Ninja assassin attacking my hens ...

[joelman7]

you could tie some meat to the pin on a hand grenade and let the problem solve itself.

your not helping so go away she just wants it to go away not to blow it to smitherines

 

[Jhaerlyn]

unlike people in alaska, I have neighbors who live too close for me to use handgrenades

 

[Marty1876]

Where do you live? Climbing killers DO INCLUDE possum's (yes they do, seen it myself), raccoons, minks, and feline. How big was it?

If its a possum, you'll have to just keep it secure, they outnumber you. I have only caught one possum being aggressive with a chicken, but for certain it was after her, and killed her. They leave smaller bite marks, and grab for skinny areas like legs and necks. They can be trapped with a regular snap trap or live trap.

Raccoons can more easily be trapped using their mind to your advantage. If you get a large chunk of wood, and drill out a 1" whole about 2" deep, you just nail 3 nails into it, going in far enough to have them almost meet in the middle of the whole, but you need to leave them about 1/2 inch apart, big enough for a paw. In it, put a quarter, or large ball bearing that just barely fits through gap. The raccoon will grab for the shiny object, and try to pull out the paw. He will not let go, and thus can't remove that paw. You'll either have to shoot or whack him on the head, or (if your brave and have willing help and heavy gloves) wrap his body up, especially those sharp teeth, and pull the nails. Have a bucket or something with a lid ready to pop him into, and lid it securely. Move him miles and miles away. But, if you have this by your chicken door, and you catch him there, I'd kill him, for they will decimate your flock.

If its a mink, snap trap.

If its a bobcat, trap it or shoot it.

No other mammals I'm aware of in the states will climb trees and kill birds both, not adults anyway.

You could try tying a big dog to the henhouse on a 15' rope or lead, to ward off the night visitors.

 

[Jhaerlyn]

I live in North Florida ... I haven't seen it, but it seems to be something kind of small, since the last bird, the one I had to put down, didnt have big chunks missing out of her, rather, she must have had a bunch of little bites and rips ... it was hard to tell ... I'm a city person trying to make a new life in the country

I'm definitely going to try your trap idea out ... and I think I'm going to stake out my coop tonight ...

 

[ramirezframing]

You would be surprised at what a chicken can survive in the line of wounds. If one of your birds gets attacked again, clean the wounds and put something like swat on it. Keep bird away from others til healed and clean everyday. I have had birds that were down to bone heal and live just fine. Good luck

 

[Jhaerlyn]

SWAT? what is that? I am a terrible chicken keeper but I have seen their amazing healing powers .... honestly, I think it was the smell of their wounds that first brought whatever preditor around ... this flock had been attacked by a band of roving dogs and survived with some ugly wounds that I did my best to heal (I learned to give animal injections ) ... I guess my daughter was being prophetic when she named the rooster Jackie Chan ... I think the surviving hen's name is either Avril or Whitney Houston ... my daughter knows them best .... but she and her mom 'flew' South to Miami so I've been short-handed

So anyway, Where can I get this swat?

 

[Masonicflock]

Coons, Foxes, Oppossums, Owls, Coyotes, Bobcats, Minks have all been mentioned. One deadly predator I have failed to see mention and is quite frankly the worst killer in my opinion is a neighbors cat. They are killers who kill just to do it regardless if hungry or not. I deal with hawks, owls, dogs, coyotes on a regular basis but the cats are quite a worthy opponent but time is on my side along with my knowledge of animal warfare if you catch your neighbors cat in the trap.... well that's your call

 

[bigoledude]

Possums kill more chickens down here than any other predators we have. I use DP (dog-proof) traps to catch coons and possums with absolutely great success. I have terrible success with cage type traps.

http://www.rpoutdoors.com/cooncuff.html
http://www.rpoutdoors.com/dudpcotr.html
http://www.rpoutdoors.com/dufdogresrac.html

Many other folks use them to catch skunks and I am convinced they will catch the weasel family of critters. They will not catch dogs or cats. The animal must stick his paw down into the cylinder and "grab" the trigger and then pull up on it. That's why it works for those predators with hand-like front paws.

For bait I mix up sardines or fish guts with strawberry jam/jelly. I drop a little around the trap to give them a taste. After tasting, they cannot resist this nastiness and go for the trap. CAUGHT!

 

[joelman7]

unlike people in alaska, I have neighbors who live too close for me to use handgrenades

true and lol

 

[chestypuller]

well i want to see whatever it is good and dead. dont be humane about it. the only thing good about them live traps is it holds the animal when yu shoot it in the head.