Stray Dogs and Coyotes

The domestic stray dog is really one of the most prevalent chicken predators. With some instruction from their owners, the majority of dogs can get along quite well with hens, but stray dogs or abandoned pets roaming free may not. Dogs are dangerous predators because they will murder every chicken they can catch for pleasure once they get access to the flock. The presence of other dogs may intensify this tendency, which frequently manifests as group behavior. Additionally, a dog is more likely to repeat a behavior if it has been successful in the past at attacking a flock of chickens in order to obtain food. Dogs are most likely to culprit if you discover several mounds of feathers or dead birds that have been killed and left where they are.

Despite occasionally being sighted in huge packs, coyotes typically hunt in pairs. Although they are generally nocturnal, coyotes are frequently sighted during the day. Originally diurnal, they have evolved more nocturnal behaviors as a result of adaptation to cope with human encroachment on their environment. Although coyotes often have a healthy dread of people, they may enter your yard in search of chickens if prey is rare, or if young that lack experience are . Coyotes are more tenacious in some places and may chase domesticated prey more intensively, even venturing into towns and suburbs.

Coyotes are less likely to squander food if they can hunt chickens than domestic dogs. It is doubtful that you will find any remnants of your chickens unless the animals are disturbed while eating since they will try to devour anything they capture. The most likely clue to your perpetrator will be tooth marks on dismembered bones.