

Sorry to hear this.

Do you have the birds in a run or coop at night? Animals that kill for sport are dogs, weasels, and racoons mostly. With weasels, they don't tear them apart, but bite the neck and drink blood. They can kill a whole flock in one night, leaving bodies everywhere, and they do seem to kill for fun. Racoons will tear a bird apart, but for the most part will only go after a few at most, and part of the bird will be eaten. Sounds most likely it was a dog or dogs. If the chickens are loose at night, you are more than likely going to lose more. Either lock them in a secure coop at night, or at least make a covered, and secure wire run for them. Do NOT use chicken wire! 1/2" hardware cloth and welded wire combo is best. Cover the top of the run too with the welded wire. Predators can climb and dig, and some such as hawks and owls can fly right into a run.