grannys gone and done it

[Granny Hatchet]

wonder if what i heard was fox and not coyote?

 

[enola]

What did you hear? How did it sound?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

well, i went and listened to some recordings on u tube and it sounds like a pack of coyotes. i did a head count tonight and am down 25 birds. that dont sound right even for a large pack. i still have the 2 guineas today.so 10 of them gone and 1 laying hen. 36 total in a week. still have 62 in the bantam coop . that is unbelievable. i didnt realize it was so many.

 

[Shabana]

So sorry to hear about your hens.

Here in the UK the fox is our number 1 preditor especially at this time of year when they are teaching their cubs to hunt.
They become persistent and will return every day until they have had them all.

I would make sure your bantams are secure as they jump and climb like a cat and can tunnel like a terrier.
Men's wee deters them women's doesn't work and also men's hair tied up in stockings and hung around the perimeter can help too.

Look for really dark almost black poop.

We use the big cage traps if they become persistent.

Love and hugs to you granny x

 

[Granny Hatchet]

i have been looking for anything and dont see. didnt think to look fir poop. i will go on a poop hunt when the sun goes down. just need to find my cloths pin first

 

[Eggcessive]

I trapped 10 raccoons and and 3 oppossums in the same spot night after night for 4 weeks, near my breeding roosters' pen in May before I put the trap away. Each night 2 marshmallows and a spoonful of Friskies salmon cat food in a cat food can tied down to the cage (they liked Reese's and Snickers too, but was getting expensive) worked. Tie down the cage too because they will throw it around to get the food. We have coyotes all around howling, but the raccoons are pretty active right now.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

think the coons would be hunting of the day? i still see no signs. almost makes me wonder if i have some hungry neighbors. one guinea came back. so i have 3. today, in the woods the crows were going nuts. i think they found an egg stash. the male guineas wouldnt be hanging out with females sitting would they?

 

[Eggcessive]

That is how I knew we had raccoons hanging around my rooster pen because one afternoon I walked in the barn, and one was trying to get to their feed. When the mothers and young ones are out, they pretty much show up whenever, but they are primarily nocturnal hunters. I caught all of them at night due to not being able to set the trap in the day time because of my hussy free range hens coming around the rooster pen.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

i have a coon trap, i will give it a try tomorrow. if i catch a fox what am i to do with it?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

hussy hens