Are they just bad luck?

[Welshies]

So quick backstory.
I've had poultry for 5 years. Ducks for 1 chickens for 4. Quail for 2 or so. My first batch I lost completely to a fox- all 20 (along with 20 show-bred Wyandotte chicks). Lots of money's worth.
So far I've had no predators since then. None. Nada. Zilch. Zero.
Even with chickens.
Never had preds with ducks either.
Then I get 5 quail about 2 weeks ago. Put them in rabbit hutches, hang em up 3 feet up (not high, I know, not super secure, either.)
Lose 1 from the cold.
Lose another from a predator. Since the quail have arrived I've had predator issues, set out traps caught only my dog and 1 sprung trap. Finally set out trail cams. Not sure what it is. Today I arrived to see one sprung trap, and my rabbit hutch torn apart. Caught 2 quail. So, I basically have lost 3 so far.

Why is this? Just bad timing? Or are those quail attracting predators? We have no wild quail here in the rockies.

 

[lomine]

I would guess it's just bad luck. I have seen many posts where people mention they haven't seen a predator for years and then one day, boom! I had my entire flock of quail eaten in one night by a family of skunks but they never bothered my chickens or ducks. So it could be a predator that wouldn't normally go after a full grown chicken or duck. Though if it tore apart your cage it must have been a good size. Unless you used chicken wire to build the cage.

 

[Welshies]

I would guess it's just bad luck. I have seen many posts where people mention they haven't seen a predator for years and then one day, boom! I had my entire flock of quail eaten in one night by a family of skunks but they never bothered my chickens or ducks. So it could be a predator that wouldn't normally go after a full grown chicken or duck. Though if it tore apart your cage it must have been a good size. Unless you used chicken wire to build the cage.

It was a rabbit hutch where the top came off.... I think it's something about the quail's smell, because both my chickens and quail are kept in the same space and I've only had issues when my quail arrive. I know it's something canid. We don't have skunks or coons here.

 

[junebuggena]

Badger? Or maybe lynx or bobcat. If it was spring/summer/fall, I'd suspect bear, but yours are probably hibernating still.

 

[lomine]

Hmm... I don't know if predators are more attracted to the smell of quail or not. I guess it's possible. Maybe the quail just provided easier prey because they were contained. Did it come at night? Maybe it can't get in your coop so it went for the quail.

 

[Welshies]

Badger? Or maybe lynx or bobcat. If it was spring/summer/fall, I'd suspect bear, but yours are probably hibernating still.

Not lynx, the prints were canid. No badgers here, and our bears are hibernating.

 

[Welshies]

Hmm... I don't know if predators are more attracted to the smell of quail or not. I guess it's possible. Maybe the quail just provided easier prey because they were contained. Did it come at night? Maybe it can't get in your coop so it went for the quail.

It only shows up when I have quail, so I am seriously thinking of getting rid of my quail... I can't let my chickens out when I don't know when it might show up or what it might do to them.

 

[lomine]

New neighbor with a roaming dog?

 

[Welshies]

New neighbor with a roaming dog?

No new neighbours.

 

[lomine]

It knows where to find food now, so even if you get rid of the quail chances are it will return. Hopefully you can figure out what it is and get rid of it for good somehow.