Predator Slaughter Problem

[hillbilly91]

Will stop most ground predators. What stops most raptors will not stop most ground predators. Integrated approach, do not be one dimensional.

I'm entitled to a opinion.

 

[straychicken]

Hi all! We put out some game cameras and caught a red fox in the act. I appreciate all your advice!

 

[centrarchid]

Hi all! We put out some game cameras and caught a red fox in the act. I appreciate all your advice!

Fence can stop a fox!

 

[hillbilly91]

Fence can stop a fox!

Never said it couldnt. I said the fence won't stop a hawk or owl.

 

[whit246]

Hi! Yes they are but as soon as their door opens, they go out. So today when I went out it was around 9 and there were dead and warm carcasses.

my GOD! I am upset about losing one!!

 

[roosterhavoc]

Fence can stop a fox!

So can any one of these. Allowing a fox to just run around outside your “hot wire” is the equivalent of a mountain lion pacing back in forth in your front yard.

 

[thecreekhouse]

I find it unlikely that birds killed by a dog would only have their heads ripped off or wouldn’t show any injury at all. Dogs kill to eat their prey. If it were a dog, the dead birds would be mauled badly.

It’s raccoons that have the signature kill of ripping off a chicken’s head and then leaving the body. This sounds like a typical raccoon kill. The raccoon ran each of them down, caught the ones he could, and then took off at some point when something spooked him. The dead chicken with no injuries was probably chased and chased until she died of fright and stress.

It sounds like you’ve had very high losses currently and in the past by letting your hens free-range in your yard. The fence around your yard isn’t keeping mammals out and it has no roof so it won’t keep hawks and owls out either. You will continue to have significant losses unless you predator proof your entire yard or keep your hens contained in a predator proof, covered coop and run. And the raccoon will be back. You need a game cam pointed at whatever area(s) your hens spend time and you need to humanely trap the raccoon.

 

[Hardknockshomestead]

Will stop most ground predators. What stops most raptors will not stop most ground predators. Integrated approach, do not be one dimensional.

Agree. Electric fence will be effective for some predators, and some others will be deterred by other methods. Keeping animals safe usually requires several tactics. No one method is going to work for every type of predator control. Electric fencing shouldn't be underestimated, considering how many predators quickly learn to respect it!

 

[blackdog043]

And the raccoon will be back. You need a game cam pointed at whatever area(s) your hens spend time and you need to humanely trap the raccoon.

Read post #24

 

[RutledgeA]

They have motion sensor sprinklers that might be worth setting up to see if it would some how scare off the raccoon, dog, fox... I think you said previously you caught a fox on camera.. they sale them on amazon and might be worth a try I would just keep the chickens locked up for a few days that way they dont receive a cold bath.. really puts the term "madder than a wet hen" in perspective lol