Predator question

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

I am very sorry for the loss of your babies . I would vote for bobcat or fox. Our chickens free range on our farm. One morning our dog was going nuts. The chickens were out in the lower field. A a pair of foxes were attacking them. They would kill one, move to the next, kill it, move to the next etc...... The foxes were in a complete killing frenzy like a pack of dogs. Birds were dying in my arms, there were 4 of us trying to chase them off but it took forever. They kept circling back to get the rest. I lost 16 adult chickens. The neighbor took care of the foxes after they dug under his coop and killed 102 birds in one night. My birds only free range under supervision now.
I was on my way home from the store one morning. I passed my husband on my way home. He probably had only left our home 4 minutes before. I pull in the driveway to see 4 dead ducks, one duck on it's back dying and the bobcat running away with one in his mouth. All the ducks had small puncture wounds. The cat ripped the corner of the fence down climbed in and killed everyone. The ducks now have 7 strands of electric wire and a 7 foot fence. My trail cam shows bobcats, coyotes, raccoons and bears on a regular basis. No fox in months. We take care of the raccoons. I trapped the bobcat with the body of one of the dead ducks.

I am sorry for the loss of your birds and I admire what you've done since.

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

no treatment like lead treatment IMO, that's wild that the bobcat was so bold, must have been laying there waiting.

We don't live in a farming area and when we first moved here, my OH was a bit more casual about shutting and locking gates and doors on our perimeter whereas I am all about the habits.

Because he had never seen a predator, I think he assumed they werent there.

Until we started seeing signs that wolves had been up and around us most days - even then, it took him seeing a pair while he was on the roof for it to sink in that once predators know where you are, they are always waiting for an oppurtunity.

He is now super good with it all and we always have two of our dogs on the perimeters at night, all of them in the day.

To add, where we live (Italy) these wolves are an endangered species so even if we wanted to. No trapping or shooting allowed.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

We don't live in a farming area and when we first moved here, my OH was a bit more casual about shutting and locking gates and doors on our perimeter whereas I am all about the habits.

Because he had never seen a predator, I think he assumed they werent there.

Until we started seeing signs that wolves had been up and around us most days - even then, it took him seeing a pair while he was on the roof for it to sink in that once predators know where you are, they are always waiting for an oppurtunity.

He is now super good with it all and we always have two of our dogs on the perimeters at night, all of them in the day.

To add, where we live (Italy) these wolves are an endangered species so even if we wanted to. No trapping or shooting allowed.

what specific breed of wolf do you have, I didn't read carefully enough to see you were in Italy, very cool! don't forget the 3 S's..just sayin.

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

what specific breed of wolf do you have, I didn't read carefully enough to see you were in Italy, very cool! don't forget the 3 S's..just sayin.

This is them:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_wolf

We live within the boundaries of a National Park so everything is protected apart from Wild Boar and Deer in hunting season which is strictly controlled.

Most people only live here in the Summer so all the animals were used to having the run of the place outside of that - we moved here 2 years ago and live all year round so we have had the privilege of seeing a lot of nature at her best although am not sure they feel the same way about us.

Ironically, now we are here with dogs, the hunt does not come up much because they think our dogs prevent them from hunting success (I suspect its more of a social scene tbh).

I wigged out whent the locals told us we had wolves near the house - They then told us that the wolves move freely and are welcome / protected but they don't bother anyone with dogs (not the little yappy ones obvs).

They must see our bird enclosure as a wolfy drive thru if only they could get past the gate / fence / Very Large & Protective Dogs.

I walk early morning and sometimes the dogs stay around me and won't move off the path from me (usually they bugger off) - I think the wolves are still close enough at that point or their markings are so fresh, the dogs stay on guard.

We sometimes hear them howl at night - even understanding they would eat all my birds given half the chance, its still pretty awesome.

One more story ! Italian legend has it that someone has crossed a German Sherpherd with a wolf and now there is a breeding line. Whenever we are out with our GS, people point and say Il Lupo !! (the wolf !!).

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

what specific breed of wolf do you have, I didn't read carefully enough to see you were in Italy, very cool! don't forget the 3 S's..just sayin.

Forgot to ask !! What are the 3 S's ?

 

[Matejka]

Forgot to ask !! What are the 3 S's ?

Shoot
Shovel (bury)
Shut up

 

[Matejka]

Hi guys. I lost my ducks to something. I am so angry and heartbroken. The gate pushed out and the latch twisted. I had 2 adult ducks, 4 8 week old Runners and 2 8 week old Cayugas. They were not bloody, didn’t have feathers around, just had some puncture wounds. They were all spread out all over the yard dead. It was between 7 and 9 this morning. Any ideas?

So so sorry for your loss. Welcome to BYC. Glad you joined our community. I'm sorry it is under such heartbreaking circumstances. What kind of predators do you have in your area, and what do YOU think might have attacked your birds?

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Shoot
Shovel (bury)
Shut up

Or if your friend happens to have a very large outdoor furnace...

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Shoot
Shovel (bury)
Shut up

I'd be more of a danger to myself than anything else if I had a gun ! Really really clumsy !!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’m all for saving the wild life they are only doing what comes natural, I feel it’s up to us as caretakers to do all we can to protect our flocks etc. I’m not saying if a predator was after one of mine I wouldn’t kill it, I would do my best to protect. I’m just saying wild life is special. Around here people will go out of their way to run over a ground hog just because they will get into a garden. It’s not like they are hiding in the bushes thinking to themselves hey let’s run havoc in that persons garden they just see food. My biggest per peeve is people letting their dogs run loose and they have no idea they are on someone else’s property Killing their ducks!