The Old Folks Home

[Highcotton]

While that sounds like a lot of chickens (and is) that is only 5% of the number of broilers produced in Alabama each week (20 million produced weekly). And Alabama is only number 3 in broiler chicken production. If my memory serves me correctly GA and MS are numbers 1 and 2.

When a tornado hits North Georgia someone is going to lose a chicken house.

 

[chickadoodles]

May I also suggest you ask for a game cam for your birthday? I find that extremely helpful to identify predators and their "patterns." IE where they are coming from (so you know where to set the trap) or what times they are coming (so you can be out there with a firearm if that's safe for your area).

Pretty much anything with arms can reach into the chicken wire you have and "snatch" and "drag" to the edge of the cage.

Thanks SCG that is a great idea! I will def tell DH I want one for my birthday. I do know of one critter on our property that could be doing this, it is a Fox Tail Squirrel. We are going to have to re-do this brooder again.

I love all the pics from y'all's hiking trip! They are so beautiful looks like you all had a great time!

 

[Wisher1000]

They were plucked from the bottom of the brooder! T

Ahhhhh, this statement, along with the pics helped. I was imagining a brooder on the ground. I agree with the weasel/rat guesses, although if a coon can get under there, it is a possibility.

 

[chickisoup]

hanks SCG that is a great idea! I will def tell DH I want one for my birthday. I do know of one critter on our property that could be doing this, it is a Fox Tail Squirrel. We are going to have to re-do this brooder again.


you stated these attacks were happening at night??? I think that eliminates the squirrel. I do agree that there is nothing like a trail cam. Just don;t forget to ask for one that can take night pics, preferably infrared

 

[ozexpat]

Martins, minks, weasels, rats, coyotes, squirrels, racoons, hawks, snakes, cats, dogs, moutain lions, puma, jaguar,

this country sucks for keeping chickens safe!

just as well it has other redeaming qualities

here is a useful thread

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/18670/poultry-predator-identification/0_50

 

[chickadoodles]

We are probably going to put in a false bottom on the brooder and add more hardware cloth. Plus get a night time game cam. I just cannot believe that this happened so close to my dogs and they heard nothing! I may even move the brooder into the back section of my rooster run that has never been used .
What I don't understand is why my birds in the coop and large runs have not these problems. We used 2x4 welded wire on our runs and our coops do not get locked up at night and most of our birds don't sleep in the coop!

 

[chickadoodles]

I found this on Facebook it is so amazing you all should see these baby ducks! I have never seen or heard of anything like this before. I loved watching it.
http://sfglobe.com/?id=681&src=share_fb_new_681

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I didn't think the ducklings produced lactase to digest the milk... how extraordinary.

And really cute.

 

[chickadoodles]

I didn't think the ducklings produced lactase to digest the milk... how extraordinary.

And really cute.

I agree.

 

[chickisoup]

We are probably going to put in a false bottom on the brooder and add more hardware cloth. Plus get a night time game cam. I just cannot believe that this happened so close to my dogs and they heard nothing! I may even move the brooder into the back section of my rooster run that has never been used .
What I don't understand is why my birds in the coop and large runs have not these problems. We used 2x4 welded wire on our runs and our coops do not get locked up at night and most of our birds don't sleep in the coop!

think cat and a fishbowl. the pred was safely hidden underneath and the birds had no where to go.