So you head out to the chicken coop one morning and encounter an unpleasant surprise — a scene of carnage that looks like there was a poultry-zombie apocalypse taking place while you blissfully slept the night away. If you stumble upon a scene like this, or discover you are missing one or more birds, you can know two things for certain — one, you have a predator problem and two, your problems are about to get worse.
What can you do? First, you need to identify what animal is predating your flock, which is easier said than done, because there are a lot of possible culprits out there who enjoy a chicken snack. You also need to identify that culprit fast because chances are good they will be back within the next 24 hours for a repeat of their chicken buffet at your expense.
Just like any good detective, you will have to approach the chore of identifying your suspect methodically, but you can also head into the situation with a short-list of the most likely suspects: fox, raccoon, skunk, dog, coyote, weasel and bird of prey. Each leaves their own personal calling cards, and a series of clues that can help you identify the culprit and take steps to close the buffet — permanently.
#1. Fox or Coyote:
Remember the old saying “sly as a fox?” Well, turns out the saying was created for a reason. Foxes are smart, cunning and remarkably agile. They are also patient and will take the time to case your property for days at a time before making their move. Foxes like to hunt in the early mornings and early evenings. They will typically abscond with an entire bird, leaving behind only a few feathers as evidence of a struggle.
I’ve seen a fox take a bird in the field when I was standing only a few feet away and they are easily able to climb low fences, even while carrying a bird. When being pursued they are fast enough to outrun my black lab and two guardian dogs, a Pyrenees and Maremma.
Signs of a coyote will be very similar to a fox, except coyotes aren’t as nimble as foxes when it comes to climbing, and will most likely tunnel or force their way in to gain access to your coop. Foxes can be easily identified in the winter months partly because they leave such small, dainty footprints but also because of their unusual gait, which leaves a distinctly linear track, with the front and rear paw prints appearing to create a straight line.
Calling Card:
- Missing birds
- Multiple visits (head counts indicate you are losing birds almost daily)
- Feathers left behind after struggle but little else
- Birds become agitated in early morning (when the fox or coyote comes calling)
Prevention:
- Keep grass down around fencing to remove cover
- Keep birds locked in coop until later in the day before allowing to free range
- Bury fencing one foot below ground to prevent tunneling.
#2. Raccoon:
I once entered my coop at night after hearing a ruckus and found dead, dismembered birds littering the floor. Thinking the predator had moved on, I made a cursory inspection with my flashlight and was ready to leave when I happened to point it up and caught the reflection of a raccoon’s eyes about a foot from my face. Perched on a ledge, he was staring straight at me.
It was like he was sitting in a movie theatre and reaching into a box of popcorn. My rooster was the only one smart enough to get off the roost, the rest were easy pickings.
Calling Card:
- Headless carcasses near fence (raccoon grabs bird through fence and pulls head out to eat)
- Pieces of birds left behind
- Multiple birds killed in one visit
- Nocturnal visits
Prevention:
- Close birds in at night
- Keep grass down around fencing to remove cover
- Use fencing with holes too small to reach through
- Lock coop (raccoons can open doors)
#3. Dog:
Don’t discount stray or neighbourhood dogs from attacking your birds. I once had a neighbour’s dog systematically kill virtually my entire flock, and this was while my (so-called) guardian dogs sat outside watching with interest to see what might happen next.
Dogs like to chase birds and pounce on them, but once it stops moving they typically lose interest and move on to the next bird. If you find dog tracks and can follow them back to its owner’s house, don’t take the approach one friend of mine took, and visit the house with your shotgun saying, “I’m here to kill your dog.” That’s no way to get invited to the neighbourhood barbecue.
Calling Card:
- Multiple carcasses with little signs of injury
- Carcasses left uneaten
Prevention:
- Fence flock or fence property to keep dogs out
#4. Weasel family (mink, fisher):
I dread a weasel attack on my coop more than any other animal. Weasels are small, can fit through openings you would swear couldn’t possibly be big enough and are particularly vicious in attacking birds.
Calling card:
- Small bites on neck and head, or back of head and neck consumed
- Several birds killed and possibly piled together (odd, but true)
Prevention:
- Check coop regularly for any holes that could be accessed by a weasel
- Bury fencing a foot below ground level
#5. Birds of prey:
I’ve had ravens, hawks, and owls carry away birds from their outdoor run or while they are free-ranging. Unfortunately, once a raptor has found your birds, unless you cover your run with mesh or keep your birds indoors it’s very difficult to keep flying predators away.
Calling Card:
- Missing birds with little to no signs of struggle
- Evidence of defecation (raptors will defecate when making a kill)
- Birds of prey flying repeatedly over your coop during the day
Prevention:
- Use netting over outdoor run
- Don’t allow your birds to free range outside of a run
#6. Skunk:
My guardian dogs have killed a couple of skunks but other than that I’ve never had a direct interaction with the animal (thankfully). Losses from skunk are not as common as losses from other predators, and a lingering odour is often a dead give-away that a skunk has been in or around your coop.
Calling Card:
- Skunk odour
- Chicks or young birds killed
- Birds killed with multiple bites, often eating only the head
- Eggs eaten during same visit
- Nocturnal visit
Prevention:
- Bury fencing a foot below ground level to prevent access by digging
- Ensure there are no holes or easy means of access
- Amy Hogue