Devastated, lost my entire flock in one night.

[darleneferguson57]

thank you......

 

[FireTigeris]

Yes I do plan on purchasing more chickens but after we get moved. We purchased five acres in north Florida and are starting our little homestead. I have two Welsch Harlequin ducks in an adjoining pen and they were unharmed. Thanks to everyone for their help and comments.

sorry for your loss, where in N-FL? East or West?

Here in Jacksonville so far:

Pine Snake (eggs and chicks) [we have plenty other snakes one of these got in once... mostly racers and at the river there are moccasins]
Hawks (Often red-tailed or red-shouldered, sometimes Coopers- Ospreys have never attacked)
Foxes (never entered the fenced area where the dogs mark...)
Coyote and cubs- killed 1/2 my flock in a couple hours during the day, some of the bodies were still warm, rigor had only set in 1/3 of them. IDed by other sightings, scat, fur and footprints...
Possum- tried to attack chicks, the rooster (from roosting early evening) and then the dogs were on top of it very quickly (dogs are inside unless we are home, then they may pick)
Feral or escaped dogs - never enter the fence- run up and down the fence line being stressful
Feral or Escaped Cats- Never caused problems (yet)
GHO- never left my birds out at night but the resident Great Horned Owl would love to eat one or two...
Bob Cats- have seen scat and prints- never withing 20-30 feet of an inhabited building (yet)
Alligator- 'he' has never tried to enter the fence to my knowledge- he has been removed as a human habituated gator to the alligator farm or something- (4-6 foot)

 

[kacky]

Definitely sounds like a weasel/mink we had a mom and her baby kill over 20 ornamental ducks in one night. They always attack the head first. They can be quite hard to catch also. If you pile the bodies up against the fence and set traps around that area you might be able to catch it. You will have to disquise the traps somehow because they will not go near them if they see them.

 

[darleneferguson57]

sorry for your loss, where in N-FL? East or West?

Here in Jacksonville so far:

Pine Snake (eggs and chicks) [we have plenty other snakes one of these got in once... mostly racers and at the river there are moccasins]
Hawks (Often red-tailed or red-shouldered, sometimes Coopers- Ospreys have never attacked)
Foxes (never entered the fenced area where the dogs mark...)
Coyote and cubs- killed 1/2 my flock in a couple hours during the day, some of the bodies were still warm, rigor had only set in 1/3 of them. IDed by other sightings, scat, fur and footprints...
Possum- tried to attack chicks, the rooster (from roosting early evening) and then the dogs were on top of it very quickly (dogs are inside unless we are home, then they may pick)
Feral or escaped dogs - never enter the fence- run up and down the fence line being stressful
Feral or Escaped Cats- Never caused problems (yet)
GHO- never left my birds out at night but the resident Great Horned Owl would love to eat one or two...
Bob Cats- have seen scat and prints- never withing 20-30 feet of an inhabited building (yet)
Alligator- 'he' has never tried to enter the fence to my knowledge- he has been removed as a human habituated gator to the alligator farm or something- (4-6 foot)

Our property is in Keystone Heights. Way back in the boonies. I feel predeters will be more of an issue than they are here on Black Hammock Island, Jax.

 

[kwol]

sorry for your loss, where in N-FL? East or West?

Here in Jacksonville so far:

Pine Snake (eggs and chicks) [we have plenty other snakes one of these got in once... mostly racers and at the river there are moccasins]
Hawks (Often red-tailed or red-shouldered, sometimes Coopers- Ospreys have never attacked)
Foxes (never entered the fenced area where the dogs mark...)
Coyote and cubs- killed 1/2 my flock in a couple hours during the day, some of the bodies were still warm, rigor had only set in 1/3 of them. IDed by other sightings, scat, fur and footprints...
Possum- tried to attack chicks, the rooster (from roosting early evening) and then the dogs were on top of it very quickly (dogs are inside unless we are home, then they may pick)
Feral or escaped dogs - never enter the fence- run up and down the fence line being stressful
Feral or Escaped Cats- Never caused problems (yet)
GHO- never left my birds out at night but the resident Great Horned Owl would love to eat one or two...
Bob Cats- have seen scat and prints- never withing 20-30 feet of an inhabited building (yet)
Alligator- 'he' has never tried to enter the fence to my knowledge- he has been removed as a human habituated gator to the alligator farm or something- (4-6 foot)

I found your post very informative. I had not considered some of these predator possitbilities. New to Chickens in NW St. Johns. Thank you.

 

[melroseladi]

I am in the same area, out in the woods. So far my biggest issue has been fox. They snag my guineas while they are out free-ranging in broad daylight. A fox got one of my laying hens while she was out free-ranging during the day a couple of days ago. My neighbor scared off a fox who had just killed one of his hens. The fox ran off but did return to the dead hen. My neighbor was waiting and ready and that fox hunts no more.

I lost young guineas when a opossum found a weak spot in their chainlink pen. I was able to trap him and he is no longer a threat to anybodys stock. We have lots of coons, so far they have been more interested in the trash then the birds. There are big cats out here as well, not sure what kind, but so far they have not been a problem. Coyotes are abundant but I am finding, unlike fox, they seem to respect the territory of our dogs.

I have seen all of these, other then the opossum, out at all times of the day. They do not just hunt at night.

Welcome to the neighborhood.

Penny

 

[Shellz]

I get raccoons, & one in chicken pen last year had distemper. Put it out of its misery! Weirdest thing I ever saw! Chickens weren't even that scared of it. It moved so slow, don't think it could've got a bird if it wanted to!

 

[3 NH reds]

Sorry for your loss I know Agway here in MASS sells predator urine ie coyote. So far we have been lucky between chicken wire all around and on top along with a solar electric fence with one wire just off the ground one at dog nose level and one just before the top we have been OK. My wife heard coyote come in but before she could act it hit the fence and left screaming its head off.Good luck with the new flock and try the solar electric fence my dog hit it and now stays 15 feet away and wont come over even if a call her. Chicken= Demon

 

[Shellz]

Ah yeah, that's the ticket! (Electric fence) Wish I could afford to do 2 acres with it! Until then, it's the .22 rifle! Predator urine can be hit or miss. Worth a shot, IMO. Make sure you keep on top of it after any significant precipitation.

 

[darleneferguson57]

Penny, thanks for the warm welcome. We aren't living at the property full time yet. We go down every week end and sometimes during the week. Still working on the well and getting power. Have been doing some clearing, ugh! Are looking at being there full time the end of February. One farm just down the road has Emu, turkeys, chickens and some other animals. I really like the area, love the woods but those roads leave a little to be desired, hahaha. I know you know what I mean by that. Thanks for the info.... Darlene