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mrsallen08

Suspicious deaths. Advice needed.

By mrsallen08, in Chickens, Eggs and Hatching

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mrsallen08 Frequent Layer

mrsallen08

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Dear all.

We have hatched 4 chicks with a broody, 4 weeks ago now. They have been in the house in an indoor cage until this weekend when we bought a rabbit hutch so that they could go outside and have more space until they join the big girls in the WIR.

 

Today I got home at 1.15pm to find mum hen dead on the lawn and a chick on the patio also dead. Feathers all over the lawn from the mum hen. Hutch door off its hinges. No blood on the hens or bite marks. The dogs have access to the garden through the dog flap while we are out so blame was placed on the 14month old labrador spaniel. He has been very naughty since a pup and we just thought this was latest thing.

 

This was until husband came home and after looking for other 3 missing chicks when he discovered two chick legs sticking out of ground by a corner of the garden, covered by a rock partially. Our dogs cannot bury things, or if they have attempted to there is usually mud everywhere. Both dogs were clean no muddy paws, noses and no soil over the rest of the garden???

On further inspection we found the other 2 chicks buried in the same way, just 2 feet sticking out but buried in difficult places for a large animal to reach. Also the bodies have no bite marks or bloody.

 

We have phoned the RSPCA and they have logged it as suspicious. They are hoping that someone will visit us but not sure when.

They asked if we had 'problems' with anyone locally but noone.

 

Typically, two sets of neighbours were on holiday, one pair work all day and the ones who are usually in all day were out so no witnesses and noone heard anything.

 

Does anyone know of any similar attacks or suggestions of what it could be???

 

Much appreciated, Heather

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Redwing Chronic Clucker

Redwing

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Thats terribly sad :(

 

I read on here recently that foxes often bury their kills ready to come back to and that someone similar had the same thing - buried chicken with feet sticking out :(

 

It could have been something smaller but to take the hutch door of its hinges it was probably a fox, the amount of feathers back that up, if it was a human attack I would imagine there would have been less faethers as they would probably have gone for the broody first and she is used to humans too so may not have panicked too much

 

The chicks are young and the broody may have been to weak to defend them so it might not have taken a bite to kill them all, poor things :(

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Redwing Chronic Clucker

Redwing

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It depends on how its done I suppose, certainly my dog can scrabble rocks to move them off his toys etc so there is no reason why a fox couldnt do it to bury something

 

If the rock was moved from another part of the garden then obviously not

 

I also think a human would simply open the hutch not rip the door off its hinges

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C&T Chatty Chicken

C&T

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This is so disturbing, please let us know the outcome if you find out, I hate the thought that people would have done this and prefer to think it was an animal.

 

So so sorry for you

 

Jackie

 

 

I agree. I know some humans can be 'orrible (understatement I know, but is a family forum...) but it sounds really odd, and hope was an animal... And as Redwing said, why would humans rip the door off, when be easier to open it?

 

How would your Dogs react if humans were in the garden? Do they look scary enough to intimidate a human?? Have you seen foxes before, or your dogs reactions to them? Might help...

 

So sorry this happened to you - it's awful.

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mrsallen08 Frequent Layer

mrsallen08

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Hello all,

 

Well, unsuprisingly we have not heard from the RSPCA yet.

 

We told neighbours yesterday about our fox suspicions and she said that although she has never seen any foxes in 20 odd years, they are in the area. Apparently some old bat not far from us used to feed them regularly untill the council spotted her doing this and recently stopped her. . . . we are now wondering if this is why we have our situation???

 

With the burying 'cacheing' (sp?) it is known for foxes to do this although we definately think it had been disturbed as this is why a chick and hen were still on lawn and not been buried. The dogs would not let a person in the back garden although they may not be so agressive towards a fox??? Also the dogs are scratching like mad with fleas i think and were only bathed on Saturday and no fleas then. Another factor which points towards fox maybe???

 

As you can see we are still pretty clueless and I didn't sleep last night worrying if whatever it was was coming back for the rest of my flock! :(

 

I'll keep you posted.

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mrsallen08 Frequent Layer

mrsallen08

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We dont think a person could get over the gate tbh plus the chicks are near impossible to catch even if not startled, plus dogs...

The RSPCA inspector did ring and after my husband explanied things he did agree that its most likely a fox.

Sand is a good idea but with dogs the marks would be hard to tell the difference. We also have rabbits in a large WIR separate from the big girls so it is quite worrying.

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