Darn predator!

[Sylviaanne]

You know that's not the language I want to use but I'm a lady.

Whatever it is struck again and got my BO broody hen. Only took one of her eggs though. Must have been almost full after eating mama or wanted an egg for dessert. I put her other 2 eggs in my incubator with some that I just put on 3 days ago.

Ok, this predator, we have not seen hide nor hair of, just chickens come up missing. We found her wings still attached to each other near her nest and one leg laying on our front porch, probably the kittens did that. There are feathers all over the yard, but some of the feathers were over by the coop and run. I don't know how that happened because I don't think she could have gotten away without her wings to try to run to the coop and other chickens. I do know that as fercely as she protected those eggs from me, she must have put up one heck of a fight. Our bedroom is clear at the other side of the house so we didn't hear a thing.

My husband suggests a fox. Does this behavior sound like a fox? If not, what are some other suggestions and since it only comes around sporadically, how can I catch it to get rid of it? I'd love to shoot the thing but it deserves a life too, just far, far, FAR away from here. Sylvia

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

A little more information about, or even better - pictures of, the area from which the bird was taken will help narrow possible culprits. Was she nesting in the run? How many birds have you lost and in how many separate attacks?

 

[Sylviaanne]

A little more information about, or even better - pictures of, the area from which the bird was taken will help narrow possible culprits. Was she nesting in the run? How many birds have you lost and in how many separate attacks?

No, she wasn't in the run or the coop and I was afraid to move her, afraid she wouldn't sit them if I did.
She was unprotected and it was stupid of me to think or want to think that maybe the predator had moved on. We haven't had a chicken come up missing for months. I know of 3 of our chickens that it has gotten, including this BO. All were separate attacks and only one taken at a time. And months in between.

 

[Folly's place]

You can move the broody hen at night, in the dark, without too much stress. Outside is really unsafe at night, as you found out. I use a large pet airline crate; set it up during the day, and move her in using a tiny flashlight after dark. Too many critters like to eat chicken! Set out live traps, and shoot predators that lurk around the coop. Mary

 

[Sylviaanne]

But we have never seen or heard any predators. Out here we have coons, armadillos, possums and my husband thinks he has seen a fox. We think a coon and fox would have taken the hen completely away from the nest area to eat her. I don't think armadillos would eat a chicken like that so that kind of leaves a possum. There used to be an armadillo on our property several years ago but unless my husband did see a fox, we don't see any signs of wild animals around here. Even if he was right and he did see a fox, we haven't seen it.

Next time I have a broody outside the coop and run, I can put her in a dog crate. I have several. Thanks, Sylvia

 

[RonP]

Most of your predators are night stalkers.

You may never see one till its too late for your victims.

 

[Sylviaanne]

Most of your predators are night stalkers.

You may never see one till its too late for your victims.

How do I catch the darn thing? Especially, when it only shows up sporadically? Sylvia

 

[RonP]

If you catch it, another will surely take it's place.

Best if you can secure your birds safely.

Mine are secure in a coop and run that was built to keep a 200 pound dog out.

I don't have a 200 pound dog, but I imagine that it would be my worst nightmare.

I like to sleep soundly.

 

[dazookeyper]

Fox would be my guess.

 

[subhanalah]

How frequently it returns can be a clue to what you are dealing with.