It started with two of our ducks disappearing, my fault, they weren't put away at night that one time. Then one was taken out of the 7ft kennel at night. Keep in mind this is all within 20 feet of our house (although at night) with our LGD right there.
So then they were secured in an 7ft tall kennel during the day and then are put up at night in the renovated shed. The most vulnerable part of that shed is the 1" gaps between the roof and the sides of the shed. Snively little ******* manages to get into the pen at dusk and disappears one of my australorp pullets. Next night I go to put them up earlier, think they're all there, then the next morning 3 are missing. I do some modification to the pen and make sure to get out there extra early last night, everyone is accounted for and put to bed. This morning, my favorite naked neck pullet that I just put outside 3 days ago is gone and a board that my dad was supposed to secure (but didn't), fell on top of two of my pullets, killing my one flawless svarthona and injuring one of my naked necks.
I have another shed that I have been trying for weeks to get people together to move (has to be turned upright first) and I'm looking for a dog that would enjoy hanging out in the paddock near the poultry, but this is exhausting.
It's my fault for not securing them completely and I know that, I was not expecting a full frontal assault, however I still don't understand how chickens disappear with only a 1" max gap for predators to get through. I would suspect a weasel, but there is no blood, no feathers, and these chickens were at least a couple pounds, they can't just compress themselves into nothing.
Anyone have any idea what it could be? good solutions for sealing off between metal roof sheeting and walls? Any quick predator proof enclosure ideas? I should have spent the time putting together predator proof enclosures beforehand, I just never foresaw it being such an issue, especially with our LGD. 20/20 hindsight as they say.
So then they were secured in an 7ft tall kennel during the day and then are put up at night in the renovated shed. The most vulnerable part of that shed is the 1" gaps between the roof and the sides of the shed. Snively little ******* manages to get into the pen at dusk and disappears one of my australorp pullets. Next night I go to put them up earlier, think they're all there, then the next morning 3 are missing. I do some modification to the pen and make sure to get out there extra early last night, everyone is accounted for and put to bed. This morning, my favorite naked neck pullet that I just put outside 3 days ago is gone and a board that my dad was supposed to secure (but didn't), fell on top of two of my pullets, killing my one flawless svarthona and injuring one of my naked necks.
I have another shed that I have been trying for weeks to get people together to move (has to be turned upright first) and I'm looking for a dog that would enjoy hanging out in the paddock near the poultry, but this is exhausting.
It's my fault for not securing them completely and I know that, I was not expecting a full frontal assault, however I still don't understand how chickens disappear with only a 1" max gap for predators to get through. I would suspect a weasel, but there is no blood, no feathers, and these chickens were at least a couple pounds, they can't just compress themselves into nothing.
Anyone have any idea what it could be? good solutions for sealing off between metal roof sheeting and walls? Any quick predator proof enclosure ideas? I should have spent the time putting together predator proof enclosures beforehand, I just never foresaw it being such an issue, especially with our LGD. 20/20 hindsight as they say.
