Loosing birds just before dusk
- Thread starter Axel
- Start date
I lost three yesterday to a fox, and there wouldn't have been a sign of the thing except my son saw it running the birds and went outside. The fox came back today, 3 pm, same time as yesterday in broad daylight and hopped my five foot fence like it wasn't there when I let the dogs out after him. These are the first I've lost to predators, so today kept them in the run all day, no free ranging, and when I saw the fox come back in the yard, I was very glad I had the chickens locked up. And yesterday he killed three and grabbed one and ran off with it when my son went outside. There were no feathers or blood or anything anywhere, just the two dead chickens that he didn't have time to carry off. And I hear they are the very devil to catch in a trap, so I've got some planning to do.
- Oct 13, 2010
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I am in SoCal Coast too just up the road from Bob in Carp.
The locals just put out a warning that the coyotes can jump fences 6 feet tall, if your fence is only 5's they suggested the top bar needs to be "rolling"
We have not had owls or hawks come and get our chickens, and have several hawk nests with in sight of the yard. But we also have a lot of very active crows that keep the hawks in line. I am betting on coyotes and they hunt any time of the day or night and have no issues with people.
Are there a lot of "missing cat" posters in your area? If so you probably have a coyote problem.
The locals just put out a warning that the coyotes can jump fences 6 feet tall, if your fence is only 5's they suggested the top bar needs to be "rolling"
We have not had owls or hawks come and get our chickens, and have several hawk nests with in sight of the yard. But we also have a lot of very active crows that keep the hawks in line. I am betting on coyotes and they hunt any time of the day or night and have no issues with people.
Are there a lot of "missing cat" posters in your area? If so you probably have a coyote problem.
At dusk it could be almost anything.
Without leaving a trace - coyote, fox, bobcat, owl.
Around here nocturnals hit right at dusk too. Coons will often take a bird with little trace.
Without leaving a trace - coyote, fox, bobcat, owl.
Around here nocturnals hit right at dusk too. Coons will often take a bird with little trace.
- Jun 4, 2011
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Quote:
coons will do that. They will carry the birds out of the coop and out of sight to eat. Do they always? No, but I've seen them go over a 6ft chain link carrying a hen and leave not a feather behind.
How long has the trap been out? You are going to have to leave it out a while before the coons will venture into the trap. Then, once the first is caught, it could be a week or more before you catch another.
Again, I didn't read all the posts before I replied to this one. Unless the birds are really small bantams, the chances that it is a bird of prey are pretty slim. Even then, the hawk/owl will usually leave a "point of impact" pile of feathers.
And, dusk is prime time for predators. coyotes can jump a 5 foot fence and climb one even taller than that. Same with cats, foxes, etc
coons will do that. They will carry the birds out of the coop and out of sight to eat. Do they always? No, but I've seen them go over a 6ft chain link carrying a hen and leave not a feather behind.
How long has the trap been out? You are going to have to leave it out a while before the coons will venture into the trap. Then, once the first is caught, it could be a week or more before you catch another.
Again, I didn't read all the posts before I replied to this one. Unless the birds are really small bantams, the chances that it is a bird of prey are pretty slim. Even then, the hawk/owl will usually leave a "point of impact" pile of feathers.
And, dusk is prime time for predators. coyotes can jump a 5 foot fence and climb one even taller than that. Same with cats, foxes, etc
- Jun 4, 2011
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Quote:
fenced in with what?? do you roll bars on the fencing? Otherwise, a fence is just a ladder to a coyote. Or even a dog for that matter. shoot, a coworker had a YORKIE scale a 6foot chainlink fence when she was in heat.
Again, coons will grab and run as well. And a Mama and babies can make off with several birds at once, all without a trace.
no matter what you are trying to trap, it can easily take several days to a week (or even more) before you catch something in the trap. The animals need to get accustomed and comfortable with the trap before they will risk entering it. And once you trap something, then it will be a while before another animal will venture in.
fenced in with what?? do you roll bars on the fencing? Otherwise, a fence is just a ladder to a coyote. Or even a dog for that matter. shoot, a coworker had a YORKIE scale a 6foot chainlink fence when she was in heat.
Again, coons will grab and run as well. And a Mama and babies can make off with several birds at once, all without a trace.
no matter what you are trying to trap, it can easily take several days to a week (or even more) before you catch something in the trap. The animals need to get accustomed and comfortable with the trap before they will risk entering it. And once you trap something, then it will be a while before another animal will venture in.
Fox! They are so sneaky and they will take the whole thing away to eat it somewhere else. I lost three birds in one hour to two fox. So sorry for your loss, BTW.
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