Bobcat maybe? What steals hens and leaves NO trace AT ALL??

[OPIE]

Well, I have to agree with Don. Times are tough right know. Someone may have take one thinking "humm I will get eggs" not realizing 1 egg day wont do much for a grown man (or woman) especialy a family. Killing a chicken for dinner, maybe. If it wasnt 2 legged I would say it was an owl or a hawk. They will come in , hit the bird and haul it off before it has a chance to fight, thus leaving no sign there. Even if a cat did attack, you would have feathers and sign. You may have had a cat in the area, but if he hit you birds you would know it.

 

[ivan3]

kryptoniteqhs wrote: we found a bunch of raccoon tracks today also some near feathers with meat on the end of them

Invest in a couple of havaharts. Keep them set at all times. Preemptive removal of vermin will not keep more from coming but, the simple fact is, the overall frequency of predation will drop substantially.

Best of luck!​

 

[EllyMae]

I too agree with Don...just last night our dogs alerted us to trouble down at the coops and we saw a light...and guess what? No eggs for the past 2 days. Now I know it could just be a coincidence...but ya never know.

 

[scogind]

Here's a link to a site that details the habits of several different preditors that we deal with...

http://icwdm.org/Inspection/livestock.asp

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
thanks...so i can probably rule out the bobcat then? I just dont know what would take them off to eat them, but leave NO feathers at all?!!

I didn't see anything that rules out the bobcat.. ??

try to get a good track ID.. sprinkle some flour an the ground or rake he dirt to loosen it.. pray for a light dusting of snow..

my guess is bobcat, coyote, dog,
In this case I would rule out people as you stated you found some sort of track already..

that bathtub idea sounded ok if you have only a few birds.. I could not see myself trying to get 30 turkeys 60 hen chickens and 24 guineas and 3 geese and 5 muscovy ducks into my bathtub..

 

[jeanniejayne]

" that bathtub idea sounded ok if you have only a few birds.. I could not see myself trying to get 30 turkeys 60 hen chickens and 24 guineas and 3 geese and 5 muscovy ducks into my bathtub..

But what a lovely picture it makes! Our neighbors have a mansion they just put on the market. It has some sort of communal shower that must be 12 x 12 feet and has a dozen showerheads. Maybe if you invested in one of those..........;>)

JJ

 

[fushalilly]

ive had foxes do it but leave a few feathers, not many.

 

[ml]

give this link a read too may help

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=18670

ml

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

thanks guys for all the help...well the new update is that we FINALLY found feathers, I dont know how I missed them, but it was near the coop in one of the horses stalls that we are not currently using and there were coon tracks near it. Now, to contradict myself, we put bate out the other night and the only thing we attracted were 2 ferile cats, one of which I caught eating another ferile cats kittens this summer (I was unable to save the 2 that were still alive when I found them). So now were confused: We spotted a Bobcat, We found coon prints, and We saw 2 ferile cats and one with a record. I should have let my boyfriend shoot the cats, but me being who I am wouldnt let him and now I regret it! We are having a trapper come out soon and I'm sure the first two things he catches will be those cats and he can do away with them as he pleases. Otherwise, we'll just have it put down. Anywho thats the lowdown as of now!