What killed my Hens?!?

[claireyvonne14]

Hey all, first time positing here and mystified by a hen attack.

I am away but my Aunt is looking after my hens. We’re completley baffled - we had a range of 5 healthy layers, black rock, bantams, normal hens all living in a great coop and a large run.

Never had a problem with rodents/foxes etc and had them 3yrs.


Sadly she went out this morning to find 3 holes tunnelled up from the ground into the coop and then hens pulled into the holes. Whatever the predator was gave up due to the weight of our hens, one banty was nearly taken completley.

There were scattered feathers in the run however the chickens themselves had been dragged and attempted to be taken away down this holes.

At first we thought rats but then were told stoats or weasels - were mystified what to do next and gutted this has happened so randomly. We can’t believe stoats and weasels could be in our garden!

We’re backyard farmers, live in a residential estate in north England, UK - there are fields close by with deer, fox, badgers etc however I know this wasn’t a fox attack as have sadly dealt with this before.

Any advice/thoughts/thinking would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Claire

 

[HuskerHens18]

What about Skunks? Ive got a skunk who dug holes under my chicken house, but he can't get in my solid floor coop thankfully.

 

[claireyvonne14]

Do you get skunks in England?!

 

[CCUK]

Hi. I'm sorry that this happened to your hens. I would say it was probably a weasel or stoat. We had some hens killed by them some years ago. It was the same in that they were dragged partially down a hole. All you can really do is up your defences. Try burying some wire mesh into the ground and all around the fenceline. They can still climb so you may need to have an enclosed run. You can try trapping it. But another may just take its place. I'm sorry this happened especially where you are. You have to expect the unexpected sometimes. And welcome to BYC. I wish it was under better circumstances.

 

[CCUK]

Do you get skunks in England?!

No!

 

[claireyvonne14]

Hi. I'm sorry that this happened to your hens. I would say it was probably a weasel or stoat. We had some hens killed by them some years ago. It was the same in that they were dragged partially down a hole. All you can really do is up your defences. Try burying some wire mesh into the ground and all around the fenceline. They can still climb so you may need to have an enclosed run. You can try trapping it. But another may just take its place. I'm sorry this happened especially where you are. You have to expect the unexpected sometimes. And welcome to BYC. I wish it was under better circumstances.

Thanks for your message, we have been working more on a weasel as the predator, it’s like something out of a horror film what happens. Thanks for the welcome and your words - so very sad - a new plan to hatch to get rid and deter! Thanks again!

 

[claireyvonne14]

No!

I thought you didn’t, ha! I was doubting myself though!

 

[MyChickenShack]

in WV, I have dealt with foxes, skunks, weasels, raccoons, and possums, and even our own dog. thankfully only minimally. This link is a good article on what critter to suspect did the damage based on the signs left. We used to let our chickens come and go as they pleased, never locking the coop door. We, too, never had a problem for years. Then all of the sudden, we began having all sorts of issues and eventually our flock was wiped out. After a few years, we have started again, with a new fully secure coop that gets locked every night. https://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/poultry/chicken-coops-housing/what-killed-my-chicken/