Oh no. I have a predator problem!

[LinckHillPoultry]

Exactly what I was hoping not to have!

I don't know if you all heard about my missing blue slate hen, but yes, awhile back in late spring she went to nest on a batch of eggs and never came back, well yesterday I went down towards the woods to bury a couple birds that died, and I found some of my blue slates remains. A bunch of its feathers and its skull.

Well about a week ago my crested swedish duck went missing. Now, every night I lock my birds up in the barn... but there is a group of ducks (was) that were escape artists, they had a little hole they climbed through to get out of the stall. Anyways, he went missing and I was walking through the woods the other day to see what I could find and I found a bunch of his flesh with his feathers still attached. Also, next to the flesh I found a talon, like an owls talon.

Yesterday my crested rouen female was nowhere to be found. I'm assuming she's gone too.

Also, where I bury my birds I have noticed something has been digging them up and dragging them off!

I am assuming the predator is a fox, because the talon I found appears to be a bit old, and there are a bunch of fox holes in the woods where I've found some of my birds remains.

What are your opinions and how do I catch this sneaky bugger?

 

[lost]

Well i would get a trap and see what happens. I have dog problems and I use a baby monitor to hear whats going on it has help alot. Good luck losing birds are anything sucks. Sorry for your lose

 

[chickenfanatic]

hope u figure oput what it or they are and take car of it keep us posted and goood luck

 

[cjeanean]

Call your conservation department and ask them what they think. I know out here, they will even provide traps and pick-up for whatever animal is messing with the birds.

 

[LynneP]

Fox.

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

LynneP, you're absolutely correct. Thank you everyone for your suggestions and opinions, but I have concluded that it is a fox causing all the mayhem. Found feathers, set a trap... it went in the trap but didn't set it off. Errrr.

 

[nnbreeder]

Forget the trap then, it will never again go in one. Those critters are smart.

 

[Bi0sC0mp]

As for fox, usually a urine lure is used, but that's for leg-catch setups. For a cage trap you might want to try a combination setup with some fox urine nearby the trap, and then maybe try baiting the trap with heart, liver, or both. It might even be better bait to use a cut-open squirrel or something, but check the laws in your area to see if that's legal. Also, make sure that you don't touch or even breathe too heavily on your fox bait, depending on the area, that may make them avoid your setup entirely.

http://www.rpoutdoors.com/vic112sofcat.html

http://www.rpoutdoors.com/rpurine.html