so bummed, chicken massacre

Lauri · #1 06/08/10, 10:36 AM

DH did morning chores, something (probb racoon) got 15 of my laying hens. Only 3 left, and I imagine he will have to dispatch two them shortly.

The thing that ticked DH off, is that it did not appear that any of the hens had been eaten, just killed.

We have been trying to catcg this bugger for about a week.

I am bummed.

pourfolkes · #2 06/08/10, 10:37 AM

We caught several racoons in our trap using marshmallows, of all things. They just love them!

sunshinytraci · #3 06/08/10, 10:41 AM

I am so sorry to hear that. I have experienced several chicken massacres as well, though usually from dogs. They are always heartbreaking and defeating. Try to keep your spirits up and keep on trying to catch the SOB that did it.

stifflej · #4 06/08/10, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pourfolkes

We caught several racoons in our trap using marshmallows, of all things. They just love them!

Peanut butter on bread works well for just about anything, we have caught fox, coons, possums, cats, groundhogs, skunks and even chickens with it.

Callieslamb · #5 06/08/10, 10:51 AM

I lost over 30 chickens this month. Just didn't do what I needed to do - shut up the coop. I didn't have the heart to do chicks again this year, so I got on Craigslist and found some 10 month old hens. I am happy and have learned a good lesson.

Nina · #6 06/08/10, 11:34 AM

A neighbor's dog got mass-killed ours. We wouldn't have known for sure but that he was seen carrying one back to his property. I didn't think 'coons would kill more than one at a time, ...do they kill for fun like Labs?..but what do I know?
Very sorry for your loss. : (

ksfarmer · #7 06/08/10, 11:39 AM

Got any weasels or mink in your area? They will do that, kill for fun and eat very little. Can be very hard to trap too.

SFM in KY · #8 06/08/10, 12:17 PM

My first thought was actually weasel too ... the only time we ever lost a lot of chickens when I was a kid, chickens killed but not eaten, was when there was a weasel. They are little killing machines.

CountryWannabe · #9 06/08/10, 12:43 PM

So sorry for your loss, Lauri. I also lost several laying hens a few weeks ago - the kicker was that whatever it was went right by the pen of large, meaty roosters to get to the hens... At least I still have four left. Which *does* provide enough for the two of us, more or less...

Mary

ronbre · #10 06/08/10, 12:50 PM

i am so sorry, a large racoon attacked one of my cats last night, the tiny female, but she is ok

FunnyRiverFarm · #11 06/08/10, 01:15 PM

We had the same thing happen last summer. The culprit was a mother racoon that was (I am guessing) teaching her babies how to hunt. They killed 18 birds but only ate 2 and just toyed with they rest. Our chickens were secure--we thought--but the racoons had no problem destroying the chicken wire and getting into the pen. We set several traps around the place where they messed up the fence so when they came back the next night they were caught...

Wisconsin Ann · #12 06/08/10, 02:42 PM

Racoons can and do kill chickens just 'cuz. We've had a couple of attacks in the past. Dogs, of course, do too.

Poultry wire they rip right through with the claws. And if they want into a chicken coop, they can figure out how to open hasps..unless they're secured with a 2nd bolt system of some sort.

We've always had luck using tunafish in a live trap to catch the coons. The smell must make them nuts, because they're almost in the trap before we can set it.

I'm told marshmallows work well, too. hmm..what was it..marshmallow on peanut butter.

Rockin'B · #13 06/08/10, 08:47 PM

In the last week and a half I've killed 4 'coons in my barn and next to the chicken coop. I've lost 14 guinea's and 8 chickens this spring to the darn things.

We are going through a very heavy year for 'coons and they are showing up with mange and there are cases of rabies being reported now also. I have one large farmer close by that has killed 22 of them this year. They were all in and around his outbuildings.

Bad year for 'coons.....

tamsam · #14 06/08/10, 10:45 PM

So far this year we haven't seen a live coon. Saw a couple on the road that didn't want to live and got ran over. Last year I lost count a 14. I killed 4 in one night. They would come on the porch to get the bunny food and just look at me when I opened the door. To make matters more interesting most of them was gone the next morning. I have no idea what was carrying them off. The one night I sat up and watched but dozed off for about 10 minutes and yep it was gone. Good luck getting what ever is getting your chickens. Sam

Wags · #15 06/08/10, 11:41 PM

So sorry to hear of your loss, we lost some to coon's for the first time this year.

topside1 · #16 06/09/10, 06:33 AM

If the heads are just ripped off, then you have a weasel problem. They drink the blood from the neck and move on to the next live chicken to kill. A fox or coon, dog, whatever has the strength to carry the chicken back to it's home...A weasel doesn't.

Carol K · #17 06/09/10, 08:08 AM

Check with your local County because when I had a massacre a few years ago, they came and looked at the birds, determined it was dogs and I got reimbursed for them. So check and see if your State has the same program.

Carol K

motdaugrnds · #18 06/09/10, 08:59 AM

Sorry for your loss Lauri.

We heard the dogs barking couple years ago and discovered 2 racoons in the chicken house. David shot them both, one of which ran into our back pasture and the other fell where it was. (I made a delicious stew out of it.)

We closed up the area between the rafters where they had climbed in, put additional wire (utility wire this time) around all other open areas. Have not had coon problems since.

[We have some baby chicks in the brooder at this time; and so far, so good.]

haypoint · #19 06/09/10, 03:07 PM

A while back, I had coons getting into my 100 year old heritage apple tree, eating the apples, breaking branches and crapping on everything. One sure solution 220 Conabear.

Recently, a friend had coon damage and a woodchuck in the garden. tried live traps with limited sucess. One sure solution 220 Conabear.

These powerful traps almost always have a quiick kill. I use a 5 gal plastic pail, cut two notches, an inch wide and a couple inches deep, down the side from the top, on opposite sids of the pail. The springs are like handles out each side of the trap. Those "handles" nest into those notches and the open trap fills the opening of the bucket. Then I chain the trap to something solid. Lay the pail on its side and you are ready.

Be very careful. Sometimes I have trouble compressing the springs, so I use a rope tied throught the eyes of the spring to help pull them together.

Don't use anywhere there might be children or where the neighbor's dog might be.

In just a few days the traps have worked on 5 racoons and a skunk (ewww), more than a month's worth of live trap attempts.

Everyone hates to kill a coon until they have experienced the distruction that they cause.

Side note: I've seen many ticks on these animals, so allowing these into your coop or garden increases the chances of you getting ticks on you.

Peanut butter is good.