Call CSI!!! What Killed My Chicken

If you own backyard chicken at some point you will be asking what killed my chicken? I hear this question a lot there are a few clues that can help to determine the culprit. With chickens being easy prey you will deal with a few of these predators along the way. Each predator will leave its own mark, wether a smell, a print, or a simple clue very few can leave without a trace. If you notice the entire chicken has gone missing and your left with only feathers or no signs at all you're dealing with a hawk, fox, or coyote. If you find a mangled or decapitated bird it's a pretty good guess its and owl. Bite marks or removal of the breast, thighs, and abdomen should point you towards opossum, skunk, or raccoon. The skunk may leave behind its all telling odor to help you in your quest for truth. Small bites taken from neck, body, and back of the neck is an indication you're dealing with a mink or weasel. The mink is known to leave behind a very distant musky smell. When baby chicks go missing your best bet is the snake, cat, or rat. Did you stumble upon one that had its rear end eaten or the intestines pulled out? You're more than likely dealing with a martin. If you know the predators that are common in your area this alone will help you narrow down your choices. Prevention is the best means to fighting off these predators. Keeping a clean dry coop will help to fight many of the culprits. Having a secure coop will save more than just a few chickens. During heavy times of migration chose to keep your birds in a safety run where the hawks can't get to them. Making sure your chickens are locked up tight each evening before dark is maybe the most important preventative. One of the biggest mistakes I see is the use of chicken wire. Chicken wire should be used to keep chickens in, not expected to keep other animals out. It is simply not strong enough to fight of most predators you are better off to use a heave gage welded wire. Even then don't expect it to keep all predators out, it will only help minimize the risk. There will always be loss but you can minimize the devastation with these few tips.

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