What type of predator could have caused this? :(

[ChickenCanoe]

It is devastating. After dog attacks I'm shaking all day. In a lifetime of keeping chickens and ancestors keeping chickens here since the 1870s, we never had an issue with mink.
A few years ago, mink killed over $3000 of my chickens in less than a week. That was when i learned they could get into a 1" opening.
Understand that we feel your pain.
I once penned up a couple dogs that attacked. Even though they weren't able to kill any chickens then, I called animal control to pick them up. A little while later the AC lady said she found the owner and they would be over to pick them up. I said, "no they won't. You'll come pick them up because I want a record of the event because if they return, they will be shot" She was in shock. I had to educate her that by Missouri statute, dogs worrying livestock can be killed wherever they are found except in a pen on their owner's property. I talked to her supervisor who was familiar with the law and he told her it was true. So the owner got a ticket and had to bail them out. Her dogs haven't been back.
I love dogs too but I get hot under the collar every time I hear about dogs roaming free to do damage at will. That's why most areas have leash laws. Most breeds of dogs, while usually calm, have a high prey drive they can't control. That's just what they do. Even our Pomeranian used to chase the chickens, he just wasn't big or fast enough to catch and do damage. I was just waiting for a rooster to flog him.
Owners just can't believe their beloved, loyal, friendly, canine friends can do so much damage till they see it.

 

[centrarchid]

So sad...thank you for your comment.

In my case not sad. You getting only part of story which does not align with your situation. Focus on your very significant problem.

 

[Xerocles]

Save that hair. If your animal control Office is worth beans, they can tell you what your Predator was, beyond doubt. If not state dept of natural resources or state ag dept can.

 

[shbouton]

Save that hair. If your animal control Office is worth beans, they can tell you what your Predator was, beyond doubt. If not state dept of natural resources or state ag dept can.

Thank you, good advice!

 

[shbouton]

In my case not sad. You getting only part of story which does not align with your situation. Focus on your very significant problem.

You misunderstand... I am sad that this happened to my pets and that dogs are the culprits... I love all animals... It's an unfortunate situation... It had nothing to do with your situation...

 

[Xerocles]

Save that hair. If your animal control Office is worth beans, they can tell you what your Predator was, beyond doubt. If not state dept of natural resources or state ag dept can.

I might add to this. Don't hand them the entire pile of hair. Only a few strands. You probably won't get it back. And you may have to go to multiple agencies before you're through. And if it turns out to be dogs, and you want to press charges, the solicitor might be interested in some of that hair.

 

[shbouton]

It is devastating. After dog attacks I'm shaking all day. In a lifetime of keeping chickens and ancestors keeping chickens here since the 1870s, we never had an issue with mink.
A few years ago, mink killed over $3000 of my chickens in less than a week. That was when i learned they could get into a 1" opening.
Understand that we feel your pain.
I once penned up a couple dogs that attacked. Even though they weren't able to kill any chickens then, I called animal control to pick them up. A little while later the AC lady said she found the owner and they would be over to pick them up. I said, "no they won't. You'll come pick them up because I want a record of the event because if they return, they will be shot" She was in shock. I had to educate her that by Missouri statute, dogs worrying livestock can be killed wherever they are found except in a pen on their owner's property. I talked to her supervisor who was familiar with the law and he told her it was true. So the owner got a ticket and had to bail them out. Her dogs haven't been back.
I love dogs too but I get hot under the collar every time I hear about dogs roaming free to do damage at will. That's why most areas have leash laws. Most breeds of dogs, while usually calm, have a high prey drive they can't control. That's just what they do. Even our Pomeranian used to chase the chickens, he just wasn't big or fast enough to catch and do damage. I was just waiting for a rooster to flog him.
Owners just can't believe their beloved, loyal, friendly, canine friends can do so much damage till they see it.

I'm so sorry about what you've been through, I can't imagine! Wow, you must have a lot of chickens and you certainly have a lot of experience and knowledge about them! I've been spoiled in that I have a Lab that LOVES my chickens and they love him. He's been around them since we first had chicks and I taught him to behave then. He's very gentle in nature anyway. I'm very lucky. They all eat yogurt together in a circle, he hangs around them and is very protective of them when he's outside and that's how I was alerted that something was going on, he raised cain in the middle of the night. If he hears something out there, I let him out and he promptly circles the coops and chases whatever it is off. Except this time, there sat the Husky and the Lab mix. He chased them off too, but it appears now that it was too late. And they don't roam free, but apparently the owner has the Husky in a fenced in back yard and the the Lab mix tied up (he's an energetic two year old and I feel sorry for him being tied up all day, although I have now come to believe he is definitely the culprit.) According to the owner, he chews through his binding, digs under the fence and the Husky just follows. He said his daughter is supposed to be getting a chain. I guess that whole situation needs to be addressed by Animal Control as well, I just hate causing trouble, although I suppose I would still have chickens that were alive had he been able to keep them contained.

 

[shbouton]

I'm so sorry about what you've been through, I can't imagine! Wow, you must have a lot of chickens and you certainly have a lot of experience and knowledge about them! I've been spoiled in that I have a Lab that LOVES my chickens and they love him. He's been around them since we first had chicks and I taught him to behave then. He's very gentle in nature anyway. I'm very lucky. They all eat yogurt together in a circle, he hangs around them and is very protective of them when he's outside and that's how I was alerted that something was going on, he raised cain in the middle of the night. If he hears something out there, I let him out and he promptly circles the coops and chases whatever it is off. Except this time, there sat the Husky and the Lab mix. He chased them off too, but it appears now that it was too late. And they don't roam free, but apparently the owner has the Husky in a fenced in back yard and the the Lab mix tied up (he's an energetic two year old and I feel sorry for him being tied up all day, although I have now come to believe he is definitely the culprit.) According to the owner, he chews through his binding, digs under the fence and the Husky just follows. He said his daughter is supposed to be getting a chain. I guess that whole situation needs to be addressed by Animal Control as well, I just hate causing trouble, although I suppose I would still have chickens that were alive had he been able to keep them contained.

And it appears we have the same leverage in Florida as you do in Missouri. I just found this.

Can I shoot an attacking dog in Florida?
Under Florida law you can shoot a dog if it is causing harm to other animals on your property.May 15, 2017

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm so sorry about what you've been through, I can't imagine! Wow, you must have a lot of chickens and you certainly have a lot of experience and knowledge about them! I've been spoiled in that I have a Lab that LOVES my chickens and they love him. He's been around them since we first had chicks and I taught him to behave then. He's very gentle in nature anyway. I'm very lucky. They all eat yogurt together in a circle, he hangs around them and is very protective of them when he's outside and that's how I was alerted that something was going on, he raised cain in the middle of the night. If he hears something out there, I let him out and he promptly circles the coops and chases whatever it is off. Except this time, there sat the Husky and the Lab mix. He chased them off too, but it appears now that it was too late. And they don't roam free, but apparently the owner has the Husky in a fenced in back yard and the the Lab mix tied up (he's an energetic two year old and I feel sorry for him being tied up all day, although I have now come to believe he is definitely the culprit.) According to the owner, he chews through his binding, digs under the fence and the Husky just follows. He said his daughter is supposed to be getting a chain. I guess that whole situation needs to be addressed by Animal Control as well, I just hate causing trouble, although I suppose I would still have chickens that were alive had he been able to keep them contained.

You are very lucky to have such a dog. It is all about the way they are trained.
My neighbor's husky/malamute crosses were used to being allowed to roam the neighborhood for years. I finally convinced her she needed to keep them at home when she heard the shotgun blast. Her dogs have even come over and stalk me. She has them on log chains and one even broke that chain. Somewhere I have a picture of it stalking me with several links of the log chain hanging from his collar.

I want to add one thing about the difference between domestic dogs, wild canines and vulpines. The former go for prey for fun (unless feral), foxes, coyotes and wolves are doing it for food. They will usually grab an animal and take it away to eat. Foxes won't take multiple birds in a day unless they are feeding a litter of kits. On two occasions, I've witnessed a fox take a chicken in its mouth but I was able to run it off before too much damage was done. In the last few years, I've had 3 roosters taken by a coyote. The roosters gave themselves up to save the flock and all the hens were saved. The coyote only wanted a meal, not to cause mayhem.
Dogs on the other hand will continue to kill all they can catch.

 

[shbouton]

You are very lucky to have such a dog. It is all about the way they are trained.
My neighbor's husky/malamute crosses were used to being allowed to roam the neighborhood for years. I finally convinced her she needed to keep them at home when she heard the shotgun blast. Her dogs have even come over and stalk me. She has them on log chains and one even broke that chain. Somewhere I have a picture of it stalking me with several links of the log chain hanging from his collar.

I want to add one thing about the difference in domestic dogs and volpines and other canines. The former go for prey for fun (unless feral), foxes, coyotes and wolves are doing it for food. They will usually grab an animal and take it away to eat. Foxes won't take multiple birds in a day unless they are feeding a litter of kits. On two occasions, I've witnessed a fox take a chicken in its mouth but I was able to run it off before too much damage was done. In the last few years, I've had 3 roosters taken by a coyote. The roosters gave themselves up to save the flock and all the hens were saved. They coyote only wanted a meal, not to cause mayhem.
Dogs on the other hand will continue to kill all they can catch.

Yes I am. I think he is as devastated about the situation as I am, he keeps going out there to look for them. Good Lord, how frightening!!! Based on what you just said, I am now SURE it was a dog attack...