Hi, Im in Apollo and just lost 5 more chickens.

[Goober1201]

I just woke up this morning and looked in my coop and there were 5 more of my chickens. I am so upset. I have bated traps out there and everything. We are going to replace the door today with a new one and some pad locks. Man this sucks. Started out with 42 birds? and now I have 18 left... mix birds from chickens to g hens to turkey and ducks. And one have any tips on what I should do? I'm not gonna lie, we are poor and this was one of our ways of food this year and now this. I'm in tears. I loved my birds. Now they wont even come to me they are so scared. The one hen I grabbed riped me all up. My girls come up to me and for real jump in my arms. I'm so sickened.

 

[am farmer]

Do you know what is getting them are how they are getting in

 

[Goober1201]

NO.. I have NO CLUE!! I have set bated traps out every night for weeks, got a cat (mine), a old coon with NO TEETH or tail, and a possum. What ever it is I want it dead!!

 

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

If it's a fox you are not likely to catch it with a livetrap. The only ways I know to deal with foxes is to either shoot it if you see it, set up a leg trap, invest in electric fencing (which I'm guessing is not an options) or put your dog out with the chickens if it can be trusted not to eat them.

 

[am farmer]

Ok will figure this out this happen to me a couple weeks back and we are same as you are here at first i was missing them just a few feather left behind then found snake in my coop took care of him while he still had a belly full i taught it was over then started finding my chickens dead missing heads on outside of coop i started checking at nite and discovered it was my cat who has always gone to coop and inside coop with me and never had showed signs of even wanting to chase my chickens so are they and i am sorry for ask for these details wet are slimy like snake got them are are they just chewed up also have you been missing any eggs

 

[am farmer]

Quote:

are we got coytes here are they be trying to get in are pen but we have a very tall fence

 

[Goober1201]

I trust my dog if my chickens are in the coop, but not the crazy hybrid coyotes we have here, they are mixed with wolves.. stupid game commission. My cat has no claws (rescue) so really don't think its him. What ever it is, it knows how to TURN a wooden swing latch and can pick up a really heavy door.

 

[Goober1201]

also, I only had 1 girl left that laid and she hasn't for a while I'm guessing from fright. But the others should be soon... if there not to scared to..ugg

 

[am farmer]

They wont lay if they are all worked up swing latch huh only raccons and bears for that maynover that i know of

 

[am farmer]

Have you tryed placing bricks in front of the door at nite have you noticed any other point of intere