What did this?

[deepvalleyfarm]

Something attacked my Beltsville Whites b/t 7 am & 8 am the morning. Reached through the pen & ate my tom alive. I think it must have been more than one b/c all but 1 of my 6 turkeys have wounds... The tracks are paw prints, but don't appear pointed like a raccoon's, as far as I can tell. What did this & how can I get my revenge? I've already set box traps on the perimeter of the cage.

2ndly, all but 1 hen have wounds. They look pretty gruesome. Should I put them down, wait it out, or is there something I can do for them?

Sorry, the picture isn't better...

 

[Amy S]

Oh my god, that poor guy! I am so sorry to hear about this!

So nothing actually "got in" with all of the other injured flock, just attacked from the outside of your pen? I can't imagine one animal being able to get lucky enough to injure everyone from outside fence. I've seen videos where coyotes work in packs...one will pounce to scare birds to one side in order for the second to grab scared birds against the fence.

I'm new to all of this. I hope someone can give you the answers you need about your injured flock. They are very knowledgable around here.

 

[nthehunt]

can you post pics of tracks? That's the best way to determine what did this with out seeing the animal

 

[deepvalleyfarm]

Here's a picture of the tracks...

Nope, all my devastation was done from outside the pen! I know raccoons will do the same: 1 to scare & 1 to trap. I think the hen that escaped injury made it back into the house & away from "the attack'. Wish the others had been that smart/lucky. I had just put these into this enclosure, so i think their unfamiliarity with the pen might have worked in my predator's favor. I was a little surprised this happened in broad daylight too. My husband had just checked them @ 7am & all was clear, by 8 am when I left, the damage was done. I'm upset I didn't hear anything either. The house isn't that far away, i guess getting myself & 2 babies ready had all my focus ...It's personal now, so I WANT to catch it!!

 

[nthehunt]

that's a lot of foot traffic, looks like fox tracks

 

[Amy S]

So, could have been double teaming or one ******, determined fox.

 

[nthehunt]

tis the season for young critters, fattening up for thier upcoming babies

 

[Gallus Sapien]

Post pics with a quarter or something to show size. This would help...

 

[nthehunt]

I was judging the track size by the openings in the chain link, I think its def canine, to pointed for dog, not big enough for coyote

 

[Gallus Sapien]

Your poll is saying coon............................................................ NOPE! Can you see nail/claw prints? ROUND PRINTS= Cat or Canine. NAILS= canine. Pointed in=wild, pointed out = dog. No claws= cat. Small tracks that look like a cat might be a large mink. Take some more pics. Whatever it is; it is NOT a coon....or else you would see it's heal!