Mongoose/Mongeese(?)

[sandypaws]

do you have FOX????

 

[birdsofparadise]

I keep hearing that mongeese hunt during the day and sleep at night, but its not uncommon to see them crossing the road while driving at night. Plus, if they strike at dawn (Tora, Tora, Tora), we wouldnʻt know when the damage was done.

I thought a cat too, we have several around, but there is definitely no whole big enough for a cat to get in, let alone drag a carcass out. I beginning to think that I am being hit by several problems - man & animal, since no predator would take a 2 lb chicken without even leaving a couple of feathers around as evidence. At least a few of the birds just "disappeared" into thin air. Tomorrow, I try locking the entry gate again!

 

[birdsofparadise]

Quote:
No, but this reminds me of a problem I had with a den of vixen and kits when I raised ducks in Michigan. Periodically, Iʻd find a mauled Pekin duck, usually with its head chewed off. Turns out momma was teaching her kits to hunt on easy prey. Momma forgot to teach them about being hunted though. A 12 gauge and a hunting savvy neighbor put an end to the carnage pretty quickly.

 

[amazondoc]

In your description, did you say that your fence is only 4 feet tall? There are lots of things that can get over 4 feet.....

I agree with the other poster who said that we need pics!

 

[birdsofparadise]

Quote:
The fence is only a barrier around the exterior of the building since I was afraid they could eat thru the shade cloth walls. Its tied directly to the framework and there essentially is nothing to get over since it forms part of the coop wall which is 10ʻ high easily.

 

[danischi24]

So you have a roof, walls that go up to the roof & a floor (or no sign of digging?)
If you don't have a roof on them, it could well be an owl or a creature that simply climbs up & over the 10 feet (most mammals can).

 

[birdsofparadise]

Problem solved.
Hair found torn out in the chicken wire proved conclusively that it was a cat and that it was shimmying in between the tarp roof and the chicken wire wall. We never caught the critter, but we tied the tarp to the chicken wire every foot with zip-ties and no one has got in for a month now. I still canʻt figure out how it got out after doing its damage, but at least its stopped. Thanks for all your help.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Hooray! I'm glad you figured out what was getting your birds!

 

[onthespot]

Mongooses is the correct plural for mongoose.

 

[birdsofparadise]

Quote:
Dear Obsessed,

You are absolutely right. I was going for a humorous angle to get people to respond to the thread. Apparently, the humor was lost on you.

Mahalo for your correction.