Fisher Cat Behavior: Hunting During the Day? And young birds foraging in the woods

[pkarkos]

I have a fisher cat nest about 100 yards from my house and one of them got in my coop, killed two of my pullets (a buff orp and a white rock) and my two Ameraucana mix roosters. I have sealed the coop where the fisher cat got in (I saw him in the act of trying to pull my sweet roo through the hole) so the birds are safe in the coop now. I have only been letting the pullets out into the run, but my older hens insist on going out, so I have been letting them.
My question is about the safety of the birds in the day time. About a week before the fisher cat attack something attacked one of my roosters around the back of my house (which is further from the nest than the coops) and it ran towards the area where I know the nest is. But this was just after noon on a sunny day? So was that a fisher cat or something else? I have never know fisher cats to hunt during the day.
I am rather nervous after this attack to let my pullets out because they always insist on foraging on the edge of the woods where the nest is. Another question: will they grow out of that?

 

[Fishsticks06]

I have a fisher cat nest about 100 yards from my house and one of them got in my coop, killed two of my pullets (a buff orp and a white rock) and my two Ameraucana mix roosters. I have sealed the coop where the fisher cat got in (I saw him in the act of trying to pull my sweet roo through the hole) so the birds are safe in the coop now. I have only been letting the pullets out into the run, but my older hens insist on going out, so I have been letting them.
My question is about the safety of the birds in the day time. About a week before the fisher cat attack something attacked one of my roosters around the back of my house (which is further from the nest than the coops) and it ran towards the area where I know the nest is. But this was just after noon on a sunny day? So was that a fisher cat or something else? I have never know fisher cats to hunt during the day.
I am rather nervous after this attack to let my pullets out because they always insist on foraging on the edge of the woods where the nest is. Another question: will they grow out of that?

I’ve never even heard of a fisher before, I don’t know much about the animal so that isn’t a question for me. If you want your problem to be solved, just kill the fisher cat and it’ll be over with. Also the day isn’t very dangerous besides hawks (at least for me.) They’re your chickens and you can take matters into whatever hands you please.

 

[mowin]

I've seen numerous fishers during the day. While they prefer to hunt at night, they will definitely hunt during the day.

It sounds like your coop, run needs some work to be predator proof.
Getting rid of the fisher, will help, but other critters will show up. If you free range, you will eventually loose chickens.

 

[DobieLover]

Fishers are primarily nocturnal but I've seen them during the day and if they have kits to feed, they will hunt whenever they can.
What state are you located in? In NY, you need a DEC permit to take a nuisance fisher cat.

 

[Fishsticks06]

Fishers are primarily nocturnal but I've seen them during the day and if they have kits to feed, they will hunt whenever they can.
What state are you located in? In NY, you need a DEC permit to take a nuisance fisher cat.

Really? I though you’re able to kill an animal if it harms you, your animals, or your property when on your said lot. As long as it isn’t maliciously tortured in any given circumstance.

 

[DobieLover]

Really? I though you’re able to kill an animal if it harms you, your animals, or your property when on your said lot. As long as it isn’t maliciously tortured in any given circumstance.

If it's in the act, I would imagine that's a different matter. Contact your state DEC and find out what the laws are there.

 

[mowin]

Really? I though you’re able to kill an animal if it harms you, your animals, or your property when on your said lot. As long as it isn’t maliciously tortured in any given circumstance.

I talked to my local DEC agent about a bear that's in the area. He said my coop better be trashed if I did shoot the bear( I wouldn't unless it was hunting season, or just wouldn't leave after a few warning shots).

Now, I know a bear is a different situation then a Fisher, but I doubt you'll have any issues if you shoot a Fisher cat if it's after your chickens.