Something is killing our birds during the day

[barn2717]

We've had chickens for several years and have not had predator problems until this summer. We had regular chicken wire around the perimeter of their yard (40' x 60'). their 8' x 8' coop is within that area. Four times we have found a decapitated bird in the afternoon. From what we read, we though weasel....so we tore down all the fence and replaced it with buried 1/2" x 1/2" metal fabric fencing. All seemed good for a week, but today we found another dead bird. Same story, head cut off. I'm thinking about bird netting over the entire area now.......will that work? I don't know if it is a hawk or if something is climbing over the fence......but it happens during the day. Ideas?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hawks and raccoons will remove heads. Generally raccoons are at night though.

 

[barn2717]

will 2" netting work?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hard to say. Most bird netting breaks easily in my experiences with it. Heavy birds will go right through.

 

[centrarchid]

Do not rule out a fox on this. Can a fox get over the fence?

 

[DolceVita]

do you live by water? Minks are known to kill ducks and chickens in a heartbeat.

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

I don't think minks decapitate their prey, but instead chew on necks. Try hardware cloth, it is what the experts recommend.

 

[centrarchid]

Hardware cloth will be useless if predator coming over top of run.

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

Oh, we have a roof, multipul support beams, and panels with hardware cloth staples over top, if hardware clotg is a bit pricey, you could try stringing chain link over the existing chicken wire, or 2 more layers of CW.

 

[centrarchid]

Oh, we have a roof, multipul support beams, and panels with hardware cloth staples over top, if hardware clotg is a bit pricey, you could try stringing chain link over the existing chicken wire, or 2 more layers of CW.

@barn2717 ? Do you have a roof?