First coon attack!

[BooBear]

Yep, one showed up for dinner. I just moved the younger cockerals along with Tubb and Peaches to the bachelor pen last night. I didn't think much of it as I have not lost any to furry predators. The bachelor pen does need fortifying and I just bought some hardy clothe to use on it but ran out of time so did not get started yet on the project.

Unfortunately, the wiley predator caught on to my mistake and had a nice meal. Noticed some digging, but no break in that way. He/she pulled the victoms through the chainlink. Lots of feathers scattered and only one headless body.

I think it was a coon as I have seen tracks before. Also seen oppossum about. I think the ruckus the boys were making from being moved to this pen attracted the predator to them.

Lost 4 young cockerals total. 3 bodies completely missing. I will never be over confident again.
I took Peaches and the surviving black wyandotte and put them in the layers coop which is a fort. Poor boys were rightly upset.

Won't be using the bachelor pen until it gets revamped. Feel sad for the ones lost.

 

[12304]

I am so sorry i to felt overconfident but then found a giant black snake trying yo get to my little chicks and we fixed up the coop so it was preditor proof

 

[BooBear]

Yikes, did you get the snake?

I would hate to find one of those in a coop. So far my bigger chickens get rid of any snake they find.
I will be setting a trap this evening to see if I can catch the varmint that got my boys. I really liked the Blue Wheaten Ameraucana cockerals that were taken. They were very sweet birds.

 

[ChickcrazyCharlie]

Sorry for your loss. They seem to know when and where the weakness is in your defence. I have lost chickens to many different predators. Everytime I let my guard down, they get one of my chickies. But many have payed with their lives. I try to keep a trap set.

 

[lauriej57]

I think you have hit the nail on the head, the roos causing a ruckus and making noise.

I've never had that problem, I have rarely had more than 1 roo, but I can go predator proof for a very long time, but put some peeping chicks out there, and the coons come in like crazy. I'm sure they come around all the time, don't hear any sounds, don't find any easy food and move on. But with the peeping, or the sounds your roos were making, when the coons come around, they notice the difference, and they are on it!

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
possums have thumbs on all four feet coons only have them on their front paws

 

[BooBear]

Thanks guys. I did not know oppossums had thumbs on their feet.
Well, unfortunately we have pretty much all kinds of hungry varmits, just no bears.

Aprophet love your avatar it is funny.

 

[TinyTotsSeramas]

I just had that happen to me monday morning with my Button Quail.. coon tried pulling her though the chicken wire and pulled her head clean off!

 

[BooBear]

How aweful. Coons are so ornery. Sorry for your loss.