What's killing my chickens?

[Acre4Me]

Sorry for your losses. Anytime you free range, your flock is at risk of being attacked, so hopefully you can figure out the culprit.

If you decide to trap the animal, you should be willing to end it’s life. It is usually illegal in most places to release animals elsewhere. In addition, relocating an animal often means it will die bc it is now in another animal’s territory or has no means to adequately support itself (new territory to learn). If you are not willing to end its life, don't trap. Instead figure out other means to deter the predator(s) while allowing them to live in their territory. So, electric fence, or supervised/limited free range time, secure run, etc are all options besides trapping the predator.

 

[Chicken Hut]

I've lost my chickens and ducks (free range during day, cooped up at night) to coyotes, loose dogs, red-tailed hawks, and eagles. The roaming dogs and coyotes tend to kill in swarms. Dogs have left a mess while the coyotes will carry off one and then come back for the others. July and August are the months I have the most problems with coyotes. Mother coyotes come down into our valley to hunt. They get pretty bold. I've caught one stalking the chickens in our front yard, despite our three vocal dogs fenced in our back yard. I've had an eagle swoop down and pick up a chicken during mid-day. Fortunately, they are on the move and don't do multiple hunts. I only know of this happening once... We have some Great Horned Owls that live here along the river, but because the chickens are locked up at sunset, we don't have problems with owls.