Fox or Dog or Cat??

[butterflybessie]

Came home today to find feathers everywhere , and I mean everywhere

Three of the chooks are missing large amounts of tail feathers and one chook is just missing

Is it likely to be a fox? We have had chooks since easter and have not seen hide nor hair of any foxes.

Chickens free-range in our garden which backs onto a field.

Could it be a dog or cat? There is a neighbouring dog who sometimes escapes from his garden and there are definitely feral cats around.

Weird thing is, the smallest bird is safe and it is the largest large fowl who is missing in action

I would love it to be the neighbour's dog as he could control his dog, if it was the fox, we can't afford to fox proof an area for them so they will all end up as the fox's supper

Any ideas anyone?

prob a fox I am afraid

One around us recently killed a pen of pheasants, and the carnage you described sounds like a fox.

You will def need to fox proof your chicken pen- Wont be too expensive- chicken wire and some wood posts

Sounds like a fox I'm afraid. In which case he will be back. Can you make an enclosed house/run so they are safe when you are not there?

The largest chicken may well have seen it as their role to see off the fox. Or the fox may just have chosen the biggest meal .

Thanks you two.

I have since discovered that a stray dog was in our neighbourhood last Wednesday and was more than likely who did the deed

On a much happier note, my largest chook reappeared on Friday evening, in a field about 100 yards away, looking rather bedraggled but alive.

If that dog reappears when I am around it will regret it!!

Oh hurray! That is very good news!