preditors; heartbroken and worn thin

[Boyd]

Quote:
I agree, they usually sleep off a big meal, but in a day or two he'll be back. They can come out during the day, especially in the late spring early summer. that's when I seem to start getting the baby coons in the traps. I figure the mama's are trying to bring back enough food to feed the demon horde.

Raccoons are like big rats, but only much smarter. If they weren't so lazy they'd probably become a HUGE problem for everyone in a way that rats and mice are. Hope you get some retribution tonight.

 

[PandorasLie]

Turns out I only have one chicken left. After closer inspection of them I found that Pepper had blood on his chest. I'll spare the graphic details and say instead that he had to be put down. So in one night I lost 6 chickens. I have moved their enclosure to an area where I can closer watch until the husband comes home and finishes the coup for our one last chicken. I made him promise he wouldnt bring me any more home until we had the coup finished, a light enfixed and a wire electrical fence surrounding.

Pepper is going to serve his purpous, as sadly, he will become the bait for the live trap. I hate thinking about it all. But on a good note I got our little Turkey chick to eat. I caught the moths all along the houses side and crippled them so that he could catch them and eat has eaten 5 medium sized moths and is still peeping for more! The ducks are doing well also.

 

[tiffanyh]

Im sorry Pandora, it is very sad.

I hope you are able to sure up your coop to protect your baby. Even if you "get revenge" on this guy, predators are always going to be something you have to keep on your mind when having chickens. Gotta outsmart them.....

 

[Boyd]

and if you have outdoor outlets, electric fencing really is an inexpensive deterrent

 

[citrusdreams]

I'm sorry Pandoraslie, I know how disturbing it is to lose chickens to a vicious predator attack. You see how crazy they are, they're dangerous. And it's just heartbreaking to take care of injured and hurting chickens, and having to euthanize them. I hope you finish your coop and run soon so you can enjoy your chickens again.

I just wanted to let you know, I've had good success with my solar powerered electric fence. I don't use it for my chickens, but I do use it for my other animals.

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
It's very easy to kill unintended animals with strong poisons like this. It's also a Federal offense to use Malrin in any way other than as a fly control.

OP -- while you are trying to catch the coon, if the birds are still in that cage you need to modify it to keep them safe. Cover the whole cage with either hardware cloth or 1/2" x 1" welded wire mesh. As you have unfortunately found out, 1" x 2" wire won't do the job. You can buy rolls of both hardware cloth and/or welded wire down at your local Lowes or Tractor Supply, and depending on the size of your cage you shouldn't need too much of it.

 

[Boyd]

on the back of the can of GM that i have handy it reads

"It's a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling"

so if you salt it hoping to catch anything other than flies you are breaking the law... if you salt it hoping you'll catch flies and incidentally kill a raccoon that is a tragic accident. Just don't post about it.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Sorry about your loss, nature or not it just makes ya sick. Glad you got your little turkey to eat.

I am in the UP of MI by Escanaba, wondering if you are close to me? I sometimes go to Green Bay.

I am going to be setting 6 dozen ISA brown eggs here soon. I get them for only a few bucks a dozen. Takes 21 days to hatch. Maybe you could find someone local for ferile eggs and see if your local extention office has a bator you could borrow and hatch your own.

I own 2 LG's (no I don't have a problem hatching in these) and 2 hova bators. Wish ya were closer I would hatch ya some.


Again I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Just know that most of us have gone through this experience at one time or another. Raccoons were the culprit in my case.

We now use hardware wire, going into the ground 18' on the perimeter of the run and up the sides 4'. Coop now has cement floor. I still am a little paranoid about predators. You'll do better next time because you'll be paranoid like me!

!

 

[amazondoc]

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