What killed my chickens?

[aiden123]

Today I went back to see my chickens. We had 15 chickens. We noticed the gate to the yard was blown open with the storm and went to investigate. Four chickens were dead just inside the gate, there was six more dead in the coup and two missing. Three of our smallest chickens were still alive. Two chickens were missing their heads and the others had bite marks on their necks and heads. There was very few feathers in the yard but there was a lot inside the coup. They have been in the yard for a year and this has never happened before. Does anyone know what animal would have killed them and is making sure the gate is closed in future, enough to prevent it happening again?

 

[KingD]

Today I went back to see my chickens. We had 15 chickens. We noticed the gate to the yard was blown open with the storm and went to investigate. Four chickens were dead just inside the gate, there was six more dead in the coup and two missing. Three of our smallest chickens were still alive. Two chickens were missing their heads and the others had bite marks on their necks and heads. There was very few feathers in the yard but there was a lot inside the coup. They have been in the yard for a year and this has never happened before. Does anyone know what animal would have killed them and is making sure the gate is closed in future, enough to prevent it happening again?

Where do you live?
Sounds like a dog attack
Fox, coyote or stray pet.

 

[aiden123]

Where do you live?
Sounds like a dog attack
Fox, coyote or stray pet.

We live in the west or Ireland. The chickens are usually locked in their coop at night but not last night unfortunately. They are free range during the day.

 

[KingD]

We live in the west or Ireland. The chickens are usually locked in their coop at night but not last night unfortunately. They are free range during the day.

UK?
Yeh it would have been a fox then unfortunately.
Foxes will often kill a lot of hens but only take 1 away with them.

 

[aiden123]

UK?
Yeh it would have been a fox then unfortunately.
Foxes will often kill a lot of hens but only take 1 away with them.

No we live in the republic of Ireland.

Thank you very much. That is what we assumed.

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

I agree with the statements above, it was either a fox or a dog. Any stray or dogs running loose in your neighborhood? I would set up a fox trap asap, it will be back for those last two birds no doubt.

 

[KingD]

Just prevent it from happening again. Foxes will always return as they know there is an easy meal waiting for them.
I personally wouldn't recommend trapping them because you have to dispatch them once they're caught Or release them elsewhere

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

Just prevent it from happening again. Foxes will always return as they know there is an easy meal waiting for them.
I personally wouldn't recommend trapping them because you have to dispatch them once they're caught Or release them elsewhere

If a fox killed *ten* of my birds I wouldn't hesitate to dispatch it. In fact, I would hunt the sucker down just to dispatch it. But that's just me.
Edited to say *ten*

 

[KingD]

If a fox killed eight of my birds I wouldn't hesitate to dispatch it. In fact, I would hunt the sucker down just to dispatch it. But that's just me.

As the OP is from Ireland, I very much doubt they own a gun powerful enough to kill a fox. Gun laws are very different to US.

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

As the OP is from Ireland, I very much doubt they own a gun powerful enough to kill a fox. Gun laws are very different to US.

You know, I think I will take advice from the others and put you on ignore.