I'm in a losing battle.. time to change plans. what's up with poison?

[cupman]

A week ago today I lost my rooster. I posted another thread about it maybe you saw, long story short he was about 13 months old and was a great rooster. I penned my animals up for a day and then the next four they free ranged all day without problems.. though they did seem a bit lost without the rooster to lead. The rooster was killed around 4-5pm. Well last night it happened again.. 6 days after the rooster was killed. A hen was killed in the daylight hours.. 4-5pm. I am fairly certain it's the same perpetrator. Same attack methods, kill and then drag down the bluff I live on. My other hens grouped up under a tree but they didn't make any noise. That's the part I'm having problems with.. I was like 30 feet away, had they caused a commotion I would have heard it. Oh well.

I'll get to the point. I have three live animal traps set at various points around my property. They are baited with cat food/tuna/old steak bones from dinner. Not a single trap has been set off or messed with. I am thinking about moving to poison but I don't know a lot about poison. Is cyanide a good choice? In the movies cyanide always kills in seconds but I'm not sure how accurate that is. The quicker the better. I was thinking of poisoning a fish or some type of meat that the deer won't mess with. My main problem is raccoons although I'm beginning to think this particular predator may be a coyote or fox.

What are your thoughts on poison? Cyanide? Strychnine? I have a pretty good idea where the predator resides and it's in an area that I don't risk hurting the neighbor's pets.

 

[madamwlf]

Sorry but I would never use poison. Horrible way to die and very indiscriminate too.

 

[canesisters]

We had "something" tearing up the barn, eating the cat food, pulling down bird feeders, etc. Luckily, I didn't have chickens yet or they would've been targets for sure. Anyway, I set a live trap under the bird feeder - and bated it with marshmallows crammed through the back, bottom and roof. I suspected that the culprit was a coon and I had heard that they are sugar-aholics. Sure enough, the next morning there was a HUGE coon in the trap. A neighbor picked up the trap that morning and brought it back empty (I know, cowardly of me - but hey). No more trouble and I figure that he was big enough and fat enough that it wasn't feasible that my house was the only one he was terrorizing.

I suggest changing your bait - and placing your traps very carefully.

 

[Gallus Sapien]

Don't use your pc to look for the above mentioned products...You will be put on the list...remember big brother? THOSE TWO will set up a flag.

 

[speedy2020]

I would avoid poison. You can use some left over fresh chicken meat for treat outside the trap and slowly move the treat into the trap. It may take awhile, but it eventually go for it.

 

[Gallus Sapien]

I suggest changing your bait - and placing your traps very carefully.

I agree...and remember a fox is almost impossible to catch in a box trap. Try a snare on a trail.

 

[Imp]

Sorry cupman, that sux,
I went through the same thing last year with raccoons. I was never able to trap the raccoons. Plenty of possums and cats though.
I have pretty much given up on free ranging unless I'm home & can supervise or leave a window/door open to listen.
I don't know a thing about cyanide or strychnine. On BYC and other forums, Warfarin(rat poison), Antifreeze and Golden Malrin were suggested.
I have no advice, just wish you luck.

Imp

 

[ButchGood]

To trap a fox you need to get all human scent off of the trap. Back in the 1970's I ran a trap line for coons. They aren't very hard to catch. Fishy stinky bait usually does the trick. Fox on the other hand, especially the Red Fox is tough. I would use a leg hold trap for a fox. Boil your trap. Hang your boots, gloves and clothes outside a couple days. Wash yourself with unscented soap before going out to set the trap. When you get to the place you want to set the trap, dig a very shallow hole, just enough to cover your bait. I would use some chicken parts since that's what it seems to be hungry for. Set your trap and place it on top of your bait. Then place some leaves or grass over the trap to hide it. The fox will find the meat and attempt to dig it up. when he does you got him. You must check your trap every evening and early every morning. Leg hold traps hurt. You don't want any animal to be trapped like this very long. To dispatch the fox I would use a .22 cal bullet to the head. Some folks I knew would use a club to the head.
This isn't a very pretty site and it isn't at all enjoyable. But sometimes you have to do something you don't like to solve the problem.
It also could be a coyote.These guys are a little big for a live trap. Ive never trapped them before. I have shot them. You can call them to you in the morning and evening with a predator call, or you can do like me and call them with your hand to your lips. Kind of like kissing your hand with a loud smooch. this sounds like a small animal and they will come. when the do, Take aim and shoot

 

[geoff40]

Lots of potential for unintended, collateral damage with poison. It works up and down the food chain, it has a long reach. IMO not generally a good option.

 

[Oregon Blues]

This is one of the problems with catch and release. (and only one of the problems) Animals previously trapped in a box trap know what it is and you are unlikely to catch them again. Except for the neighbor's cat. He gets a treat and then someone comes and lets him loose. He has no reason to stay away.

The trouble with poison is that you might kill a lot of animals who wouldn't even consider killing your chickens. Heck, chickens eat meat, so you risk poisoning your own chickens.