What is killing my chickens?

[DownHome]

I need to figure this out fast, cause they are dwindling quickly. It comes at night about every other night and kills 3-4 chickens. There is a wing wound up where it attaches to the body and then it opens up the bird at the poop hole (sorry so graphic) and eats out the insides. There are a few chickens with the wing wound that have not been killed, so I am thinking that it uses that to grab them and then kill them, but some of them got away.

Thanks all for any input,
downhome

[chickenista]

Are they in a coop?
How big are the holes/entrances into the coop?
Or are they in tress?
Or in a tractor low to the ground?

The usual culprits are coons or possums.
Weasels eat them differently.
But how they are kept will help narrow it down greatly.

[VA Susan]

I don't know but I'd set a live trap. Do you have a hav-a-heart trap?

[DownHome]

They are kept in a cage on the ground. Whatever gets in would have to either raise the lid that has bricks on it, squeeze through chicken wire, or squeeze under. It fits fairly snuggly to the ground so if it squeezes under it would have to be pretty small.

Last night as usually no losses. The pattern is it should be tonight. I'm keeping my eyes and ears open. Wish me luck.....any other suggestions? I'm leaning towards a opossum. We see lots of those around here. Just seen one at the back door last week, but didn't get the shot gun fast enough.

downhome

[Ernie]

I'm thinking weasel or a raccoon. Both of those prefer just the internal organs of the bird and often leave the meat.

You may be able to see some scat around the coop if you look closely. Those predators will often defecate near their food source to ward off (or annoy) other potential competitors.

[ladycat]

Originally Posted by Ernie

I'm thinking weasel or a raccoon.

That's my thought.

[chickenista]

Well, unless chicken wire is the 1-inch wire, there would be no squeezing for a weasel.
Heck, even the 1-inch wouldn't be much of a worry for weasels. They can get through very small openings.
But if all you have is a cage with a few bricks on it, it is amazing that you haven't had a canine family attack etc..
Is there anyway you can up your security? Maybe put rat wire around them etc..?

And you will need a better set up.. a dog/coyote would have that over in a second.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I would set a live trap or two & also lock them in a coop at night.

[kenworth]

At one point I sat in the bed of the pickup truck with the gun and a flashlight to catch a predator after young turkeys!

Result of story?: Owl. Had to change the turkey pen, as I would NOT shoot an owl, although I sure wanted to!

You may need to change the configuration of your chicken pen.