We lost 10 and 8 more were injured. What did this?

[barbararose]

I too, am so sorry. We have a small flock of 9 hens, live smack in the middle of a fairly large city and had this happen to us 2 weeks ago. We lost one hen and the other was ripped up like you described. I have put out a trap and since have caught a raccoon, a possum and a cat. This also happen during daylight hours. We are going thru a very dry period, hot and no rain in site. Everyone tells me here that the predators are being driven in to find water and food sources. Our neighbor has gone out to his yard to find a group of raccoons washing and dipping in his pool. I too am at the point of losing it. I hope you don't experience anything like this again. Barbara:

 

[chickenranchwife]

I am so sorry for your loss, know what you are going through. I think you're right on the coyote or fox thinking. We have soo many this year that I am thinking the same has happened here. I am thinking there are too many dead for a coon. SO Sorry :aww Good luck with the rest of them, try getting some traps set around your place to catch the critters.

 

[birdnutz]

Isn't this about the right time of year for coyotes and foxes to be teaching the young to hunt? Could that be what happened?

 

[jessupfamily]

It sounds like a fox to me. We had almost the same situation happen to us. We came home right at dusky/dark time and went out to shut the coop door and our field was covered in bodies. We had 5 very shook up chickens left and 6 missing chickens. We were standing by the fence distraught and of course I'm weeping telling my husband I wanted to kill whatever did this. Right in front of us a fox came through the horse fence and grab another hen and took off! So my husband got his gun and cleaned up most of the are and left a couple dead roosters out. He got behind our backyard fence and staked the fox out. It came back again! The horses were right behind it being curious so my husband did not attempt to shot. It got away and did not come back that night. However it came back the next night and dug up one of the hens we had buried. Our neighbor followed it through his field and found where it's den was. SHE had pups in the den in the woods about 25-30 acres away from us. We could have trapped her but I really couldn't because she was just trying to be a mama the way I am.

So we got goats!
Amy J.

 

[nccountrygirl]

I agree that it was probably dogs. We had 2 litters of kittens in the spring, during the night some dogs came into our yard, tore the lattice from under the building my DH does carpentry in, knocked over our big gas grill and killed all of the kittens, the only thing they left in their wake was a bunch of dead babies. Next time it's shoot to kill

 

[Illinois_ Kelly]

Just an update for you all:

The missing rooster and 2 of the missing hens showed up this morning. They appear to be unharmed. I cried when I saw them working around the backyard appearing as if nothing happened. On a sadder note, we had 3 of the injured hens die through the night. We are continuing to watch 1 injured rooster and 4 injured hens that don't look so well.

After we walked our property in the daylight with a neighbor who also has chickens, I agree... I think it's at least one if not more dogs. By the way they appear to be "hunted" for sport rather than food, I'm guessing some sort of bird dog. Especially given they're all accounted for now minus 1. I'm going to talk to the few neighbors that I have and see if maybe someone visiting had a dog or perhaps they got a bird dog as a new addition to their family, one that perhaps I just wasn't aware of yet. I hate to put down someone's dog but I'm going to protect my babies. I figure my 22 should level the playing field some, so my Smith & Wesson and I are going to wait for whatever it was to return. With 15 shots in the clip and a pretty good eye, I have no worries that "it" and I will soon resolve this issue once and for all.

Thank you for your kind words and all the helpful information you provided. I'll keep you all posted.

 

[seminolewind]

So sorry for your loss. I would have to say it was a pack of dogs to do that much destruction in such a short amount of time. I think if it was fox or coyote they would catch one apiece for food. I would call your animal control, and see if others have spotted a pack of dogs. Karen

 

[chickenman7]

sorry about your chickens the same thing has happened to me but whatever it is it stays away from our chickens.It killed all of our geneas

 

[PeiTheCelt]

Oh I am so sorry for your loss..

 

[jenichick]

I am sorry you lost your chicks! Nobody hit me, but......from what I've read on here.....it's almost inevitable that if you leave them out for any period time, at some point, somethings going to get to them. Heck, even BEARS will come into our secure runs and wreak havoc on our birds!! It's just a matter of time and odds. Sad!