Lost 10 hens today, first loss, do you think fox?

[jtbrown]

We had 34 free range mixed flock. I was in house with napping 5 year old son and had dog in house with us (wish he had stayed out today as usual, but hindsight . . . ) Within 2 hours multiple piles of feathers in every direction, found 3 hens with what appear to be non life threatening puncture wounds on back and top of neck and at dark total of 10 missing birds. Yes, am sad, but knew risks of free ranging and accepted that for happy hens and great eggs.

I have a couple of questions for those with experience. Can one fox have made off with all of them? I counted 5 distinct sets of feathers, so am assuming some girls too stunned to come back to coop, so loss may be less than I think right now. I have no bodies, so I don't think dogs. Do coyotes take bodies with them in broad daylight? Do foxes hunt in multiples? Sounds like lots of piles of feathers in every direction for one lowly fox, but anyone with experience have insight on what I am facing?

We have large protected run which will be used til we sort this out. I will cull the downed birds if necessary but at least one of them is eating and drinking, so will wait it out, has been less than 6 hours since attack. Our coop is new and is tight, so at least we are good now. Any insight would be great, thanks in advance.

 

[TonySorrento]

We had 34 free range mixed flock. I was in house with napping 5 year old son and had dog in house with us (wish he had stayed out today as usual, but hindsight . . . ) Within 2 hours multiple piles of feathers in every direction, found 3 hens with what appear to be non life threatening puncture wounds on back and top of neck and at dark total of 10 missing birds. Yes, am sad, but knew risks of free ranging and accepted that for happy hens and great eggs.

I am having difficulty thinking how happy those 13 birds are now???

Also, do eggs from free ranging birds taste better than those raised in coop and run on layer?

 

[jtbrown]

Yes, they do taste better and study after study shows better for you.

I will say this one time, it is not up for debate about how I raise the birds, they are well cared for, losses are a part of raising livestock., I posted in this section to see if anyone had insight as to what predator we have. please do not make my thread into a debate, I need help identifying a predator. These are livestock and pets and we are truly saddened by the loss today, but most important to me now is to know what to look for as far as predator. Thanks for help in advance.

 

[ivan3]

Red Fox? Yes, they hunt in pairs in the Spring. Yes, they could make off with all ten (our neighbor had 13 Silver Laced Wyandottes taken in a little less than 15 minutes by a pair). They will often cache the victims within a reasonable distance to den (usually you'll just find concentrated piles of feathers with everything else gone - at a location the foxes felt safe to dismember the haul).

They will be back, count on it.

Hunt down and burn out the den, or engage in armed, supervised, `free-range' time, or pen them up, or keep the KFC open until there is nothing left to serve up.

Not being rude, just an old `fox hand' with live flock and Grandkids supplied with fox tails.

 

[jtbrown]

Ivan3 that info is exactly what I was looking for -- Thank you -- and my husband watched the henhouse with a 22 tonight while I took the boys to 4h meeting. We had the hens locked up and I was thinking maybe a hen that got scared off would come back at dusk, And we got one more in.

My husband had wanted to grade the lane with the tractor since it rained today, but I wanted one of us to be there in case any return attack but mostly to see if any of the girls returned home, and it was worth it as the production red we called "Buffy" due to buff feathers on her backend did return with a few minor injuries. Did I mention how great my husband is?!?

I know this calls for a heavy, armed hand if I ever wish to free range again. So we are on same page there. We were so lucky the last 6 months. I was surprised 1) how fast it happened 2). How quietly it happened and 3) nothing but feathers left. The 3 "chewed" on hens had lots of loose feathers, but relatively few large wounds and for that am greatful. Thanks again, game on, we are predator hunting!

 

[ivan3]

Be aware, if it is a breeding pair, they've got quite a bit of food and might not make the rounds again for a week-or-so.

If unable to find den (usually on South facing hillside - at bottom of big snag, or under an old, unused building, etc., read up on trapping (I've had good luck with snares - lot of overgrown fence lines they like to travel along). Kits will go into standard havaharts but adults won't (though they'll hang around the yipping, caged, young and can be taken with .22).


Good luck!

 

[jtbrown]

Thanks again, this is new to us, have not been on BYC much lately, but again feel greatly indebted to those with experience. This is the info that is hard to look up, so I appreciate it. An aside, I just checked on injured hens in old rabbit cage, dog crate and unused brooder and they all 3 lifted head to my voice and flashlight. 2 hours ago two of them seemed unaware of their surroundings, so I am eager to see them in the morning. Feels like small victory to see them come around.

 

[TonySorrento]

Yes, they do taste better and study after study shows better for you.

I will say this one time, it is not up for debate about how I raise the birds, they are well cared for, losses are a part of raising livestock., I posted in this section to see if anyone had insight as to what predator we have. please do not make my thread into a debate, I need help identifying a predator. These are livestock and pets and we are truly saddened by the loss today, but most important to me now is to know what to look for as far as predator. Thanks for help in advance.

JT ... my apologies as to how my post came.off .... I struggle with wanting mine to free range ... do I take the gamble of losing some like you all did ... I think after all the work and money I put in if that happened .... it would be such a blow ... my heart goes out to you all

I even started a thread about one vs the other and would they not know what they were missing .... so I am still on the fence for. My situation ....

Again, please forgive me for the.way my post came off ... after rereading it, I see how it sounded and I sure didn't mean it that way ...

 

[mixitup]

I have a question, because I am interested in the time and speed, but, could a weasel have done it? Since they were free range, would a weasel/mink have killed one, took it back, came back, took another one, etc? Just wondering because when I had the mink, it killed a couple and then tried to make off with them. Just would like the info on the predator style.

I'm sorry for your loss though. 10 at once seems excessive which is why I am wondering if only a fox would do something like that.

 

[chatterbox]

I've seen coyotes and dogs whipe them out just as fast. The dog didn't eat them but hit all of them so well you could walk right by them and wouldn't see them.