It's back...

[Athiena14]

I built it this year. I will post a pic tomorrow of the hole it pulled up. It had staples in it (light weight unfortunately. ) I hadnt gotten the chance to reinforce it. The attack on the ducklings was at sunset, I went in the morning and found the quail.

 

[dpenning]

Hate to say it but pretty much the only thing that can't get through chicken wire is chickens. You need to use a welded wire with an apron to keep things from going through and/or digging under.

 

[cmom]

I would put either hardware cloth on your tractor or welded wire. Coons can get into chicken wire. I hope you have a game camera. Hopefully you secured the birds for their safety, but I think the predator will be back again. I have several cameras around on my property and I see predators on at least one of the cameras most nights.

 

[Northern.Ontario]

I built it this year. I will post a pic tomorrow of the hole it pulled up. It had staples in it (light weight unfortunately. ) I hadnt gotten the chance to reinforce it. The attack on the ducklings was at sunset, I went in the morning and found the quail. View attachment 1514643

A large raccoon will get his hands under that and just lift it up. The whole tractor itself looks to weigh less than 20 pounds. I would place a 2 foot wide skirting around the entire tractor and anchor the edges with wood strapping and lots of screws

 

[Athiena14]

I would put either hardware cloth on your tractor or welded wire. Coons can get into chicken wire. I hope you have a game camera. Hopefully you secured the birds for their safety, but I think the predator will be back again. I have several cameras around on my property and I see predators on at least one of the cameras most nights.

Those were my last birds in there. My chickens, and turkey are in the barn with a door that's locked up every night. No way else in. The ducklings would normally go in the barn, but it attacked before everyone went in. (Those 5 were always stragglers.)

 

[Athiena14]

A large raccoon will get his hands under that and just lift it up. The whole tractor itself looks to weigh less than 20 pounds. I would place a 2 foot wide skirting around the entire tractor and anchor the edges with wood strapping and lots of screws

This is why I like this group. You guys help with ways to keep this from happening. I will try to do this before putting anything else in it

 

[Athiena14]

Just wondering if a possum could do this?

 

[Athiena14]

I didnt get a chance to clean it up yet. This is the hole

 

[Cyprus]

Just wondering if a possum could do this?

Oh most definitely.
I hate those rattly creatures. I've had them tear through everything.
But when possums kill they tear into the abdomen.

 

[Athiena14]

Oh most definitely.
I hate those rattly creatures. I've had them tear through everything.
But when possums kill they tear into the abdomen.

Was wondering cause this is the third time I've caught the same possum in a trap right next to my barn where the chickens are. Not taking any chances with it