We live in the Pacific Northwest, NW corner of WA state to be exact. We have lost 4 chickens in the past 2 weeks. The only thing left is a few feathers, if that. The first time I didnt notice until the next day (no feathers left behind), the 2nd time our mini doxie was in his outside kennel & witnessed it, but never made a sound, dumb dog!! I stopped letting the chickens out to free range for a while. I let them out Wednesday when I got home from work. I was inside cleaning the bathroom and lost track of time, around 8pm (same time every attack has been) I hear a commotion outside, I looked out the window only to see 28 hens in panic mode & our roo hiding in the run (lot of good he is). I was trying to see past the row of trees and in the process saw a quick flash of yellow race across the yard. The creature was too fast, and the trees were blocking so I couldnt see WHAT it was, but I thought it had one of our Buff Orpingtons. I went running outside like a crazy lady to save my chickens, but both our BO's were out there and the trail of feathers were from a barred rock. Now I am totally stumped. Whatever it was came out of the corn field, grabbed a hen, and ran back into the corn field. The dirt is too hard packed to leave tracks, trust me, I checked! I know there is at least one cougar that lives around the quarry just a mile down the road, but I really dont want to believe thats what has been visiting, being that we have 3 small children. The more I think about it, the more I think it might be a possibility. It was the wrong color for a coyote, its attacks dont fit the "profile" of a dog attack. I am stumped! Nothing has been coming back at night and trying to get through the run fence or into the coop. I told hubby that I am letting the chickens out tonight and him & his rifle get to hide on the back porch and wait. He is not so thrilled about it!
What do you guys think, would a cougar come and pick of chickens one at a time? Around the same time every evening?
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