Some critter got 10 of my birds this week!

[Allie Grace Sanders]

I have an automatic door so I don't always make sure my birds get in at night. I went outside one morning to find two of my birds bloody, mangles and frozen. We buried them and found a pile of bloody feathers. Death toll: three. One day went by and nothing happened. The next day I came out and there were two chicken legs chewed down to the bone. Some of my chickens have been escaping during the day so I am fixing it this morning. It must of gotten more during the day. It was brave enough to come on my porch and take one! There was a dirt pile, claw marks, and a feather trail leading to the woods. Any advice on what to do?
-Allie

 

[N F C]

Sorry for the losses.

I'd be going over the coop and run with a fine toothed comb to plug up any weak spots. If there are places large enough for the chickens to get out, there are holes big enough for something to get in. You may also want to consider keeping the flock confined to a run for a while.

 

[DobieLover]

I have an automatic door so I don't always make sure my birds get in at night. I went outside one morning to find two of my birds bloody, mangles and frozen. We buried them and found a pile of bloody feathers. Death toll: three. One day went by and nothing happened. The next day I came out and there were two chicken legs chewed down to the bone. Some of my chickens have been escaping during the day so I am fixing it this morning. It must of gotten more during the day. It was brave enough to come on my porch and take one! There was a dirt pile, claw marks, and a feather trail leading to the woods. Any advice on what to do?
-Allie

Hello Allie,

Sorry you have lost some of your chickens this way.
How does your automatic door work - open at dawn, closed at dusk or on a timer?

If it is dawn/dusk, then frequently a bird or 2 or more may get locked out. I know a photosensor at my place would certainly close a door before my gang was ready to go to roost. If this is the case, you may want to change the programming to open 1/2 after dawn and close 1/2 hour after dusk. And for sure check on them each evening and do a head count regardless just in case you have a malfunction in the opener.

I do head counts every night. That is how I discovered my LHs sometimes like to try to sleep in the wood stacks.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Oh deer! I'm sorry!

I'm new here so I don't have a lot to say.

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

Hello Allie,

Sorry you have lost some of your chickens this way.
How does your automatic door work - open at dawn, closed at dusk or on a timer?

If it is dawn/dusk, then frequently a bird or 2 or more may get locked out. I know a photosensor at my place would certainly close a door before my gang was ready to go to roost. If this is the case, you may want to change the programming to open 1/2 after dawn and close 1/2 hour after dusk. And for sure check on them each evening and do a head count regardless just in case you have a malfunction in the opener.

I do head counts every night. That is how I discovered my LHs sometimes like to try to sleep in the wood stacks.

It opens at dawn and closes at dusk.

 

[DobieLover]

It opens at dawn and closes at dusk.

Can it be reprogrammed to work off a timer?

 

[Mrs.Megan]

So sorry for your loss

I had not been doing a nightly head count after what I felt like was a safe situation. Then recently my auto coop door failed and stayed open all night and a fox decimated my flock while they were at their weakest. My whole family was devastated and I felt (and still do!) so guilty.

Now I am diligently checking my flock at night and locking them in the run until well after the sun comes up. I think it’s wise as a previous poster mentioned to go over you coop/run with a fine tooth comb making sure it has no weaknesses and while also making sure they are well locked up at night.

Foxes do what foxes do but if we take a few precautions, we at the very least will make the foxes job challenging

Good luck!

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

Can it be reprogrammed to work off a timer?

I don't thinks so. I am going to change the batteries today. My grandpa saw a fox in his shed (he lives next door) so im pretty sur that's what is getting them. Is it illegal to shoot a fox in Indiana?

 

[DobieLover]

I don't thinks so. I am going to change the batteries today. My grandpa saw a fox in his shed (he lives next door) so im pretty sur that's what is getting them. Is it illegal to shoot a fox in Indiana?

It could have been a fox. I doubt it's illegal to shoot a fox in Indiana.
I would never leave to chance the safety of my birds to a piece of electronic equipment. I would still go out and do a head count and check to ensure they are fully secure in their coop every evening. If you ensure they are properly secured, you shouldn't have to worry about night time predation.
However, fox will strike during the day. They are very bold and clever.

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

It could have been a fox. I doubt it's illegal to shoot a fox in Indiana.
I would never leave to chance the safety of my birds to a piece of electronic equipment. I would still go out and do a head count and check to ensure they are fully secure in their coop every evening. If you ensure they are properly secured, you shouldn't have to worry about night time predation.
However, fox will strike during the day. They are very bold and clever.

Yes, when we weren't home it took one off my porch!