I'm totally disgusted and dejected. We lost another bird yesterday and only caught a glimpse of the predator escaping with a meal for itself. We have been raising this 25 bird flock since chicks and they are almost 4 months old now. Until lately the birds have stayed in the run area and have been content to scratch and do their thing. But of late they have hopped up on the fence line and on occaision have found that life exists outside the run area! As a result, we lost one, then another. Almost like they are being watched. Both were snatched up right along side the fence on the outside. A few tail and bottom feathers were all that was left. That tells me the birds didnt have long to wander.
My birds were in hiding within the coop when she arrived and were making the most alarming sounds my girlfriend said she has ever heard. Even my 2 pekin ducks were quacking frantically. They all came running to her once she entered the run area as if to say, protect us. She arrived only in time to see a critter scurrying off into the woods with a prized catch! Couldnt identify it as the bobcat, coyote, or fox that we have seen in the area of late. Light to medium brown was all she seen. our neighbors free ranging flock has been disapearing also. He is down from 15 to 5 or 6 birds now.
"This means war"! I am an avid deer hunter, some pheasant and small game and a heck of a fisherman! But a trapper I am not. I will learn within the law whats available to me. We have plenty of room to build and attach an 8x8x16 wired porch off the front of the coop to contain the birds outside the coop when we are not there to watch them in the run. Its a must do now before winter sets in. Trust that after I engineer it that no critters will be able to dig or gnaw their way thru it! It will have a roof to protect them from the winter snow also. I feel like Elmer Fudd hunting Bugs Bunny! Wish me luck!
My birds were in hiding within the coop when she arrived and were making the most alarming sounds my girlfriend said she has ever heard. Even my 2 pekin ducks were quacking frantically. They all came running to her once she entered the run area as if to say, protect us. She arrived only in time to see a critter scurrying off into the woods with a prized catch! Couldnt identify it as the bobcat, coyote, or fox that we have seen in the area of late. Light to medium brown was all she seen. our neighbors free ranging flock has been disapearing also. He is down from 15 to 5 or 6 birds now.
"This means war"! I am an avid deer hunter, some pheasant and small game and a heck of a fisherman! But a trapper I am not. I will learn within the law whats available to me. We have plenty of room to build and attach an 8x8x16 wired porch off the front of the coop to contain the birds outside the coop when we are not there to watch them in the run. Its a must do now before winter sets in. Trust that after I engineer it that no critters will be able to dig or gnaw their way thru it! It will have a roof to protect them from the winter snow also. I feel like Elmer Fudd hunting Bugs Bunny! Wish me luck!
