lost all 8 Silkies and Frizzles last night....Grrr

[chickenlisa]

I've had a chicken tractor for years, with anything from young chicks to older chickens to ducks in it. We've had a group of Silkies/Frizzles in it for a few weeks now b/c I needed the pen for 2 Geese I just got. We've never had a predator problem unless it was a Rooster loose in the yard overnight being taken and never seen again. We're in NJ and we've got bad wind and rain today, but overnight it wasn't bad. My daughter and DH went out to feed them and found just piles of feathers all over the place and not bodies, parts, or birds left. All 8 birds are gone.

The chicken wire that covered the open part of the wooden end of the tractor was pulled loose and crumpled so we're thinking whatever it was got in that way. I didn't see any sign of fur being caught in the wire though. We don't know what got them and I do not want them coming back for more free meals. We'll keep a light on overnight back there, and have our dogs go back there to pee each time now, but what else can we do to deter anyone from coming back and trying...My geese are new here and in a big pen covered with aviary netting. I'm worried...and its pouring rain outside today. Great day to do pen reinforcement....
Also, I"m curious what takes all the birds, eats them and just leaves feathers? We have had foxes here before and heard their babies yipping in the woods.We haven't seen or heard any of them this year though.We walked all around the property and looked in the woods some to see if we saw any of the chickens- we didn't.

Lisa

 

[bobbi-j]

Replace your chicken wire with hardware cloth. It's sturdier. I don't use a tractor - my chickens have an 8x12 shed for a coop, an attached enclosed run, and free range, so I'm not an expert on chicken tractors, but definitely get rid of the chicken wire.

 

[chickenlisa]

i neglected to write that I"ve got 4 full pens/coops.runs and have chicken wire on all of them. I've also had birds for 7 years with no animal bothering the penned up birds, only free ranging Roos. No one will be in that tractor now until we reinforce it and move it up closer to the house. It's behind our sheds and pens now and we didn't suspect a thing (nor did we hear a thing either.) Those poor little birds!

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

 

[dewey]

That's just heartbreaking. I'm so very sorry.

 

[chickenlisa]

awww thanks guys! It's so weird too- as these were just housed temporarily til I could sell or trade them. I sold 3 of them this am- and pulled them from the tractor yesterday and kept them on my porch in a bog crate so they'd be ready for the buyer this am early. Good thing too- as they'd probably be gone now too! I told her if I didn't pick out a rooster for sure- just come back b/c I knew there was at least 1 in there who was a Roo. (She wanted a roo and 2 hens) I was having a hard time figuring out which ones were hens or roos tho- because they just are coming back from a molt or being beat up by some of the other chickens they were in with before I moved them.
Do foxes wipe out whole flocks and eat everything? Coons kill and bury don't they? I'm thinking it had to be one of those 2. But I don't know their killing behaviors that well either.

 

[mominoz]

Everything but feathers, coyotes, fox? Coons and possums usually only eat part of the bird like the neck or head.....Chicken wire won't keep real predators out. Double fence with like dog kennel type wire and hardware cloth and only a bear will get in. Or hot wire.....

 

[love-my-wolves]

We had the same thing happen years ago, to our chickens, except my daughter forgot to lock the pop door....... it was a bobcat. Left piles of feathers all over, no fur, no markers, but it came back trying to see if it missed any the next day. I'm not familiar with foxes, so it could be that too...... so sorry!!!

 

[TennesseeTruly]

I'm so sorry. HUGSSSSSSSSSS

I just had the same thing happen. But whatever took my 8 Jersey Giants last night bent welded wire fencing to get my chickens! All we found was feathers and only for about 5 feet beyond the coop. No feathers anywhere else. Not anywhere else on the property, not into the woods, just gone.

Tonight I'm spending the night outside to catch the villian(s).

Laurie

 

[crazyhen]

Be very careful Laurie, If it bent welded wire fence it is strong and large. maybe a bear? Or a cougar. Yes they are in Tn and NC. gloria Jean