If you think it can't happen to you please think again!

[RHewitt]

I have been lucky for over two years and never had a predator problem. I have read here on BYC about coon,fox,owl,hawk,dog,coyote,possum,cats,ect. devastating flocks and never worried much thinking that want happen to me and guess what...it did in a big way. I was feeding my baby girl a bottle this morning around 6:30am and heard my chickens raising cain. Looked out the window and fox had my large RIR Roo pinned down and biting him right in the middle of my backyard. Free Ranging stops now! The fox killed three other hens in a matter of minutes before attacking the RIR. Did not eat any of them just killed them. I tried to get off a shot with my 22 but a running fox is a hard target.

I decide I would herd my chickens back in the coop but took a quick shower first. (Did not want to be late for work) well that was another bad idea because the fox I just scared off with the rifle came back while I was in the shower and finished off my RIR roo and three more hens.

The plot thickens my Dad who lives 15 miles away called me on my way to work to tell me he had caught a racoon that killed 4 hens in one night this past weekend.

He or I have never had a predator problem and we both got hit all at once. So if you think it can't happen to you please think again and prepare your coops to keep your birds safe.

I feel terrible and have made plans to completely secure my free ranging area when funds allow and will help my Dad do the same. Until then no more free ranging for me.

Your flock can get destroyed in less than 10 minutes and the 6 months you spent raising your layers goes down the drain.

 

[DixieDame67]

RH, Im so sorry to hear of your plite as same was bestowed upon me, two nights in a row a opposum, after seriously two or three licks to the head, half hour later it was back, never got any of my chickens, but i heard there distress call, outside with bb gun, shot that possum least 3-4 hits i know, it waddled off, i am a licensed sportsman have been for years, also holder of concealed gun permit, but i have neighbors , this occurs late night between 12-3am ....i struggle with protecting my flock verses waking up the neighbors with big boom, now im sleepless in Tennesse and will go for eliminating preditors , with no regrets...Good luck in your ventures and so sorry of your loss


Dixie

 

[ranchhand]

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear this.

I lost several hens to racoons when I was in TX and learned that they can get into most anything. I hadn't even thought about the foxes here in SC.

Thanks for the heads up, I need to do all the coop/run reinforcing I keep postponing.

Very sorry.

 

[sillybirds]

Sorry for your loss!

 

[Mahonri]

As I was locking up my 5 and a half week old chicks in their dog crate pen tonight, I thought, "Why do I have to do this every night?"... and then I thought of a stray cat getting in there and killing all of them... and I'll be out there every night until they are at least 10 weeks.

 

[rnoyster]

If you know someone that loads their own shotgun shells, have them load a few for you in your gauge. Have them seat the primer in the brass, then put the wad in and compress it with a very high pressure. The fill the hull up with shot ( # 6 works great) then crimp the hull like they do normally. Without the powder charge, a 12 guage shell is good for about 40 feet and makes very little noise when fired. You can roll a opossum about 4 times at 25 feet and he'll never know what hit him!

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
? Wow, I've never tried to do this on purpose

Isn't that what the old timers call a pooter shell?

 

[rnoyster]

Yep, cause when you pull the trigger it just goes PUTTTTTT! LOL!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

A shotgun primer doesnt have the energy to fire a full load of shot.

It's also DANGEROUS to "make up" loads.

The wad could become stuck in the barrel and KILL the next person firing a NORMAL load.

If you can get within 40 feet of the possum anyway, just head shoot it with a 22. Your neighbors wont hear it under normal circumstances

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
I've actually shot those on accident. I used to shoot at a local gun club for the junior ata, then the canusa games and one of the local's sponsored me, and I was using his gun, his shells etc.. anyways I walked up to the line, yelled pull and pulled the trigger..... Dewey said Oh POOP, that was a pooter shell ....... spit some tabbacy juice and got me a different box of shells. The wad did fly out, but practically dropped 5' from my feet.