What would do this?

[KYGramma]

I lost 10 pullets and a Big rooster in one night. My fault . I usually lock them all up at night but we had been on vacation so I had to leave their pens open because I didnt have someone to come over twice a day to let them out and lock them up at night. Well everything was fine while we were gone and after we got back, I thought they are good and didn't lock them up one night. Came out the next day and the pen that had my newest pullets just getting ready to start laying and their rooster buddy all laying dead in the yard. All with in about a 12 foot circle and not a mark on any of them that I could see except a drop or two of blood on one of the white brahmas. I was thinking weasel at first......but don't hey eat them? I'm not sure. Any ideas? Haven seen anything since. They are all now locked up at night but some are in chain link (they can roost up high though) and I know weasels can get through that. Any ideas?

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Killed but not consumed, with no external injuries sounds like a dog to me.

 

[KYGramma]

I don't think a dog could get in maybe though. it would have to either go over a 6 ft fence on one side or two fences the other way.....possible. I have heard ALOT of coyotes VERY close!

 

[123RedBeard]

A coyote would take a few with it ... a dog usually just "plays with the squeaky toy" until it stops squeaking ...

Did you hear anything ...

A weasel will pretty much not eat very much, likes drinking the blood though ... and are too small to drag them off ...

 

[KYGramma]

I did find a small pile of feathers on the other side of the yard that told me something might have dragged one off...
Didn't hear anything but wouldn't be able to....

 

[123RedBeard]

Basic math should be able to determine if your actually missing one, or more ...

Still sounds like a dog to me ... retrievers tend to like to pile stuff in an area ... and neighbors have retrievers? Or any strays running around?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

A dog normally makes a mell of a hess of a chicken. Shaking it, tossing it, chewing on it like a toy,and so on. Also with predation from a dog on live mobile chickens there will be feathers, and wee fragments of chickens strewn all over Hades and half of Texas.

Here is a good example of a dog shaking something while play killing it.

BTW this isn't my Shiba Inu, although I have one like it. A very serious dog and one that wouldn't back down from a grizzly bear.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

I would think a fox. Theyre very territorial and can kill for fun. Similar to a dog attack. Make sure you reinforce your coop so nothing can dig under. Im very sorry for your loss

 

[Northern.Ontario]

Most likely a fox. And it may have just happened an hour or 2 before you discovered the carnage. As the fox was just starting to haul away each body to hide for later.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I am so sorry. Bear hugs!!!!