The Quack Shack

[Duck_life]

I would also be surprised if it was a domestic cat. They generally prefer smaller prey, and don't attack several animals at a time. Around here, I would be suspecting a ferret, but I don't know what you have in your region.

Weasels are extremely rare in my part, the game commission put out fishers (like a weasel) 2 years ago to grow the population but they haven't touched anything, I'm about to go check the trap right now.

 

[Duck_life]

I am thinking mink or weasel.

My dad thinks so to. Weasel, probably not. Didn't catch anything yet but whatever it was attacked them around 5 and right before they went in to roost. Chickens are fine, Lavender orpingtons don't even want to come off the roost...they weren't even bitten and they look sick... maybe because it was 13 degrees last night? Hopefully they're going to be OK. Their was a lot of blood and my guineas luckily are moving around. My only female though got VERY scratched up, she is moving fine.

Would the predator come back? I have a a bunch of bait my dad uses for fox/coons and I included some chicken and pork.
And good morning everyone

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think @duluthralphie maybe right on this one. [I don't give him credit often] And they are very similar to a ferret.

Didn't you say your birds are kept out in the woods? We are surrounded by woods my birds wouldn't last a few days out side of our fencing.
I hope you find everyone safe today and not too injured.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh yes they will keep coming back until they kill everyone sad to say if given the opportunity.

 

[Trimurtisan]

Good morning early birds!

I need to catch up on what happened. DuckLife I hope everything is okay and that the wounds heal up quickly.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Are these new babies Chris? so cute.

Good Morning!

 

[Duck_life]

Thank you, everything is doing great and I have a trap out. I'm happy to say I don't have to kill anything MYSELF, we have someone near us that takes in predators and kills them in the winter when they have a lot of fur so he could sell the coating... hopefully we catch whatever it is and until we do the chickens and ducks are staying in the coops.. despite how crowded it'll be. Whatever is was also attempted to get in the run and tried to take chicks from the chick pen, thankfully it didn't. Very beautiful chicks! My dad thinks it's a mink or fisher, maybe a coon since we have so many.

 

[Duck_life]

I think @duluthralphie maybe right on this one. [I don't give him credit often] And they are very similar to a ferret.

Didn't you say your birds are kept out in the woods? We are surrounded by woods my birds wouldn't last a few days out side of our fencing.
I hope you find everyone safe today and not too injured.

Yes I have a field and I keep the coop under some trees, the woods is an open area just a lot more trees the chickens hide in.. One of the guineas were roosting on top of the coop and when I got him down he flew off, chased him for 30 minutes and when I did finally get him noticed blood on his face. When I went to put the trap up their we saw some animal, not the outline but the glowing green eyes and then it ran off..

 

[Miss Lydia]

What ever it was wasn't too learned in the art of killing thank goodness. But they learn from experience so you can bet it will return. Good thing you have them inside and a trap set.

 

[Duck_life]

Tomorrow I need to chance around the coops so they won't be to crowded, chicks will go in the bigger coop and the guineas and pullets/cockerel will go in the coop with the run, thankfully that run has held up foxes, having a thick metal material as the base so I won't have to keep them in a cramped up coop. So would you think the predator was young?