Unknown Predator.

[jnicholes]

Found some more evidence when I went over there. They already disposed of the bodies of the chickens, unfortunately. However, I did find a lot of evidence. I believe it is a raccoon.

Here is the run. Covered, everything is closed off EXCEPT for a spot I found.

Here is the crime scene.

Close to the crime scene, I found this part of the run that can be pushed open. There are a lot of feathers on the other side near here. This leads me to suspect that the culprit is getting in and out through here.

Here is the exact location of that spot.

There’s also a trail of feathers outside the run.

I’m pretty sure it’s a raccoon, but I’m gonna set up my trail camera tonight to be sure.

Jared

 

[jnicholes]

So did they change anything, such as closing that huge gap in the run fence you found, or did they decide feeding the raccoons last night was a good strategy because there's a dead bird in that game cam photo from last night...?

I'm wondering if they have a strategy here because paying you to sweat your butt cheeks off one night to try to shoot a raccoon in the dark isn't a viable solution.

They need to shore up the giant weakness(es) staring them in the face. I have fun trapping and hunting raccoons, but when it comes to protecting chickens, prevention will win them the war.

I agree with you, but it’s not my choice. It’s my friends choice, I was posting on her behalf, as I said in the first post.

However, I can help her get that run more secure.

I’ll take care of that when I go over tonight.

 

[jnicholes]

@ChickensComeHome2Roost I agree with you completely. I’m just trying to help out the best way I know how.

If they don’t get it fixed and they lose their chickens, it’s their fault. I’m doing my best to help them, though.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I recommend she bring the remaining 5 indoors at night until the perpetrator has been brought to justice.

 

[ashcons]

Good investigation. The raccoon won't stop until access is removed (run fixed/secured), the food runs out, or it's forcibly stopped. Even if the run is fixed, it'll come testing for additional weaknesses for a while.

Freaking raccoons. The answer is always freaking raccoons.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

HA HA!!! Caught red-handed! The little sh!ts. Now whatcha gonna do about them?

 

[jnicholes]

We need pictures of the coop and run as well

Understood. On my way there now.

 

[ashcons]

So did they change anything, such as closing that huge gap in the run fence you found, or did they decide feeding the raccoons last night was a good strategy because there's a dead bird in that game cam photo from last night...?

I'm wondering if they have a strategy here because paying you to sweat your butt cheeks off one night to try to shoot a raccoon in the dark isn't a viable solution.

They need to shore up the giant weakness(es) staring them in the face. I have fun trapping and hunting raccoons, but when it comes to protecting chickens, prevention will win them the war.

 

[jnicholes]

The hole has been fixed, and the chickens are locked in.

 

[jnicholes]

I’ll get those details and get them to you. It’ll take a while, I am getting ready to drive.