- May 4, 2010
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Now I've read the sticky, and it has to be a weasel or a raccoon or one of the more crafty predators. But I'm curious to see what you guys think about the ID, and possible methods of eradication.
Our pen consists of a 20'x20' chain-link fence square with hex-link chicken wire around the bottom and top and a sheet-metal roof with 2"x1" boards wired along the base that stands between an old hickory and a cedar in the back yard. Admittedly, the pen is in a state of disrepair - the roof and some of the wiring is starting to rust and imo, should simply be torn down and redone entirely should we ever find the fundage where ever it's hiding.
The killing started three days ago, first was one that had gotten stuck in the chain-link and had its head pulled off, the rest of the bird was untouched, no trace.
Second, two birds, one without a trace and the other had nothing left but the head for show and tell - this time i noticed a few things - in a corner there was a gash in the wire at the bottom, maybe 2"x6" wide, as if the thing tried to dig first and feathers were stuck to the middle of the fence, where no hex-link was - apparently it was dextrous enough to jimmy the corpse up and pull it out through the bigger links. So we wired the middle all the way round with hex-link and tried our best to tighten the wire at the base.
Third day, same corner, one bird, poor thing was absolutely pulled in half, no blood, no prints.
So the total death count comes to 1 standard ameraucuna, 1 Standard BO (I miss Miss Buff), 1 Wyandotte banty and one Dominicker banty. These guys were still babies, maybe 5 months old.
We're going to be drilling and wiring boards along the perimeter and hope that works. I'm probably going to sit on top of the roof and camp it out to see if I can't try to shoot it or otherwise chase it off. Live traps are useless because of all our outdoor cats, so I'm not sure how to proceed. Perhaps a poisoned bait is the best option?
Our pen consists of a 20'x20' chain-link fence square with hex-link chicken wire around the bottom and top and a sheet-metal roof with 2"x1" boards wired along the base that stands between an old hickory and a cedar in the back yard. Admittedly, the pen is in a state of disrepair - the roof and some of the wiring is starting to rust and imo, should simply be torn down and redone entirely should we ever find the fundage where ever it's hiding.
The killing started three days ago, first was one that had gotten stuck in the chain-link and had its head pulled off, the rest of the bird was untouched, no trace.
Second, two birds, one without a trace and the other had nothing left but the head for show and tell - this time i noticed a few things - in a corner there was a gash in the wire at the bottom, maybe 2"x6" wide, as if the thing tried to dig first and feathers were stuck to the middle of the fence, where no hex-link was - apparently it was dextrous enough to jimmy the corpse up and pull it out through the bigger links. So we wired the middle all the way round with hex-link and tried our best to tighten the wire at the base.
Third day, same corner, one bird, poor thing was absolutely pulled in half, no blood, no prints.
So the total death count comes to 1 standard ameraucuna, 1 Standard BO (I miss Miss Buff), 1 Wyandotte banty and one Dominicker banty. These guys were still babies, maybe 5 months old.
We're going to be drilling and wiring boards along the perimeter and hope that works. I'm probably going to sit on top of the roof and camp it out to see if I can't try to shoot it or otherwise chase it off. Live traps are useless because of all our outdoor cats, so I'm not sure how to proceed. Perhaps a poisoned bait is the best option?
