What predator could have killed my chickens?

[jayewallace]

this afternoon some time between 2:30 and 4:00 pm something ran through and managed to kill 2 of my hens and my guinea. There were not taken though. 2 of them had large bite marks, chunks missing, and one ripped open with intestines out. 2 more of my hens are missing. They were spread out with feathers everywhere and the 3 dead birds spread out between 250 feet distance. The feathers of my 2 missing hens are also everywhere. What would cause this much damage over such a distance and leave 3 of the 5 dead birds behind?? We have had chickens for 3 years and only recently (about 3 months ago) had our first attack where 2 were missing and 1 dead guinea that was scratched. But this seemed much different and more violent than that attack. So very upsetting. And I was home and didn’t hear anything!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

this afternoon some time between 2:30 and 4:00 pm something ran through and managed to kill 2 of my hens and my guinea. There were not taken though. 2 of them had large bite marks, chunks missing, and one ripped open with intestines out. 2 more of my hens are missing. They were spread out with feathers everywhere and the 3 dead birds spread out between 250 feet distance. The feathers of my 2 missing hens are also everywhere. What would cause this much damage over such a distance and leave 3 of the 5 dead birds behind?? We have had chickens for 3 years and only recently (about 3 months ago) had our first attack where 2 were missing and 1 dead guinea that was scratched. But this seemed much different and more violent than that attack. So very upsetting. And I was home and didn’t hear anything!

I will guess a domesticated K9. Dogs tend to treat chickens like feathered chew toys and sling or fling chicken fingers and nuggets all over the neighborhood.

 

[imnukensc]

Sounds like dogs to me, too.

 

[Trish1974]

Agree with the others.

 

[jayewallace]

Sounds like dogs to me, too.

So strange. We are on 7 acres...in a small neighborhood of large lots and I only know of one neighbor who has a dog but it is never out. We are surrounded by woods. I’ve seen a few raccoons on our property and an opossum but never anything else. It was just such a brutal scene and spread out over such an area. So much damage to the 3 dead birds that were left and god knows what happened to the poor 2 hens that are missing. So many feathers everywhere. I had 6 hens, a rooster and a guinea this morning and now I only have 2 hens and a rooster.

 

[Rick M]

Sorry for your loss, I havent had any dogs get to my girls but it does sound like what a dog would do from what I've seen with other animals. My losses have all be from hawks and have been singles. Welcome to BYC, I wish it would of been under better circumstances.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Yep...I’d say dog too. So sorry for your loss. Must of been just gut renching. Gotta figure out how it got in. Dogs will come back so be aware.
Again SO sorry.

 

[CJC787]

So strange. We are on 7 acres...in a small neighborhood of large lots and I only know of one neighbor who has a dog but it is never out. We are surrounded by woods. I’ve seen a few raccoons on our property and an opossum but never anything else. It was just such a brutal scene and spread out over such an area. So much damage to the 3 dead birds that were left and god knows what happened to the poor 2 hens that are missing. So many feathers everywhere. I had 6 hens, a rooster and a guinea this morning and now I only have 2 hens and a rooster.

Have you thought about foxes? We've previously had many chicken taken away by foxes.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Predators that come for a meal usually take it or parts or eat and run. Coons & possome usually decapitate.
Dogs just bite and throw maybe shaking one by the gut or back.

 

[WthrLady]

fox.
They kill as fast as they can, then take when they get the chance. Likely you interrupted the spree.

sorry for your loss