Daytime Predator Problem

[twilightgecko]

sorry for you losses..

have you thought about getting a cam game? i have a browning, but am thinking of getting more than one.. i wonder if it could be a hawk? feather piles do sort of suggest fox.. foxes usually hunt early morning tho, and are more of a nuisance in spring, when feeding babies.. IF it IS a fox, it will be back.. once they know there is a food source, they are diligent in getting them all, one by one..

i think moving your dogs is a great idea..

 

[centrarchid]

Can you tighten the ranging habits of your flock? What about releasing dogs during part of day to patrol among flock?

I will pen my birds, at least those that get into areas where predator visits. There are times when fencing is the prudent thing to do. In my exprience, foxes, especially reds are willing to come in even if a dog is nearby. The dogs need to get off their butts to respond when birds give alarm calls.

Birds ranging an area too big to protect.

 

[Fruity's Group]

sorry for you losses..

have you thought about getting a cam game? i have a browning, but am thinking of getting more than one..

that could be very helpful to get a camera out there. we set a trap last evening and wired chicken bones with meat inside it. My husband went to check on it and one of our cats was in it, darn!

 

[Fruity's Group]

Can you tighten the ranging habits of your flock? What about releasing dogs during part of day to patrol among flock?

I will pen my birds, at least those that get into areas where predator visits. There are times when fencing is the prudent thing to do. In my exprience, foxes, especially reds are willing to come in even if a dog is nearby. The dogs need to get off their butts to respond when birds give alarm calls.

Birds ranging an area too big to protect.

can a fox jump an electric fence of 4' high? Or welded wire? The open section of pasture is large, would be a project to figure out with cost of fencing, but electric would be cheaper.

The dogs were upset all day yesterday while we had them tied up in the chicken area. But, the good news is that we didn't lose any more chickens yesterday. The dogs are up chasing stuff all night, so they are understandably tired. I'd like them to switch to being diurnal instead. Until we get this solved, we will still tie them up down there during the daytime.

 

[centrarchid]

Tie dogs on place may work, assuming fox not brazen.

 

[chickens really]

that could be very helpful to get a camera out there. we set a trap last evening and wired chicken bones with meat inside it. My husband went to check on it and one of our cats was in it, darn!

That's all we ever caught too...My darn Cat......lol

 

[centrarchid]

Fox can jump a 4' fence but generally reluctant if fence is hot. Fox needs to have a learning curve to figure out such an effort might be worth it. Most of time other efforts are easier for fox.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Can you tighten the ranging habits of your flock? What about releasing dogs during part of day to patrol among flock?.... In my [experience,] foxes, especially reds are willing to come in even if a dog is nearby. The dogs need to get off their butts to respond when birds give alarm calls....

I would add that the dog needs to be able to get to where the fox and chickens inter act.

Not like this poor overweight dog is forced to do.

 

[centrarchid]

I would add that the dog needs to be able to get to where the fox and chickens inter act.

Not like this poor overweight dog is forced to do.

We have had Red Fox come in and take birds near penned dogs as well. We fixed that by releasing just one of the dogs.

I assume the OP has concern about either dogs being issue themselves or they will not stay where they they are needed.

 

[Fruity's Group]

That's all we ever caught too...My darn Cat......lol

we set trap again last night. whatever it was ate the meat off the bones and was able to unwire the bones from the bottom of the cage and flip the cage about 50 feet from where we put it. It was sprung and just had some bones lying in it. We will try again this evening.