WHAT IS KILLING MY CHICKENS??

[Ifish]

Do you have a trail camera you could mount by the coop to see if you can get a photo of the critter?

Any bite marks or blood on the pullets?

 

[afre13]

The killings have been different. The first one was taken out and almost totally eaten leaving only a few remains. Others have had there necks broken, others have been slashed apart, and some just disappear all together with no trace

 

[sideWing]

With this new information.... not a weasel.

 

[afre13]

News update: They're all gone... It got the last of them tonight

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Quote:

The killings have been different. The first one was taken out and almost totally eaten leaving only a few remains. Others have had there necks broken, others have been slashed apart, and some just disappear all together with no trace

With this new information.... not a weasel.

Right. Actually sounds like a variety of culprits. raccoon, weasel and fox.

News update: They're all gone... It got the last of them tonight

That's a shame. This will give you time to build a secure yet well ventilated coop before you try again.

 

[Teila]

Howdy afre13

I am so sorry to hear of your loss; how heartbreaking

Please do not give up hope and as ChickenCanoe mentioned, now is the time to plan/build a secure coop for your next try.

However, I just wanted to add, now is also the time to maybe invest in a game-cam as the predators(s) may continue to come back for the next few days until they work out that there is no more chickens.

If you had some idea of what you were dealing with, it would help with the positioning and security required for your new build.

Best wishes and hoping that you get your predator problem sorted.

 

[afre13]

New news update: turns out the last 3 weren't dead.. They somehow got out and I found them in my boat this morning as I was preparing for a fishing trip (imagine my surprise) and also I trapped a raccoon beside the coop so it looks at though I've found the culprit. Thank you all so much for your help with all of this.

 

[sideWing]

Glad you found your girls and that danged racoon.

 

[afre13]

Looks like I'll be having a new hat

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If there is one, there are many more. If there are none, there soon will be some.
And sometimes there are many different predators afoot at the same time.
It's truly amazing what prowls at night.