Daytime Predator Problem

[Slike]

Just read one of your replies that was posted while I was typing. With the exception of Mountain Lions who like to hit an area for a brief period and then move on (they have LARGE territories and habitually drift around in them) , if its the bobcat I suspect it is almost guaranteed to come back, but you'll have to be diligent to catch it. Being that it just made three kills its unlikely in the next few days to come back, but please don't let that fool you into thinking its safe for the birds.

Once you can get a gun (would advise a rifle so you have the range + accuracy to deal with these human-shy creatures from a distance) I'd post up outside where you have a good view of the area the killings have taken place in. I've killed dozens of offenders this way, just lying in wait for them knowing they'll be back cause they think the pickins are easy.

Traps are a possibility with bobcats, but I've never used one to deal with them so can't offer advice there.

 

[Trish1974]

Sounds like a fox to me, but I have no experience or knowledge of mountain lions or bobcats. I am very sorry for your losses.

 

[Fruity's Group]

Since its all diurnal activity its probably either fox or bobcat. Mountain Lion is a possibility, but all of my experiences with them attempting to prey on our livestock were at night.
When it is light out, I would suggest walking your property and checking under any decent sized shade trees for obvious signs of debris mounded up like that. When they came through my mom's place they'd always bury their remnants of a meal underneath trees, to return later for it. If you do find a cache mound, you can know its a cat.

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We studied the area this morning and found a place in the creek where there were thousands of our chicken/duck feathers spread out in almost a perfect circle. There was no blood or bones or any other part. There was nothing hidden under any mounds or leaves or shade trees. We studied everything. Could it be a fox or coyote instead of cat? We have our 2 dogs tied up down there right now, but not sure if that will be effective enough. Do you have any suggestions on trapping?

 

[chickens really]

That totally sounds like a Fox.....Buggers will keep coming back....I have a Fox problem.....Lock up Birds for at least two weeks....He should give up and lose interest ?...Although they range a 10km area in general so might be their one day and seam gone the next...They always move around the same areas around the same time of day...

 

[Fruity's Group]

That totally sounds like a Fox.....Buggers will keep coming back....I have a Fox problem.....Lock up Birds for at least two weeks....He should give up and lose interest ?...Although they range a 10km area in general so might be their one day and seam gone the next...They always move around the same areas around the same time of day...

You are probably right, likely a fox with that pattern of taking and leaving such an organized mess of feathers behind. Today we've tied up 2 dogs out there and so far, so good on safety. We have been down there many times, as well. Our coops are not very large and I'm concerned that there would be fighting among the male ducks and other birds because they do not hang out together during the day at all and they'd be side by side for a couple weeks possibly. I like the idea still of trapping and/or shooting, but those have downsides like sitting out there all day. The traps could catch our own dogs or birds by mistake... Still hoping to find a solution though. There has been a fox we saw awhile back and a neighbor sees him regularly, so he does have this as his home area or route. He likely won't move on.

 

[Slike]

What you described finding does indeed sound like a fox. They have been relatively easy to trap in my experience. I used to use a raccoon live trap (HavaHart or Advantek Outdoors both make good live traps that I've used) to catch every fox I've trapped as opposed to hunted. They've always taken the bait - leftover chicken bones from roasts, etc. Make sure if you use this method to take a piece of METAL wire and TIE the bone with scraps of meat on it TIGHTLY FASTENED IN PLACE to the bottom "mesh" of the trap in the back behind the trip plate, otherwise they are nimble enough and careful enough to daintily pick the piece up and flee without tripping the door to shut. Gonna be out for a while, so wishing you best of luck and may it get resolved soon!

 

[Fruity's Group]

What you described finding does indeed sound like a fox. They have been relatively easy to trap in my experience. I used to use a raccoon live trap (HavaHart or Advantek Outdoors both make good live traps that I've used) to catch every fox I've trapped as opposed to hunted. They've always taken the bait - leftover chicken bones from roasts, etc. Make sure if you use this method to take a piece of METAL wire and TIE the bone with scraps of meat on it TIGHTLY FASTENED IN PLACE to the bottom "mesh" of the trap in the back behind the trip plate, otherwise they are nimble enough and careful enough to daintily pick the piece up and flee without tripping the door to shut. Gonna be out for a while, so wishing you best of luck and may it get resolved soon!

I will try that right now! We're headed out to do our evening chores. We have a raccoon live trap, it seems small, but I will put some left over bones/meat from dinner adn try as you suggest. I hope they come back soon!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Yes, the killings have been completely in the open. No fences are around there. No hair or fur has been found yet nor footprints. It has not rained in several weeks, the ground is very hard. No bodies at all, just feathers clearly pulled out from the bodies, as quills were plucked looking and piled in almost a circle

Now we may be getting somewhere. Hawk and other raptors often begin feeding while the victim is still alive.
They typically stand on the victim and use their talons to control their meal. They generally nibble around the edges of your chicken changing positions as the chickens' agony and struggles dictates. This will result in a neat circle or two of feathers. Only after a hawk has eaten a grown chicken down to size will it be able to fly off with the remainder of the carcass. There is always a great possibility that a hawk let's say, makes the kill and a fox, coyote, bobcat, or other chicken vermine steals part of the kill.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Now we may be getting somewhere. Hawk and other raptors often begin feeding while the victim is still alive.
They typically stand on the victim and use their talons to control their meal. They generally nibble around the edges of your chicken changing positions as the chickens' agony and struggles dictates. This will result in a neat circle or two of feathers. Only after a hawk has eaten a grown chicken down to size will it be able to fly off with the remainder of the carcass. There is always a great possibility that a hawk let's say, makes the kill and a fox, coyote, bobcat, or other chicken vermine steals part of the kill.

I was thinking the same. They are called chicken hawks for a reason. Most other predators hunt at dawn or dusk. Hawks and other daytime birds of prey want bright daylight. They could be taking more then one to feed fledglings or showing young how to hunt before they go out on their own.

 

[ChiefSuperFly]

I was wondering about avian predators! I've seen owl come down and grab prey in the day time! No idea why unless it was hungry or had starving babes but I guess there's always an odd ball. I would buy a rifle especially if there are cats in your area or even coyotes! We have both here and today saw a coyote down in the field towards the house- one thing about having a gun.. it doesn't help when u don't have it lol

I hope u catch whatever it is! Poor birds! Sorry about your loss.