Maybe a mountain lion?

[Paaz1120]

I'm soo sorry for your lose!!

Please BECAREFUL!!

Keep us updated.

I would collect the eggs and hatch them out if I were you. Keep his legacy going!

 

[Kathi D]

I appreciate the information about hawks coming in under the tree cover--didn't know that.

I had a visit from a Fish and Game warden today who looked at suspicious tracks near the pen and said they were definitely canine--which points to coyotes. Didn't rule out mountain lion taking chickens, but said "usually" they don't bother with chickens. I'm going to put a game camera up and see if I can catch photos of whatever is coming.

 

[Kathi D]

I bought a game camera and got this, which I believe is a fox. Still don't know if that's what took the chickens, as it seems like a fox wouldn't be able to get over a 5-foot fence carrying a large chicken, let alone a rooster! Could he?

 

[chickened]

Had one as a pet when I was a kid, they can climb like a cat I guarantee you. What are you going to do about it?

 

[Kathi D]

I don't doubt they can climb, but with a 7-pound chicken? Anyway, what to do about it, sheesh. I guess my options are:

Keep the chickens in the coop that is enclosed on all 4 sides--but they like going into the adjacent fenced yard!
Cover the top of the yard--that would be pretty hard.
Run an electrified wire over the fence--that might be the only feasible thing. I need to investigate what's involved in that.

Foxes are so darn cute--wish they didn't have a yen for chicken meat!

Kathi

P.S. Does that seem to be a fox to you? I turned the camera around to hopefully get a better photo of it, but I'm away from home for a few days so I can't check it yet.

 

[chickerdoodle]

Just saw this thread. So sorry about your chickens.

Yes, it looks like a fox to me.

 

[hollymh]

I had my husband look and he said cat as soon as he saw it but I agree it does resemble a fox yet I think it is a bob-cat. Smaller and still agile and able to leap bounds??? Not too sure, I'm trying to clean up the photo in photoshop so I can tell.

 

[Mahonri]

I believe a fox could jump the 5 foot wall... with a chicken? I don't know.. .but they are powerful.

I do believe that a coyote could jump a 5 foot wall with a 7lb chicken in it's mouth. I've seen them clear 6 foot fences with out any trouble.

 

[Junkmanme]

The Picture:

It looks to me like a Toyota parked about 1/2 block down the street.

I couldn't see anything in the picture except a couple of headlights.

????
-Junkmanme-

 

[Kathi D]

Pretty sure it's not a Toyota!

In the original photo it has a definite foxy look, but agreed it's not a good picture. I'm hoping for something much more clear on the camera when I get back to check it.

Also, even if it IS a fox, coyotes could still be responsible for the chicken thieving. We have those around too, as well as the mountain lion(s). It's a tough world for a chicken!