Michigan, lost my flock, now to what???

[mudman]

What part of SE MI are you from? I work all over the tri county area and could tell you about what vermin I see in different areas. I'm in Clarkston and we have raccoons like crazy. I trap with what ever food scrap we have handy, they take the bait almost every other night. The trap gets moved about once a week, they catch on quickly. We have two local packs of coyotes, but they haven't bothered us, yet. My feeling is that you had raccoons, to move that many chickens requires a big hungry animal, or several (where there is one coon...) working together. And they will dig and can sqeeze through tiny holes...

 

[tororider]

The chickens are in Hamburg, just south of Brighton. That was my first thought as well. I will let you know what we catch.

 

[tororider]

Well we finally got the skirt fence buried and set two traps. While giving the whole pen a good once over we think there is a possibility that the predator got in via a tree. We have a tree in the pen that has our netting tied around it, but there is a small hole, possibly enough to get a coon through that needs to be secured. We will zip tie it and that should take care of it. With my luck, we will end up trapping a skunk and a neighbor cat, hoping for predators, but we will see. I will let you know.

 

[tororider]

Well we got something. Is it possible that an opposum(sp) could have been our culprit? We captured one, in the smaller of the two traps that I put one of the chicken carcasses in. The four roosters that we rehomed are still doing fine, although trying to figure out who's the boss.

So looking to see if anyone thinks this could have been our predator, or if it is collateral damage? Thanks

 

[miss_jayne]

absolutely! they can crawl, climb and everything else. they loves them some chicken and eggs.

uh. so sorry!

 

[rooster-red]

Quote:
It wasn't a possum that killed all your birds.

Possums are opportunists, they are looking for the easiest meal possible, If one was starving and got into your coop it might kill one, maybe two small birds, then eat them right there.

The 50 razor sharp teeth they carry are for ripping carrion apart, they make a lousy predator.

I've caught several bare handed, see my page if you want pics.

Cats aren't a big threat to adult chickens, and wouldn't dig under a fence because they climb so well.

Sounds to me like you have a coon or weasel.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Quote:
I looked at your pics. I can't believe you do that! I would be afraid of getting bitten!

 

[MagsC]

I wouldnt think an opossum would take out a whole flock? I do know we had one kill newborn kittens.

 

[nerfy]

rooster-red wrote:

I've caught several bare handed, see my page if you want pics.

That is one of the largest possums I've ever seen!
They all look very perturbed. You've got guts!

 

[chickflick]

Tororider, I'm glad to hear the roos are doing good. Was wondering, but didn't want to bug you and sound like an overprotecting mama!