New Predator

[Tormund]

We have had 4 chickens attacked in the last 6 weeks and 2 killed. Our hens are kept in a coop at night and let out once the sun comes up. Something is going after hens early in the morning between sunup and 7:30 AM. The 2 hens that were killed had their heads removed and the innards were eaten out through the neck area and the gizzard heart liver and lungs are gone but the meat was largely left intact. From what I can tell of the location of the feathers the hen was attacked in the coop and got away there are 2 other spots in the ward where large groups of feathers on the ground before the final place where it was killed. The feathers there have blood on them which is lacking in the other places which is what makes me think it was killed there.

Our rooster tried intervening and for his trouble lost a big tuff of feathers at the base of his left wing and has 2 puncture marks above in in from the lower edge of the wing. He got some licks in it seems, one of his spurs and his beak have fresh blood on them. We cleaned him up and put some betadine on the puncture wounds are going to keep him inside until he gets his strength back. Our roosters are both extremely protective over the flock when it comes to anyone but me and my mom who also takes care of them.

As far as predators in the area We have Hawks (breeding pair of adult red-tailed Hawks and 3 juvenile hawks), owls Foxes, Racoons, Possums, Coyotes, and Cats. Coyotes and Fox would be incapable of getting through the fence and the after-sunrise attacks rules out possums. I'm thinking cat or racoon because whatever it is, is going into the coop after the chickens are let out in the morning. We dealt with cat attacks in the past which ended when our dog and rooster ganged up and killed a cat and mauled another one. Anyone have any experience with something like this?

 

[nuthatched]

Spends like coons.
It's apparent you need wait to let them out until much later or keep them in.

 

[DowntownWings]

Raccoons. Don’t let them out early. It will be back and it will probably bring some friends. Make sure it can’t get in your coop. Meanwhile set a live trap and if you catch one (I’ve heard marshmallows make good bait) shoot it if that’s legal where you are.

 

[Tormund]

Spends like coons.
It's apparent you need wait to let them out until much later or keep them in.

Yeah, We are thinking we may have to do this for a few weeks. Especially since we are going to be down a rooster while the injured one recovers. Unfortunately, the run is too small for the flock so we only keep them in the run during very bad weather.

 

[BlackHenCoop]

We have had 4 chickens attacked in the last 6 weeks and 2 killed. Our hens are kept in a coop at night and let out once the sun comes up. Something is going after hens early in the morning between sunup and 7:30 AM. The 2 hens that were killed had their heads removed and the innards were eaten out through the neck area and the gizzard heart liver and lungs are gone but the meat was largely left intact. From what I can tell of the location of the feathers the hen was attacked in the coop and got away there are 2 other spots in the ward where large groups of feathers on the ground before the final place where it was killed. The feathers there have blood on them which is lacking in the other places which is what makes me think it was killed there.

Our rooster tried intervening and for his trouble lost a big tuff of feathers at the base of his left wing and has 2 puncture marks above in in from the lower edge of the wing. He got some licks in it seems, one of his spurs and his beak have fresh blood on them. We cleaned him up and put some betadine on the puncture wounds are going to keep him inside until he gets his strength back. Our roosters are both extremely protective over the flock when it comes to anyone but me and my mom who also takes care of them.

As far as predators in the area We have Hawks (breeding pair of adult red-tailed Hawks and 3 juvenile hawks), owls Foxes, Racoons, Possums, Coyotes, and Cats. Coyotes and Fox would be incapable of getting through the fence and the after-sunrise attacks rules out possums. I'm thinking cat or racoon because whatever it is, is going into the coop after the chickens are let out in the morning. We dealt with cat attacks in the past which ended when our dog and rooster ganged up and killed a cat and mauled another one. Anyone have any experience with something like this?

I suggest putting a camera out so you can see exactly what it is. Are your chickens free to roam around your yard or do they have a run? Because if you have a lot of predators around your area you should create a large metal fenced in run, about 6 feet tall to keep out coyotes if you don’t have one already.

 

[BDutch]

Double the run-size. Make it predator safe , so they can stay inside the setup early mornings.
Its not just convenient for now. But later on too. Killing this predator is only a temporary solution. The kill makes room for the next coon/predator.

 

[BlackHenCoop]

Double the run-size. Make it predator safe , so they can stay inside the setup early mornings.
Its not just convenient for now. But later on too. Killing this predator is only a temporary solution. The kill makes room for the next coon/predator.

I agree, and you can even run the wire into the ground to stop predators from digging in.

 

[FuzzyDinoNuggets]

Double the run-size. Make it predator safe , so they can stay inside the setup early mornings.

Make sure that it is covered, so that the raccoons can’t climb in

 

[Tormund]

Raccoons. Don’t let them out early. It will be back and it will probably bring some friends. Make sure it can’t get in your coop. Meanwhile set a live trap and if you catch one (I’ve heard marshmallows make good bait) shoot it if that’s legal where you are.

Coop and Run are Animal proof (except for some mice somehow but the chickens kill them.

 

[Tormund]

I suggest putting a camera out so you can see exactly what it is. Are your chickens free to roam around your yard or do they have a run? Because if you have a lot of predators around your area you should create a large metal fenced in run, about 6 feet tall to keep out coyotes if you don’t have one already.

The back yard in a 3/4 acre 6 ft hurricane fence enclosure. from the base of the hurricane fence to a foot underground is a wall made of concrete blocks where the fence isn't up against the house. There is a 10x10x8 coop with a 10x16 fully enclosed run with the bottom foot to a foot underground being 1/2-inch metal cloth. and the rest made out of 1 inch metal cloth.