What the heck happened to my chickens?

[jjredpower]

I had 46 chickens they were all out in the yard. 1 dog(known chicken killer) was placed on the chain, 1 dog ( non chicken killer) was loose. I was home next to window reading, heard chicken noice went outside to find 4 dead chickens without a scratch on them. One was kinda flopping around not even dead completely. 4 other chickens completely gone never seen again. Rest of the chickens were hiding in pasture on top of hay ect. And slowly came back....what do you think happened??? Im not sure if my non chained dog was involved she came running from pasture when i came out hollaring...what kills but doesn't eat or damage????

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Dog is your most likely culprit - they kill and leave it because once it's dead it's no fun so they move on to the next living bird and lather/rinse/repeat. The crushing power of a dog's jaws enable them to do all sorts of internal damage without leaving visible marks on the outside of the bird.

 

[northeastDad]

I have had fox do that to my chickens . They will eat up and take what they can . Hurt other chicks in the commotion.

 

[thisjed]

Sounds like a coyote or fox. They will take chickens with little to no evidence left behind. They both typically hunt alone though - especially a fox - coyotes team up at times but generally for larger prey. So, if you're missing four, it was likely from a couple attacks over a short period of time.

Check for puncture wounds to the back and neck of the one left - tell tale signs of a coyote or fox.

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[jjredpower]

I searched the 4 i found dead and there was no damage, no blood no feathers out of place nothing!!!! Do they just get scared to death and die? 4 laying in different places in the yard dead and 4 just gone.. i dont know if the other 4 just ran off and never came back or were taken hostage, because it took hours for the rest of the flock to come back one by one...they were hiding good because i couldnt find them...

 

[jjredpower]

And thank you for your condolences. Im always upset and feel like its my fault not keeping them safe and of course its akways my favorite most beautiful birds..we have tons of coyotes but our dogs usually keeo them away and this happened on a sunny day at 320 in the afternoon...Probably was my non-chicken killer dog.....ugh..

 

[drumstick diva]

Did you find any blood/feathers on your dog? Did any of the dead birds have "dog slobber," on them? So sorry for your loss. It's always worse when you can't figure out what happened.

 

[jjredpower]

No,thanks for the suggestions but i didn't find of of that either.