WHAT killed my chickens???

[bockbock3043]

@Bockbock3043... I'm really sorry. We all make mistakes so don't beat yourself up. It's not like you did it on purpose and didn't care. We have to learn from our mistakes and move on. It's the people who don't learn from their mistakes that have the problem. Sending you a hug.

Thank you and yes we all learn from our mistakes. Xxx from Florida.

 

[Reurra]

Its very likely a raccoon. They have hands, and if the chicks were trying to escape and he was having issues with the rooster, his efforts to hold on the thie chicks could have resulted in their being squeezed. Also, foxes and other predators are attracted by the sounds of distress. It could be that it was a double attack, one from a coon, then a scavenger may have taken a few others. Your rooster may have been taken by the coon, they are fierce predators and have been known to kill dogs twice their size. If anyone ever finds a live coon in the coop, they should never ever ever confront it. If cornered, they can become very dangerous. Same with opossums.

When I started having chickens, I read this site up and down, back and forth, all about predators. I have had no attacks and I live with hawks, weasels, fishers, coons, coyotes, foxes, and even had an eagle land on the top of the coop when i first built it. My coop has 2 types of runs, one for when Im gone, which is heavily wired, and one that is less so, for when i am home and in the yard. But despite my precautions, I am very aware that at any point a snake, coon, rat or any other predator could easily get in and cause all kinds of damage. Wire only is a mild deterrent. If something really wants in, its going to get in. However, the more astute you are in your precautions, the less likely this will occur again.

My poor girls never free range unless Im around to watch them constantly. I keep a very close eye on them and walk with them when they are outside the coop, but if Im not around, they go back into the coop.

Im very sorry for your loss. Whatever did this needs to be trapped before it gets the idea that your yard is a buffet. Call your local Taxidermist, they can give you the names of trappers, or call Fish and Game and let them know you have a problem animal. Perhaps they can help you identify, capture and destroy the culprit.

 

[moonflower17]

Found my little bantam Ruby on top of the coop with her head missing. I don't know what killed her but I suspect she flew into a tree and maybe it was a raccoon. I know they're out there, because when it snowed there were raccoon tracks everywhere. Raccoons are everywhere, anyway. I am really sad about losing her. She was a sweet hen, a tad antisocial with the others, and shy. She's been my best layer for the past few months. So now I have three chickens, the legal limit for the city. Bantams fly. That's the problem. I clipped the wings off one of them (as per the chicken book - 3 wings 1/4 cut off at night) because Josie was flying out of the yard. Now I'm wondering if it'd be safer to clip all their wings so they never flew into trees at all. (Except for Emmy Lou my Silkie - she doesn't fly.) On the other hand maybe it could save them if they could fly off from a predator... Just don't know.

RIP Ruby

 

[The Lazy L]

WHAT killed my chickens???

An Owner that didn't provide a safe environment for the chickens.

 

[moonflower17]

WHAT killed my chickens???

An Owner that didn't provide a safe environment for the chickens.

With all due respect, Mr L, your comment is not particularly helpful.
Perhaps you would care to enlighten us on what exactly would provide a safe environment for chickens.

 

[bockbock3043]

WHAT killed my chickens???

An Owner that didn't provide a safe environment for the chickens.

that wasn't very nice.

 

[Belott]

Nice or not, it was the truth!! In my opinion more of that is needed here. Too many people don't build their coop to be secure and then come to this forum crying cause something ate their "babies"!!!
Predators are just doing what comes natural to them. Your responsibility to protect your livestock. JMHO

David

 

[moonflower17]

Florida and Texas - that explains a lot.

I have a perfectly secure coop. I also let my hens free-range. I take good care of them and enjoy them. They are my pets. I love them. But... there are chicken predators.

True, I'm not a farmer. Nor is lazy L a farmer. I'm sure he doesn't free-range his chickens, and he probably eats them.

edited by staff

 

[GingerCW]

My heart totally goes out to you! I to am attached to my chickens. My flock has been decimated by a predator. I've lost 12 chickens in 2 days. They free range during the day. No sign of anything except for a few feathers of one chicken and 1 carcass of another. I'm absolutely devastated. I think it is a hawk since it happened during the day. Someone suggested I put up reflective ribbons around my coop, another suggested a goose or peacock as a good watch dog for chickens. I'm thinking about a scare crow or an emu Any suggestions?

 

[The Lazy L]

With all due respect, Mr L, your comment is not particularly helpful.
Perhaps you would care to enlighten us on what exactly would provide a safe environment for chickens.

A secured coop utilizing 1/2" hardware cloth.





And a secured run again utilizing 1/2" hardware cloth.