4 of 6 killed

[cafarmgirl]

They climb.

And jump and dig under or chew right through. It takes a monumental fence, or a good electric fence, to keep any predators out. I have seen coyotes jump over high fences with ease. Most of the time fences keep things in but keep very little out.

 

[aart]

Woke up this morning to 4 dead birds. They were laying in the back yard with no heads. Possum? Raccoon?
Yard is completely fenced. No evidence of dog or coyote. They have free ranged the yard for the past 6 months. Honestly, I am surprised I had not lost any sooner, but 4 my 6 in one night.

Do you not lock them in a secure coop at night??

 

[jethroish]

I am sure it will be back. Will be putting live trap out tonight. I also put a trail camera on a tree next to the fenced run.

 

[Folly's place]

I hope the birds are locked in a secure coop every night, and all the time now that you've got an active predator. Mary

 

[speckledhen]

If your birds are not closed into a secure coop before dark every evening, you can expect to lose all of them. Foxes and coyotes can go over almost any fence, day or night, especially when they have pups to feed. Raccoons and possums usually kill at night and no fence will stop those, either. Realistically, you cannot trap all predators. They'll keep coming. A secure coop for night is the only way to keep them safe during dark hours. Daytime predators are not as numerous, but are still an issue for free rangers.

We do free range, however, each group has a pen attached to their coop and no one free ranges when we are not home. Everyone is locked up at night and does not get out until full daylight. That practice plus keeping good roosters has kept us from having any predator losses in the 9 years we've had chickens, but the odds are our time is coming even taking the care that we do. We live on a wooded mountain property with all manner of predator.