All chickens killed on Christmas!!!

[chickensioux]

It does sound like a raccoon to me too. So sorry for the loss of your beloved pets.

 

[chicknmania]

How sad, I am so sorry. Hard to say, and it's a shame, but please remember this: The wild animals
are not deliberately vindictively killing your pets. They are hungry and see food. Which, technically,
is what nature designed chickens to be. It's been a rough winter here. Best thing you can do is wait a bit before you get some more and then make your enclosure as predator proof as possible. There are lots of things you can do to make that happen. Free ranging during the day, and a place where they can roost high at night, are two things that have helped our flock very much.

 

[chicknmania]

Another thing that works well as a deterrent we have found is to leave a light and radio on tuned to a talk show radio station, and turned up fairly loud. We don't leave it on all the time, but when we suspect there may be a problem predator around, we will.

 

[Little Barnyard]

it could be a bobcat or it could be a fox.
i said it could be a fox because foxes aren't
that big. Sooooooo Sorry for your loss though

 

[Little Barnyard]

Oops..double post

 

[drumstick diva]

Is it possible for you to rig electric fencing?

 

[uglysteve]

Thanks everyone for the help. I have not been able to get a trap yet. There are no more birds for the cat to kill, so there is no big rush.
I will update this tread if I get the bobcat.
Steve

 

[uglysteve]

Anyone have experience with large roosters, can they fight off predators? Our rooster was a Silver Phoenix, aggressive but small.

 

[mulewagon]

They can fight off predators up to a certain size...but only when they're awake. Chickens get very dopey at night, which is why people often don't hear anything when something's got into the henhouse.

Roosters are very useful for keeping watch and calling alerts, so the hens can hide. They'll also round them up at evening and try to make them go into the coop. Doesn't often work, but they try!

 

[Lbrad7]

Quote:
I agree completely...I think that hiding the other birds under the straw is a dead give away for a bobcat.