All chickens killed on Christmas!!!

[uglysteve]

Quote:
Getting more chickens will be up to my wife, when she is ready. We may convert a shed in to a coop, and we won't get the birds until we have secure housing in place.

The old coop, was not well planed. I built a small coop when we first got a few chicks, and built on to it as the flock got bigger. My problem was not understanding what predators were around, and how to defend against them. A while back, a guinea was eaten by Harris hawks, so we stopped letting the birds out unattended. I thought the door to the coop too small for a real threat to enter. I thought anything that could get in, would have it's butt kicked by the rooster. The door opened to a small fenced yard, that was covered with a mesh tarp supported by a wood frame. I thought that was secure, but there was a corner that was not tied down.

For now, I will try and trap a cat.

 

[Judy]

So sorry this happened to you. For me it was mostly fox; we actually trapped two. My dogs are the best protection for chickens I've found. But we have bobcat around here, too, if the local hunters haven't knocked them all off.

If you've actually discussed turning a shed into a coop, I imagine you will go for it again. I wish you luck.

 

[aussiedude248]

My one duck got killed by a bobcat all it did was sliced the neck

Anyway a Bobcat might look big but it only looks big because of all there hair so I think it could fit though that hole....

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Well,I am so sorry for your loss.I always hate things like that.I hope your family will consider more chickens in time.BYW the ppl that said if they can get their head thru it are right.I've had Mastiffs as pets for over 20 yrs. and they have never ceased to amaze me with a tiny hole that they can go through.If the will is strong to get past a barrier for any reason an animal can have a big sucess rate.

 

[dewey]

Very sorry to hear of such a loss.

A couple of things stand out to me. Although they easily could do so, bobcats would usually not need to bother with climbing up to get through a hole in order to get into a coop, since they could go through chicken wire like butter or with a little more effort even hardware cloth if determined.

Bobcats can jump fences up to 12 feet high, coyotes 8 feet easy, and fox climb very well, so along with heavy wire and dig proofing, a secure roof is also essential.

 

[elizabethbinary]

Oh your poor wife and you! I think it's sweet you care so much about your wifes chooks and came here, though. That's really lovely.

I hope you find out what it is doing it. My husband electrified our fences against predators. The electricity doesn't seem to effect the chickens at all and everything that goes near them gets a nice snootful of electricity. Worked on the dog. :3

If you want I can see what the thing is my husband uses to run a current through a wire (he has a car battery and this thing that connects them). It really does work and it doesn't kill the predator, just stuns/shocks them. I've seen neighbour cats get done by it. Quite funny.

 

[elizabethbinary]

Okay haha he says that thing is called an "electric fence energizer".... so, um, that makes sense.

Edit: he says he got his on Ebay as well.

 

[JROOSTER]

I'm sorry to hear this. Please tell the DW and DD how sorry I am. Dont give up on chickens they are worth trying again.

Wisher1000 you did a good job I felt inspired.

 

[Wisher1000]

Thanks JRooster. But you know what? After all that, one of my five original (and favorite) laying hens came up missing today. No sign, no tracks, no feathers, nothing. It has been that way on the last five that were taken. I wish I knew what I was fighting. All of the others were small, young birds but todays casualty was a big hen. I have no clue what is getting them. They go missing in the daytime and there is no commotion that I am aware of.... Could be anything I guess... hawk, coon, fox, bobcat, coyote... I just wish I KNEW so I could try to take care of it quickly. I meant what I said though, even though that loss hit me hard, I still love my birds and will let them free range whenever possible. Maybe under closer supervision for the rest of the winter....

UPDATE - Hooray! The missing hen has returned! I don't know where she spent the night last night or the morning but this afternoon she was back! Is it possible that my Black sex-link has a nest somewhere? I didn't think they went broody....

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Ok well I will try to get my 30 lb dog through an 8" hole

I watched a full grown 50 lb hound go through an 8 inch hole to get out from under a house.

It's more than big enough for an average Bobcat​