I REALLY can’t catch a break here! Or a breath 😭

[BrittanyL15]

I have no idea or advice but have to say, I'm so very sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine. It's crazy how much love we have for our birds. RIP Duck Duck

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

So sorry for you loss. I don't free range because of losses in the past. I built nice large covered pens with good heavy duty netting. I have electric wires around my coops and pens and concrete under the gates all due to losses from predators in the past. When free ranging, it's a risk you take and you will loose birds sooner or later. I can't be out watching my birds all of the time but I have peace knowing they are safe. People get joy from watching their birds out free ranging but the minute you get distracted a predator may strike. If you have a camera, put it up because most likely the predator has been lurking looking for an opportunity and apparently found one and it will be back. It could have happened by but most likely lurking. You may not see it but it probably will see you. Good luck...

I think I’m going to talk to my husband about building larger, sturdier runs for all of my birds. At the moment we have a metal one we found on eBay that has been doing okay with extra added on protection. He’s not much of a builder, he can build anything but not off the top of his head or without guidance from his brother, who is actually very handy with building things. He’s been cutting trees down to make room for the hot fence & I’ve been looking at getting extra cameras for the area. The highlight of my day has always been letting my chooks out to free range. I enjoyed it SO much. But in this month of December with everything that’s happened so far..... I’m enjoying it less & less. We had hawks all summer long, red tails mainly. They never came down into the yard, always flown over & in the area. There has been a different hawk hanging out. From my google searches of hawks in WNC... it might be a Broad Winged Hawk. I won’t have peace until we have more security measures in place.

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

I have eliminated some predators in the past. The electric wires around my coops and pens work well. Most predators first explore with their noses. I have had predators attempt to dig under the fence but abort their attempt when they get zapped. I have seen predators after I have eliminated one. and as long as they don't bother my birds, I don't bother them. If you were to catch a predator in a live trap there may be a wildlife rescue in your area that will take it. They usually have release areas.

My husband is a big hunter, so if we were to catch something he would be the one to discard it. He’s been tore up over our losses lately too & doesn’t want to see another chook or duck hurt or killed. I feel the same way though, if it isn’t trying to get an all-access pass to a bird buffet or cause trouble, I won’t go out of my way to trap it.

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

I have no idea or advice but have to say, I'm so very sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine. It's crazy how much love we have for our birds. RIP Duck Duck

Thank you so much. We bought our first flock March/April of this year. It was my husbands idea. I honestly wasn’t into the thought of having chickens, at first . But now, they are my heart. Almost like my feathery children. It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest over & over again. To Duck Duck.

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

What kind of trap are you setting? Are you planning on killing it? I advice against that. We are surrounded by predators up here, it is just part of living with poultry, you don't need to kill them to keep them safe, it is unnecessary. @Sulky Bantam @Duck mommy 2019

I have had many losses as well, once, 3 birds were sitting on a hill. I when inside for 2 minutes, came back out, my drake was quacking and one of my female ducks was missing. I ran across the yard to get help, which took less them 10 seconds. I look back. Only the drake is left. I never found the other birds. I am so sorry for you loss, these things are so hard!

Right now we only have live traps. My husband is a hunter so if he wants something eliminated, then he will be the one doing it. But I feel the same way, you get rid of one, there’s a line of more waiting for their turn.


Oh my. I wonder what took your ducks? It goes to show that you don’t have to see or hear anything when one of your birds are taken. That’s so awful. They are definitely hard. Especially for someone who is SO empathetic & overthinks.

 

[BrittanyL15]

Thank you so much. ❤ We bought our first flock March/April of this year. It was my husbands idea. I honestly wasn’t into the thought of having chickens, at first . But now, they are my heart. Almost like my feathery children. It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest over & over again. To Duck Duck.

Same situation here. Got our girls in April cause hubby loved the idea and I fell in love with them. Im constantly over worrying about them with our negative temps here in MN. Had no idea I'd care so much or love them as much as I do. The worst we have had is a frostbit comb on one and a cut on another and my heart sank so I'm heartbroken for you. I just can't imagine. Wishing you comfort and peace ❤

 

[Weeg]

My husband is a big hunter, so if we were to catch something he would be the one to discard it. He’s been tore up over our losses lately too & doesn’t want to see another chook or duck hurt or killed. I feel the same way though, if it isn’t trying to get an all-access pass to a bird buffet or cause trouble, I won’t go out of my way to trap it.

I personally don't think this problem is going to be solved by killing the predator. As long as you have a sturdy run they can spend time in, and you don't allow the predator to get any birds it will leave. That is what we do. We are surrounded by woods, half our property is woods, and we have never killed a single predator, haven't lost a bird in at least a year. We let them out as long as we are running around outside and making enough noise to scare predators away, and our dog is out. That should be all you need to do, the predator isn't trying to be mean or horrible, its just trying to survive.

 

[cmom]

I let my most special hen out one day and had in the past with no issues what so ever. I got distracted. I called for her and she would always come to me when I called her on this day, nothing. I felt something was wrong and went looking for her. I found feathers and followed them but never did find her body. I cried and beat myself up (still do) if only I had put her in her pen. It was a fox. He snatched her in the middle of the day and no sounds. I did catch the fox and eliminated it. I had been seeing it on my cameras. I have seen other fox since.

 

[cmom]

The electric fence or wires will turn out to be a blessing. They were for me.
http://www.plamondon.com/wp/faq-simple-electric-fences-chickens/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-treatise-on-electric-fencing.1117877/

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

Same situation here. Got our girls in April cause hubby loved the idea and I fell in love with them. Im constantly over worrying about them with our negative temps here in MN. Had no idea I'd care so much or love them as much as I do. The worst we have had is a frostbit comb on one and a cut on another and my heart sank so I'm heartbroken for you. I just can't imagine. Wishing you comfort and peace ❤

Thank you for the kind words. Sounds exactly like me. Spending more & more time with them as they grew made me fall deeply in love with every single one. It’s a huge kick in the gut, especially knowing that you were just around the corner when they were taken My best advice is to never let your guard down, never assume that just because you don’t see or hear any predators, that they aren’t lurking around.