California - Northern

[PetRock]

hopeing good thoughts about meg. I have been worried about her in the fire.

I'm a little in shock here. Something ( dog? fox? weasel? ) got into my backyard while I was gone today between 10 ans 130. it ran around and killed almost everything. Louie 2 lived up to his dads legacy and was clearly in a fight with whatever it was, as well as iggy. Orlando is missing, but the girls he was most fond of, my easter eggers had been rounded up onto the porch and are alive. My ducks all have large wounds, a vet friend is coming around tonight to see if they will live or I need to put them down.

Only the breese that are completely contained AND covered were safe. Even the babies that were in the basement area that is part of the house were destroyed. So, it can and will climb 8 feet, is not afraid of humans and killed for sport at literally high noon. I cant cover either of my silkie land coops, the area is built with tree cover to keep them safe from hawks, but I could never make it so you could not climb it and jump in. They made a play for the full grown turkeys but did not get them, but were fast enough they got birds that can and do fly into the trees. Maybe a pack of fox or weasels? I don't know.

I don't know if I'm cut out for this. I just kept picking up fluffy bodies and saying i'm sorry... I'm still loosing it a bit when i type.

Shantih, So sorry that you are going through this. What a horrible thing to come home to. Big hugs!

 

[lawatt]

Shantih, So sorry that you are going through this. What a horrible thing to come home to. Big hugs!

for what it is worth, which isn't much -- from the research i've done this summer on various predators, if LOTS of birds were attacked and the wounds are somewhat random, i.e. not all biting-heads-off or etc., then it is likely a dog. wild predators tend to have a particular way of killing things, are less likely to attack in midday (although no guarantees), and usually won't kill everything in a free-for-all.

 

[chicksnthestiks]

hopeing good thoughts about meg. I have been worried about her in the fire.

I'm a little in shock here. Something ( dog? fox? weasel? ) got into my backyard while I was gone today between 10 ans 130.  it ran around and killed almost everything.   Louie 2 lived up to his dads  legacy and  was clearly in a fight with whatever it was, as well as  iggy. Orlando is missing, but  the girls he was most fond of, my easter eggers had been  rounded up onto the porch and are alive.  My ducks all have large wounds, a vet friend is coming around tonight to see if they will live or I need to put them down. 

Only the breese that are completely contained AND covered were safe. Even the babies that were in  the basement area  that is part of the house were destroyed. So, it can and will climb 8 feet, is not afraid of humans and  killed for sport at literally high noon.  I cant cover  either of my silkie land coops, the area is  built with tree cover to keep them safe from hawks, but I could never make it so you could not climb it and jump in.  They made a play for the  full grown turkeys but did not get them, but were fast enough  they got birds that can and do fly  into the trees. Maybe a pack of fox or weasels? I  don't know.

I don't know if I'm cut out for this.  I just kept picking up fluffy bodies and saying i'm sorry... I'm still loosing it a bit when i type.   

I am so sorry for your horrific day. I hope you find out what did it.

 

[PetRock]

for what it is worth, which isn't much -- from the research i've done this summer on various predators, if LOTS of birds were attacked and the wounds are somewhat random, i.e. not all biting-heads-off or etc., then it is likely a dog. wild predators tend to have a particular way of killing things, are less likely to attack in midday (although no guarantees), and usually won't kill everything in a free-for-all.

My friend who has the farm where my breeding chickens are had some kind of a predator get in an enclosed coop and kill more than half of the cornish X chicks that she was raising. They had all kinds of wounds and most were not eaten at all. They reinforced the coop but the predator came back and killed more of the chicks. They have at least one skunk around because their LGD keeps getting sprayed. A dog can't get in the coop so any idea what the predator might be? So far, my birds have been safe but I am concerned.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Is this the same Megan that is on here occasionally? The one with the Pita Pintas? So scary. Hopefully everything goes well. Do you know if there was a lot of defensible area around her house? Lot's of houses close together? Were here birds all outside? How awful. Let her know we are thinking of her and sending good thoughts her way.

You know, I don't have one of those but wanted one. I got 3 boys to hatch. Lucky me. I am thinking it may be a bad idea given where I live. Out of all my birds I have noticed that the Wheaten Ameraucanas are the least heat tolerant. They are panting way before anyone else. Even the extra big, fluffy Orpingtons. Maybe it is a blue egg layer thing. Your UofA's are good in the heat though right?

yes the U of A's seem tough

That is so scary. I hope her home and birds are okay.

me too

hopeing good thoughts about meg. I have been worried about her in the fire.

I'm a little in shock here. Something ( dog? fox? weasel? ) got into my backyard while I was gone today between 10 ans 130. it ran around and killed almost everything. Louie 2 lived up to his dads legacy and was clearly in a fight with whatever it was, as well as iggy. Orlando is missing, but the girls he was most fond of, my easter eggers had been rounded up onto the porch and are alive. My ducks all have large wounds, a vet friend is coming around tonight to see if they will live or I need to put them down.

Only the breese that are completely contained AND covered were safe. Even the babies that were in the basement area that is part of the house were destroyed. So, it can and will climb 8 feet, is not afraid of humans and killed for sport at literally high noon. I cant cover either of my silkie land coops, the area is built with tree cover to keep them safe from hawks, but I could never make it so you could not climb it and jump in. They made a play for the full grown turkeys but did not get them, but were fast enough they got birds that can and do fly into the trees. Maybe a pack of fox or weasels? I don't know.

I don't know if I'm cut out for this. I just kept picking up fluffy bodies and saying i'm sorry... I'm still loosing it a bit when i type.

that is horrible. I am sorry hopefully you can find out what did it.

The predators appear to be very busy right now!!

This guy has been coming right up to the house the last few days. This picture was taken through our livingroom window. The Bobcat was about 6 feet away. Luckily he can't get into my chicken pens so he was hunting ground squirrels.

That looks like a good guard kitty

 

[gryeyes]

Chiquita, I am so, so sorry to read of the massacre.

 

[debs_flock]

Chiquita, I am so, so sorry to read of the massacre.

x2

It does sound like a dog MO, but don't know how a dog would get in. I also don't understand about losing the birds in your basement, was there access there too?

 

[Hangtown Farms]

x2

It does sound like a dog MO, but don't know how a dog would get in. I also don't understand about losing the birds in your basement, was there access there too?

yeah that sounds strange . I dont think a bobcat or lion would go in there. they dont like confined spaces that they can not see around or could get trapped in

 

[chiqita]

x2

It does sound like a dog MO, but don't know how a dog would get in. I also don't understand about losing the birds in your basement, was there access there too?

deb, yes, The window was open, and there is a ramp to it. We are on a hill and it is a finished 7 foot high space for use as a workshop or whatever. Its pretty soundproof so I use it as the main coop. Stole it from Mario who used to keep his fish and tools there.

If something came from the road ( ie dog) it could have jumped one of the front gates that is not as tall. Mario reminded me its 6 foot fence but there is a 2 foot drop on the other side where the predators usually come from. ( we were thinking deer when we built it ) The fence in the easement is also not 8 foot of fence, its 4 foot of fence and 12-14 feet of bushes over the fence. Also I got reminded that there WAS an 8 foot fence on the while easement, but it got torn down last week because our neighbors are replacing it. I do not think whatever it was came from the easement side, because the birds coming back are coming from there think that is where they ran. Flame just returned, so I'm holding out hope orlando may show back up. ( what I do wiht a cream legbar rooster with no hens I do not know, but its orlando and we love him to bits. At least I got to bury Iggy and his lannister sisters. Jojo and Ester, rest in peace)

This area used to be a dumping ground for dogs. So the county looks up here for them a LOT. Mario did drive up and down the street earlier seeing if he saw anything. We will put the camera back up today or tomorrow, depending on how things go. Marios phone system went out too so he is also trying to get that fixed at work.

Thank you all for your support. Just being able to talk about it to people who can talk back is really helpful.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Oh man, I missed the basement part. How awful, again, I'm so very sorry.