I lost a bird to a raccoon in the middle of the day 2 days ago, my poor children's favorite, our only Sultan hen. I also lost a bird to something unknown the same day. She simply disappeared, leaving only a few small black feathers, not a huge clump like the trail the raccoon left (I found 3 clumps of feathers and several bits of skin on the raccoon's trail.) I think I solved that mystery. I went outside a little while ago and heard my chickens making terrified screeching noises. I walked over to where they were all looking and a Northern Harrier flew up into a tree right above me! He just sat there for the longest time staring at us. Meanwhile, my only little bantam cuckoo Marans cockerel came out of hiding. I think I barely saved his life! The hawk just sat there. I finally threw a stick into the air, no chance of coming close to hitting it, but he finally flew away.
wth? What is going on the past few weeks? The day before Thanksgiving, my beautiful Pyncheon pullet was saved from a red tailed hawk by her miniature rooster mate (all 15oz of him!), and my son who heard the ruckus and ran outside just in time. She was injured, but has fully recovered.
What advice do you have for protecting a large flock (40+ birds altogether) from hawks and raccoons crazy enough to come out during the day and climb over fences?
I need a dog, but my dh is dead set against a dog for some strange unkown reason!
wth? What is going on the past few weeks? The day before Thanksgiving, my beautiful Pyncheon pullet was saved from a red tailed hawk by her miniature rooster mate (all 15oz of him!), and my son who heard the ruckus and ran outside just in time. She was injured, but has fully recovered.
What advice do you have for protecting a large flock (40+ birds altogether) from hawks and raccoons crazy enough to come out during the day and climb over fences?
I need a dog, but my dh is dead set against a dog for some strange unkown reason!
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