Hey Byc
I have(Had) a flock of about 40 birds who free range. They most free range in the grass right next to the barn. But a few braver chickens often lead by their rooster who range afar into the corn field. This is normally not issue, we have a lot of crows, dogs, people etc... that help deter most predators away from the area. Most of my "losses" up until now have been from neighbors cats grabbing a bantam, or someones dog getting lost and finding it's way to chicken's yard.
However tonight when locked up the flock I was 7 chickens short. All in one day. 6 hens and one silkie rooster. They are all from the group that ranged into the corn field, and none of those that stay in the yard are gone.
I suspect it might have been coyotes, but I don't normally see any during the day. And never close enough to grab chickens from the corn field.
Are the coyotes coming into the field during the day? Or is there some other predator that can make off with that many uncaged birds at once that i'm not thinking of?
I have(Had) a flock of about 40 birds who free range. They most free range in the grass right next to the barn. But a few braver chickens often lead by their rooster who range afar into the corn field. This is normally not issue, we have a lot of crows, dogs, people etc... that help deter most predators away from the area. Most of my "losses" up until now have been from neighbors cats grabbing a bantam, or someones dog getting lost and finding it's way to chicken's yard.
However tonight when locked up the flock I was 7 chickens short. All in one day. 6 hens and one silkie rooster. They are all from the group that ranged into the corn field, and none of those that stay in the yard are gone.
I suspect it might have been coyotes, but I don't normally see any during the day. And never close enough to grab chickens from the corn field.
Are the coyotes coming into the field during the day? Or is there some other predator that can make off with that many uncaged birds at once that i'm not thinking of?
