what killed my girls last night?

[Lofty Dreams]

I am sorry there was a fourm close by that talked about some predators I didnt see the discription for this.

 

[Kittymomma]

I'm so sorry!

 

[ChooksChick]

I'm sooooooo sorry you had such a horrible loss. It's a terrible thing to lose your friends to violence.

I agree it could be a weasel, mink, fisher or raccoon- but I have a suggestion to stop it if it starts again: get a baby monitor. And have lots of men you know pee all over the area around your coop for deterrent.

I have a monitor in my big coop so I can hear if anything happens. I turn the receiver very low, and only hear the poignant noises. It saved my girls when I forgot to close the pop door one night and a raccoon got in and was stealing one...and I ran out into the night screaming bloody murder to stop it. The girl it nabbed only lost a couple of feathers- and my neighbors still talk to me despite my 5 a.m. banshee moment.

It may take a major rebuild to secure everything with hardware cloth, and it sounds like you've got a good start at it. In the meantime you can keep them safe by being aware if something happens. I'd set out a live trap, too, with tuna or cat food as bait.

I'm thinking good thoughts for you!

 

[Swampwood]

I would use one of the dead girls as bait in the run at night.. Then you could show pics of the dead intruder.

 

[technodoll]

Thanks so much for your kind thoughts, everyone... we're still in mourning today, all this heavy cold rain isn't helping much.

Nothing got into the reinforced coop last night and I pray there will be no more problems, oh lord I couldn't handle any more of this

One of my friends is giving me two laying hens tomorrow to help deal with the loss, I am so blessed to know such kind-hearted people. My girls will never be replaced nor forgotten, but life must go on and trust me, the lesson has been learned... if you think your coop is safe enough and there are no predators where you live? you might want to think again!

I sure have

ps: i am getting a baby monitor for the coop, thanks so much for the brilliant suggestion!

 

[BarkerChickens]

I am so sorry, Technodoll!!

How devastating!! If the weasel/coon/predator-of-some-sort can get though the chicken wire, can you get the 1/2" hardware cloth and put it at the bottom of the fencing? It is tougher than the chicken wire, but maybe the bottom 2-3 feet of the fencing having it can help prevent whatever it is from getting in again. I can't believe it was able to push open the pop door!

To you...

To the predator...

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
This is part of the process but instead of repairing the hole I usually relocate all but the bait for a night or two the put a bodygrip trap at the hole being used as an entrance . I would not pull the traps after just catching the first one either I would leave it for a coupla 3 nights and get rid of them all.

 

[Tara Rose]

I am so sorry, I know how you feel the devastation and loss is very painful. I like the monitor idea, but I am a sound sleeper and might not hear it (but I am getting one anyway, thanks ChooksChick). Do you have a dog? You might want to think about getting one, I have only lost two chickens to a predator and both times I was away with the dogs. You have to have a dogie door so that the dog can get out in the night if it hears something. I hope your emotional wounds heal so that you can have the joy of chickens again. I am shedding tears for you and your girls.

 

[technodoll]

I have two akitas... who are drooling to get at the chickens (they have killed cats, groundhogs, various birds, rabbits... while we lived in the CITY!) so I never let them anywhere near the coop and run. I will be walking them around the area though (leashed) so they can pee and leave scent... hope it helps.

We're looking into baits and traps... DH is shopping for a .22 - he felt murderous after yesterday's carnage, let me tell you

Do weasels and such hunt during the day?

 

[jenjscott]

Also this time of year the mamas are teaching youngsters how to hunt. This could have been a family of any of the above predators with jrs. just learning how to kill.