Stymied by Fox, Coyote, coon, possum.......

[loanwizard]

I free range my birds. I have noticed a pretty sharp decline.... from over 100 to around 50-60, and eggs are being stolen as well.... lots of eggs. My birds free range, and have come into the garage to sleep at night with the dogs. Did I mention I have lots of dogs? Apparently, they don't like to be out by the barn any longer.....

I set a trap, and it looks like it was chewed through. I can handle the coon and possum, but how do I get rid of fox and coyote? I am not there during the day, and I suspect fox, as I haven't seen a coyote around ever, although they are clearly around my neighbors. I have always attributed that to the dogs.

Any ideas on fox? Afraid to use leg hold traps because of the cats and dogs.

Thanks,
Shawn

 

[chicmom]

Shawn,

There are so many predators out there...foxes, coyotes, skunks, possums, dogs, bobcat, owls, weasles......I know I haven't even named them all!

If you don't have a place to lock up your chickens at night, they you're providing a midnight snack for those predators.....

I think you might just have to put up a game camera, or even hide out some where and do your own surveylance to figure out what kind of predator you have........

So sorry for your losses!

 

[gander007]

Okay Shawn, I can tell you this if a predator finds a place to eat they will come back for more and let their friends know where to get a free lunch ..


I got over two dozen of these Bob-Cat's in the last year and just a few in the day time and several Fox and a Coyote pup all in a fenced in area ....







Some of these birds are not with us any more but mine run around the yard and yes it has a 6 foot fence all the way around and the predators still get in .....






If you look in the back ground you will see some fencing that is what I have all the way around the property so it is a strong fence but with plenty of time and effort they do dig in under the fence ..



You might want to think about building a large run for them with strong wire to keep the predators out or you will be just replacing your flock often and I was told by our state agricultural guy that leg traps are illegal anymore but to use a .22, shotgun or a box trap so I have been blasting predators to high heaven with a 12 gauge shoot gun using 3 & 1/2 " shells and yes they are sheared and I do have to order the shells as it seems they are not common stock anymore .......



A game camera is also a good way to see what is going on in your area ......




good luck with you flock ...

gander007