Fancy Pants is dead

[Chickens in Elmwood]

Oh! I am so sorry! I have lost three this week, nearly 4, but my neighbor stopped that one in time. The thing that burns me is that mine is the neighbor's dog, who has no interest in eating the chickens, just kills them for fun and leaves them laying in the field. I am thinking of getting some of those BIG Jersey Giant Roosters and a rifle.

 

[misty7850]

Quote:
Yah, we are going to get a rifle.


My grandson found the last silkie rooster hiding in the long grass in the field. Now I'll have to keep my flock locked in the barn to keep them safe. That is sad.

 

[poultrypatch]

Misty7850....So very sorry about your losses. Fancy Pants was a beautiful girl. Unreal that the fox would come in during the day. Just be careful. I know if I were to see a fox here during the day the first thing I'd worry about would be rabies.
I know about 5 pm today I looked up and saw a hawk circling over my house. Veeerrry slowly ! Hope it wasn't checking out a meal. My pen top is covered, but still.
Hope you don't loose any more.
Liz
Rochester, MA

 

[misty7850]

Quote:
Thanks for the kind words. I haven't seen any hawks about here and hope I don't. We are going to have to build a run. Cause I can't keep them in the coop all the time and I don't want to loose any more by letting them free range, ya never know when that fox will return.

 

[firedove]

It isn't completely uncommon for a fox to hunt during the day. In fact, most times I have heard of chicken losses to fox it is during day light hours since that is usually when the birds are out ranging. Foxes just don't tend to make themselves obvious during the day. When they are feeding a litter they hunt more often throughout the day as well.

A rabid fox will not care if there are people around and will act strange, may make strange noises, and possibly act aggressively. They truly look and act sick not just trotting around and hunting like a normal fox.

 

[silkiechicken]

Sorry for your losses. It seems that you have that fox you saw, and possibly a mink due to the missing head of fancy pants. So if they are cooped up, make sure there are no holes bigger than an inch around or a smaller mink can get in and tear everyone up.

 

[misty7850]

Thanks for the replies. The fox looked a little thin, but otherwise I'm not sure.
I've not seen any mink or weasels, but my coop is all enclosed with the chicken coop wire.
I did have a racoon in my corn this year, and someone was telling me also that a racoon will rip the head off

 

[1stepcloser]

I am sorry for your loss.

 

[Bizzybirdy]

but my coop is all enclosed with the chicken coop wire.

Chicken wire is USELESS against predators ! Please replace it with hardware clothe or very small, less than 1", welded wire. Racoons rip the heads off of chickens so you probably have more than one predator.

Hope you get control of this situation and do not lose any more chickens. Good luck!

 

[misty7850]

Thanks everyone.
I do have my Baby chickens coop all enclosed with hardware cloth.. But thought the other would be ok with chicken wire.. with the exception of the bottom 3 feet, I already have enclosed with the hardware cloth.. go figure. Chicken coop wire isn't safe for the chickies..
I'm going to buil a run.. should I do that with hardware cloth too ?

So far, since I've kept them in their coop (they have a mini run, but that's only 3 feet long by 3 feet high, and not big enough) anywho, so far no more problems.