What took my chickens?

[hayley3]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I checked my 3 remaining chickens and all of them are injured in some way, hunks of feathers pulled out and one has a gash on her back. Two appear to still be in shock....just sitting there with their head down.

I spent the morning searching for a video surveillance system and bought this one cause it also has audio. I'm afraid to leave my goose out now unless I can hear what's going on outside. When I'm at work, she'll be in a chain link fence so will be safe unless of course she gets scared and flies out.

However the next time I WILL know what went on for sure. This is what I bought...hopefully it will work as advertised. http://www.amazon.com/Amcrest-WLD89...e=UTF8&qid=1447094691&sr=1-7&keywords=amcrest
But I will love having audio and a visual in the barn at all times...I can even check when I'm at work and it records all activity on an SD card. I checked to make sure I get a wireless signal in my barn.

It's raining today so no dogs though. @organicwife...I appreciate your help....really!


Cheryl

 

[qtrhorsegirl1]

I recently lost all my chickens to a dog that I trusted for 5 years, My pride and joy Rocky (Rooster) several hens I had for 8 years and 5 beautiful hens I recently purchased. I'm devastated I know the pain you are going through. He just systematically killed one right after the other. My husband put the dog down. My thoughts are with you.

 

[hayley3]

@qtrhorsegirl1 I had a little white silky rooster, named Reuben. He won a Grand Champion ribbon at the 4H fair. He was so timid and that is the hard part, knowing they were so scared. But only you guys know how I feel, so that's why I'm here crying as I type, wanting revenge. Hugs for you too on losing your girls. I know I will miss that happy hen chatter every morning that 8 hens made.

 

[DigMyChicks]

I'm not letting them out anytime soon...they feel safe in their stall and they deserve that after what they went through.

I live in the middle of nowhere so I have to buy on Amazon or Walmart.

I took my small yorkie outside on a leash and we walked the perimeter of the fencing and she peed so I'm hoping that will let the fox have second thoughts about coming inside. I do let my goose roam freely unless I'm gone and she will let me know if she sees anything. I'm off work two days so can watch for the fox/coyote to come back. I'm pretty sure it's a fox now. Sadly now that I can see the carnage, some of the chickens flew out of the pasture but the fox still got them.

I have a 30x40 barn and the fox chased them all over the inside of the barn, because feathers are everywhere. So whatever it was had to be small to move back and forth between the slats. Sadly the chickens had plenty of places to fly up and be safe but they didn't do that because they panicked.

Thanks for listening. Only bird lovers can understand the grief I have for my chickens who I loved. I had my girls for 5 years so they had a good life out in the sunshine.


Cheryl

Hi... sorry for your loss!! I had a hawk attack a week ago. I come around the corner of my house to check on my girls as I do often and a hawk was attacking my favorite girl. I yelled and screamed and thank goodness the dog come running and headed that way and the hawk dropped her. She lost lots of feathers and had a wound on her back but she'll be ok...it took us about an hour to find the rest of the girls as they were terrified. They only get let out a couple hours a day now and they are very unhappy....again I'm sorry for your loss as I can see how much they meant to you!

 

[hayley3]

OMG...we have a lot of hawks and I considered them at first but ruled them out. It's good you got there in time. I saw a hawk take a rabbit once, I screamed and screamed running after them but it did no good. I was so sad for that bunny.

 

[chickmomma03]

coyotes definitely will come out during the day. I have heard them around this area in broad daylight and it concerns me. I've predator proofed my coop and run and had to go back over. I still have things in mind to do because I'm always worrying about if it's enough. I hope you sort through it and sorry for your loss