What took 9 chickens during the day?

[vicki]

My friend lost 9 chickens yesterday. They dissapeared with some feathers strewn about. One came back with a 3-4" oval area of skin missing below it's wing. She lives at the end of a cul-de-sac backed by state forest. What could have taken 9 chickens? Also, she just added roosters to her flock and there is a lot more noise. She wandered if this is attracting a preditor. Any input is appreciated.

 

[ivan3]

Well, that's a common fox M.O. Doubtful the roos called whatever it was in, probably coincidence. Does she let them free range?

 

[arlee453]

Dog or fox or other canine (coyote)

 

[vicki]

Thankyou for your replies. They found the carcusses in the woods. We think it had to be a pack of something to take 9 at once. We're afraid to let our chix free range now.

 

[bluey]

Chances are it was a dog. A fox tends to bury it's kills for food later whereas a dog doesn't kill for food usually...

sorry.....

 

[ivan3]

Were the bodies all located in a fairly well defined area, pretty much all together within fifteen ft., or so?

If so, the pred was likely a fox; they usually `cache'/eat at a `safe' location. They will sometimes bury their prey under leaves or, in winter, snow.

If the bodies were spread out and dismembered and uneaten (chewed a bit), then dogs?

Foxes will work in tandem (pair) and can remove thirteen chooks from a yard in fifteen minutes and leave nothing but a few feathers (neighbor's SLW pullets last summer - I found the caches - two distinct areas under a couple of cedars and could count the chooks taken by the piles of nothing but feathers - and, later, the foxes).

Keep `em safe and good luck!