Lost the hens... :(

[Erinmir]

So, we had our first confirmed predator loss this morning. Hubby found my Mille Fleur d'Uccle bantam roo in the middle of the yard looking bedraggled and stunned at about 6:00 this morning. Upon bringing him inside to inspect him for wounds he looked more than a bit bedraggled but ok. It was early, we weren't thinking and hubby took him to go back out to the banty coop. What he found was horrible. Midas's hens had both been beheaded and one of them partially ripped apart. He brought Midas back inside and he's in a crate now spending some time inside with some TLC. So depressed about it. These are my favorite birds out of our flock and were intended for showing and mostly for enjoyment as little spoiled pets. Midas did his best, but when you're that little there isn't a lot you can do.

Anyone out there have Milles and maybe be nearby who I could get him some new girlfriends from?? He's quite the gentleman and I know my full size laying hens won't care for him, so I don't want to leave him alone for too long. Poor guy. RIP Thumbelina and Goldilocks.

Also, do you think the 'coon (that's what we figure it was) will be back? Thoughts on how to trap/dispose of it?

 

[JanetS]

Yes, your predator will be back. We have had a bobcat come back again and again trying to get more chickens. The only thing that stopped him was a .22 bullet. So sorry for your loss.

 

[Angel16]

i don't know if this would work but what about a electric fance around the coop? i think one good shock from that and what ever it is would never come back.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... i think one good shock... and what ever it is would never come back.

That is far from certian, however it is the only way to bet.

 

[aart]

It will be back for sure. You need to figure out how it got in and fix the coop to make sure it can't do it again.

 

[blucoondawg]

If it is a coon get a good sized box trap and bait it with a can of tuna, that has been my best coon bait. However make sure your coop is secure first as the coon may very well rather go in after another bird than go in the trap, make it so he can't get at the birds or any other food then the trap will be more appealing, it will help to cover the trap with pine bows or other limbs and stuff so it looks more like a den.

If you catch the coon or whatever it was, kill it, don't take it someplace down the road and turn it loose, it will just be someone else's problem.

 

[Erinmir]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'm going to be revamping the run design for the banty coop as well as making some security adjustments to how the coop closes up. Until then, my little rooster is just going to be a house rooster. (he doesn't seem to mind it too much lol)

We're trying to see if hubby's uncle has a box trap we can borrow. I'm so nervous about letting any of the birds out now until we catch this thing and get rid of it.