Sleeping With Chickens

[centrarchid]

Re-positioned 2 DP traps to outside fence perimeter and baited with a combination of marshmallow and mustard soaked sardines. My dog really wanted the latter.

Once kids bedded down for night I go back out with rifle that will lay at my side.

Last night something disturbed chickens in barn on two occasions. Cause not shown on either camera. watching door. I could not determine direction of disturbance based on where chickens were looking. Alarm not like produced for owl. Cocks and hens in yard were silent. Birds in yard near house totally silent. Dogs did bark but did not come to barn.

Once game chick bailed from roost to sleep on me starting about midnight. Worse than my daughters cat.

 

[centrarchid]

We got one in bamboo patch. Sow lactating so likely took out a litter as well. Lucy got hot as had to get it alone. Other dogs working on something else down in the woods and would not come up when Lucy cornered this one. It sounded like they where battling something as well.

Our main baddy is still out there and I do not know what direction he comes from. I am not even certain female killed has been able to beat fence.

Dogs fighting something close to the house as I post this. Going to be a busy night.

 

[centrarchid]

Still do not like killing all these critters although chickens appear cool with it.

 

[centrarchid]

This reason I have been sleeping with chickens. I started night after this occurred. Did not know what happened as assumed birds made cage collapse by piling while trying to get out. At least one dog, likely the one scared of fireworks intervened to run raccoon off. She did not get back into game properly until two night later.

 

[getaclue]

Why are so many birds crammed into one cage? Again, shoot that sucker, and be done with it.

 

[centrarchid]

Why are so many birds crammed into one cage? Again, shoot that sucker, and be done with it.

Read thread in its entirety. Birds crammed only at night when door closed after they enter to roost. It is opened the following morning. If you are sour, go somewhere else. READ WHOLE THREAD!

 

[Shadrach]

Are the raccoons mainly night hunters?
Will your dogs kill them or just head them off?

 

[aart]

Did not know what happened as assumed birds made cage collapse by piling while trying to get out.

Looked like coon just put weight at the tipping point.
Ooof!

 

[centrarchid]

Are the raccoons mainly night hunters?
Will your dogs kill them or just head them off?

They are mostly nocturnal. This raccoon may be female that dog killed last night just after dark as it approached trap. Most of time dogs run them off but that is not effective during firework season and during lightening storms.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Are the raccoons mainly night hunters?

I've seen some and trapped some in the middle of the day but I agree, mostly nocturnal.