Need help on predators

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csherrill2

csherrill2

Hatching
5 Years
Apr 6, 2014
4
0
7
I have searched around for the past 10 minutes and cant find much information on this site, and since this is my preferred site, I dont want to google it. Hopefully someone can help me out with my issue. I went on road trip for the weekend and left my baby chicks outside in the coop. I closed and locked the door with plenty of water and feed. when I got back to check on them the bottom corner was torn up and broken and all my babies were gone!!!!! What ever got in there ate at least 3 whole, minus some wings and feathers. My question is it had to be about the size of a medium sized dog from the foot prints and the size of the hole. Here in eastern North Carolina, I havent seen any wild dogs fitting this description, COULD have been a coon in size. Another question is whatever it was, ate all 12 chickens and chased the full grown hen into the creek. Cant find her. What in this description in size can eat 12 baby chickens and still have the desire for a full size hen (the hen wasnt brooding the chickens so she wouldnt have tried to defend them) Please help since I want revenge on my babies! I have a 1'x1' live cage set tonight, but no tuna or cat food to put in there, just got some leftovers from the fridge, any information will be very helpful! thanks in advance!
 
Hi there,
frow.gif
and welcome to BYC!

Oh, that is awful! I am so sorry. I do not know what might have gotten in to your coop. But I think you need to post this in our Predators and Pests section here on BYC for more help with this......

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/13/predators-and-pests

Describe exactly what you saw as you did here and I surely hope someone can help you solve this. You can also look at a page in our learning center here on BYC. Click on Maintaining A Healthy Flock block on the right and I believe the first article is on protecting your flock from predators. (For some reason it will not open for me, I have been trying for 5 mins! Maybe it will for you. :)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

Good luck with this issue, I really hope you can get this resolved and are able to get on with keeping your babies safe.
hugs.gif
 
As a fellow NC'r - coyotes are a huge problem across the state, foxes are as well! Even in very urban areas like Charlotte. Considering that coyotes and foxes are hunters/scavengers, I think it may be more like that your culprit is one of them as opposed to a coon who is just more of an opportunistic scavenger.

A coons print would have be almost "hand" like print with 5 toes that would leave an imprint from paw to nail, a fox or coyote print would appear more canine-like with four toes.

Hope that helps identify what got your chicks!
 
Thats something I was worried about! NOW let me ask, whats the best type of bait to use for catching these sorry scoundrels so they wont kill any more of my babies since I will go get more tomorrow.
 
Two Crows, thanks for the advice! I will check into that, I didnt know I had two replies.... I will look into everything I can.... and will be doing some upgrading to my "primative" coop soon... especially before I release my babies back out there.Thanks for all the help, and compassion everyone has offered to me. As a first time chicken owner, I am still learning. I hate that my babies had to be a victim of my lack of information no matter how much I have studied :(
 
Check with your feed store and see what they recommend on what to use as bait.

Here are few other things to keep in mind, as well. While "live traps" are great for catching a more domestic nuisance animal like a feral cat, they may not be practical for a more dangerous wild animal -- you may not be able pick up it up without getting bit to even transport it to a more remote location. On the flip side, a "bear trap" type may capture the animal, but not kill it and you may end up snapping the neighbors cat in two! Of course, a poison could also have an equally inadvertent result

You may what to contact your local wildlife/game warden in addition to the NC Dept of Natural Resources and local animal control officer just to be on the safe side.
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! So sorry about your chicks. X3 check out the predators section for help on dealing with your predator. If you can, putting up a game camera is often helpful in addition to traps so you know what you are dealing with and can adjust accordingly.
 
400


Found the little devil and took her out. Hate it happened but I protected my chickens as well as my neighbors chickens. Thanks for all the help from everyone! :)
 

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