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What is killing my chickens!?!?!? Please help

Discussion in 'Predators and Pests' started by Rolison, Jan 11, 2013.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jan 11, 2013 #1
    Rolison

    Rolison Out Of The Brooder

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    Apr 26, 2012
    A couple days ago I got home,a board from my run was pulled out of place and all my chickens were out. As I was catching them all I found one dead under a tree. Her neck was all chewed up and her chest was ripped open. There were feathers everywhere and no blood. For the most part she was intact. I fixed the run and put my chickens back in the coop. A couple days later I came home to another chicken in the same condition this time inside the fully inclosed run. She was ok this morning befor school and it must be something small that can fit threw holes in the fencing or something with wings. What can I do to get rid of whatever this is. Thank you
     
  3. Jan 11, 2013 #2
    patvetzal

    patvetzal Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Aug 12, 2008
    Bancroft, Ontario
    A weasel will get thru a pretty small hole, but won't pull boards off. A raccoon WILL pull off boards OR go over the top.
     
  5. Jan 11, 2013 #3
    DayOldChicksNY

    DayOldChicksNY Out Of The Brooder

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    Jan 11, 2013
    New York
    What Killed Your Chicken?


    Dog: Several birds killed; mauled but not eaten

    Mink or Weasel: Several birds killed; lots of small bites on body, bodies neatly piled, some heads eaten

    Raccoon: Several birds killed; heads and crops eaten

    Opossum: One or two birds killed; mauled, abdomen eaten

    Hawk: One bird killed; head eaten

    Humans: Several birds disappeared, no trace

    Raccoon: Missing limbs, birds inside fence

    Fox: One or more birds dead / missing; no more than one removed; pile of feathers; those not removed with broken necks, clumps of feathers taken from neck

    Skunk: Chicks killed; abdomen eaten, lingering smell
     
    1 person likes this.
  7. Jan 11, 2013 #4
    LukensFarms

    LukensFarms Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Jan 5, 2013
    Fort Collins, CO
    Sounds like a raccoon. Try getting a radio and playing it out there. That will work for awhile. They hear voices they stay away.
     
  9. Jan 12, 2013 #5
    redsoxs

    redsoxs Chicken Obsessed

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    Jul 17, 2011
    North Central Kansas
    Not sure how/if weasels will venture into traps - live traps or leg-holds - but I would sure try trapping whatever it is. If it think your place is his local KFC, he'll be back. Good luck to you!
     
  11. Jan 13, 2013 #6
    Davlyn

    Davlyn Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Feb 6, 2010
    Pike , NH
    I have done this in our old barn to keep skunks away. seems to work. I am now having an issue with a weasel, seemed to have gone from my neighbors coop on Tuesday to my place on Wed & I now have 9 dead hens & 2 were killed during the day & DH saw it trying to pull 1 into its hole, under 1 of the coops & it has now moved to under another coop. so far it has not taken fresh meat in the trap. I have liver & chicken.
     
  13. Jan 15, 2013 #7
    ChickN'ChaseR

    ChickN'ChaseR Out Of The Brooder

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    Jun 10, 2011
    Neighbors hen was found missing her head, back stripped of skin and feathers, and neck ripped open...we live in Northern Ca., they say they smelled a skunk a few days ago, we also have a creek nearby, and have Hawks, Coyotes, Owls and of course household dogs, also we are in a rural area. They brought their hen over and asked what could be the murderer, so I offered to ask the experts. :)
     

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