Consolidated Kansas

[cubbysan]

Are there fisher cats in the KC area??

 

[Trish44]

cubbysan, I think if there was a way to climb up there they would if they knew the reward would be chicken dinner. They will also tear through chicken wire to get in.

Thanks for your prayers, she will need all she can get.

 

[HEChicken]

Cubbysan, I am so sorry for your loss. My first thought on reading it was fox but I agree with Trish that a coyote is also a possibility - I don't know a lot about their modus operandi. We supposedly get them around here but I've never seen one. I don't know if fisher cats are in this area or not - I know nothing about them except the name. I had a fox visit last July and it climbed a 5' fence made of 2x4 welded wire, like it was a ladder. Somehow I didn't expect that. I thought predators would dig under before they'd try to climb over, but I watched it do it. The destruction you described does sound like a bigger animal. Possums and raccoons tend to eat a specific part in place versus carrying it off. With my fox attack, I lost 14 birds in the first visit but only had 13 bodies - the 14th was gone, gone, gone. I believe he planned to come back for the others but I interrupted him. The second visit I lost two more birds and again, one of them I never saw again. I left the second out for him as bait and sure enough, he came back for it and that was when I had a chance to stop him for good.

Unfortunately I don't know what to tell you about prevention. Whatever predator it is, it will probably be back until it is eliminated, as once they have found a food source, they will return again and again. I was fortunate that mine was probably young and inexperienced, and I only had to wait 20-30 minutes that second day for him to come back, and then I was able to eliminate him for good, but if you have one that is not visiting daily, it will be harder to catch. Foxes are very.....sly.

Your best bet is to bolster the coop and run, using materials it can't tear holes in, and not let them out to free-range for awhile. Hopefully once it finds out there is no more free food available, it will move on.

 

[chicken danz]

Cubbysan did the predator get the chickens before or after they were penned up? No, fishers aren't native to this area. We do have mink though but normally they like living near bodies of water. If the hole in your netting is large something might get in and back out but if it isn't a large hole I don't think that would happen. It sounds like a ground animal like a coyote or a fox. Is there any way one could have gotten in other than climbing in? If it climbed in from the top it almost has to be a coon or a fox.
One thing I noticed is you mentioned holes in your netting after a snow storm. Sounds like you are using the light plastic netting. To be honest it is a waste of money. You need regular heavy tied or knitted netting that will withold 40 to 60 pounds or so of weight. It is a worthy investment. Or you could use regular chicken wire but it is pricey and hard to install.
Sorry about your loss. I hope your husband comes around. We all expect a few losses until we get everything set up. Every time I get lax I loose a bird or two. I went for a long time without even shutting pens at night but with the drought the predator situation is out of hand.
I guess I'd better get in gear. I need to get out and feed and water everyone early today. Sure not looking forward to that cold air out there.

 

[cubbysan]

Thank you. My chickens don't free range, so whatever it was was climbed from above. I think my husband called the netting above deer netting. I'll have to buy some chicken wire. I could not even bring myself to go down to let them out of the coop this morning, so my husband did. He said it definitely climbed above.

I know everybody goes through this, but I am just so sick to my stomach.

 

[cubbysan]

Chickendanz, they were in their pen but not locked in the coop yet. We do have a small pond or lagoon about a hundred feet from the coop.

 

[chicken danz]

Deer netting as it is often called is the same things as bird netting but wider. It won't keep anything out. How big is your pen? If you get it secure I am sure several of us would be glad to give make sure you get some new birds. Again I am so sorry. Really consider looking at the heavier netting.

 

[HEChicken]

Cubbysan, we do know that sick to your stomach feeling all too well, unfortunately. I am so sorry you and the kids have to go through this.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Cubbysan- This is the WORST part of owning chickens. I have had so many loses in the last couple months and it is devestating. Now is the time to get out there and secure the rest of what you have. Keep your chin up and use that anger and lose to fuel your need to protect.

 

[Trish44]

cubbysan, yes unfortunately the losses are part of keeping chickens, I have lost a few this year myself & I even have dogs here. I think one I lost a few weeks ago was from a predator waiting in the tree line & they got the chicken before the dogs could get there. My GP Lily had the chicken, but I don't think she is the one that killed it, these dogs lay right in the middle of the chickens all day long & the only time they have gotten a bird is when I started letting guineas out & they weren't familiar with them. I guess they thought since they were so strange & loud they were intruders, but they since have gotten used to their noise. Anyway, I agree with Danz that you need to get something better up to protect the chickens. Possums & raccoons can even get through what you have & you will eventually have losses from those too if you don't take measures now.

BRRRR it's cold out there today, the wind goes right through you! I went out & did all my chores early because I have to make a trip to Wichita today. I've got to get going soon because the weather isn't going to get any better. I hate it that we have snow coming again, yuk I just hate winter, I'm so ready for spring now & we have another possible two more months of this. It would be nice to have an early spring, but it probably isn't going to happen. Well everybody try to stay warm today.