all chickens killed by unknown predator.

[dekel18042]

my dad says we have to catch the fox and raccoon before we get the new chicks.

ACHHHT, I'd never have increased my flock if I had to wait to catch the foxes. Raccoons and opossums were easy to catch, but they weren't the problem. The foxes are a different story. It was easier to fortify large runs and make their chicken compound into Fort Knox, which thankfully so far, the foxes haven't been able to penetrate so they moved on up the road where the pickings are easier.
Since last summer they have totally wiped out a flock of fifty birds about a mile up the road and a little past that place, 48 were taken within the past week.

 

[lukemower]

we are back now, the electric fencing came, I attached the energizer to the inside of the coop, I decided to use the entire cage as a ground. I attached the ground wire to one of the poles, and I wired the electric wire out of the coop, I tried touching just the electric wire, and it barely hurt at all, my brother decided to test it, I warned him it wasn't safe in bare feet, but he touched the electric wire, and he said it hardly hurt at all, he decide to touch the cage, it didn't do anything, then he stepped on the electric wire, at the same time, and started screaming really loudly. he tried to step back but his foot got stuck in the electric wire for a while, I helped him get it off, but he went off crying. we are very concerned that it could kill someone, or something, we are not sure if we should still use it. the ground was dry. I would like to use it because I'm sure it would keep the predators away, but not if it is going to kill someone, Is it safe to use?

 

[chiques chicks]

If it is a commercial fence charger, yes it is safe. They are very high voltage, but very very low amperes. The only time I was every truly injured by one, I hit it with my eye and was in contact for an extended period. My eye swellled shut, but healed fine. I was perhaps 8 at the time. This was a farm type charger capable of charging 30 miles of wire.

But they do hurt!

 

[lukemower]

ok, that's good to know, so it will be safe to use, it will just hurt really really bad, if you touch it, but it won't actually injure you. I am sure if any raccoon touches that, he won't be back any time soon. My other chick supplies also came, I hope we can order them soon before they run out of stock. I am pretty sure my siblings will stay far away from the fence now.

 

[lukemower]

They got away with the food from the traps again this morning, I am trying something different today, I will make it so the food is attached to the trap and will shut if they try to take it

 

[enola]

I had to dig a hole, put the bait the hole, set the trap over the bait in the hole, weight the trap down, and put pavers beside the trap so the coon couldn't dig under the trap, before I caught my last coon.

 

[lukemower]

wow, last night, we camouflaged the traps, to try and catch a fox as well, in one of them, I put a plastic food cup, in it and punched holes in it and stung it through, so that if the animal, tried to move it it would set of the trap, in the other one we put a bunch of chicken meat. this morning, the one with the chicken meat, was untouched, the cup in the other cage was shredded and the trap was set off and the bait was gone, we have been trying to contact a friend who is very good at catching animals, we have also been trying to get another trap.my brother and I will be going this week, my dad will keep setting the traps while we are gone we don't know what is getting all the bait.

 

[lukemower]

we are back now, my dad bought a night vision motion detector camera, the first night we put a blanket around it to try and stop the food from being taken from outside, but nothing got taken, the next night, was the first one for the camera, my dad and my siblings were out very late setting it up, we think they scared away many of the ones that would come at that time, also there was a lightning storm, the only activity was in the morning around 5am, a BIG raccoon, he was bigger than our cats, and probably big enough to have the trap close on his butt and get away came sniffing around, but didn't go in the traps, a while later, when it was light out, it picked up the birds, pecking at the food, and sticking their heads through the bars. neither of the traps were set of and most of the food was still their, but no trail. the next night, they made sure to come in sooner. this time there was activity throughout the night, a raccoon (maybe the same one) came around 11:00pm and sniffed around, we don't know if it went in, the camera, was problematic, it only took ten seconds of film, and shut off for a minute, before it would film more, so we missed a lot, we fixed it so it only waits 5 seconds between shots, so we should get some good info, during the night, a large rodent (probably a rat) went into the less secure cage. (the camera shut off then, but in the morning all the food except for the marshmallows was taken, and the trap, was set off, there was a gap between the door and the corner were a small animal could get out, we then covered the entire cage in metal hardware cloth) another rodent came a few hours later, but we couldn't tell were it went, also a raccoon (maybe the same one) came around 3:00am. the more secure cage was entirely robbed of food and not set off. we have fixed the camera, and have reset the traps, hopefully, we will catch something this time, or at least find out how they are getting out.

 

[chiques chicks]

At least this is an awesome learning experience for you. Amazing what comes out at night!

 

[lukemower]

this morning, none of the bait was gone and the traps were still set, the only thing that visited was the rat, which just hung around for about 5 seconds around 1:00am we are leaving again so we set up the camera, baited the traps, but left them sprung.