What the hell just happened!

[WoodlandWoman]

Maybe you should think about installing an automatic door.

 

[kfchickenlady]

ok, I am too lazy to Google, but I keep hearing about Fisher Cats on this site, What Are They??? never heard of one, they sound nasty! We have possum, rats, raccoons, fox, bobcat, mt. lion, owl, hawk, eagle, rattlers, etc but no Fisher Cats...they sound creepy!

btw, a Raccoon could have done everything you say, Ive seen them in the rafters in our garage at night when we first moved here trying to get dog food, they were the size of a large dog, and had their whole litter w/ them....theyre very agile.

 

[aprophet]

the 2 worst egg eaters I have here are possum and coon most times fox take the birds

 

[chicmom]

Hi Smiley--

Here's what I'm thinking....the girls were probably all tucked in nice and cozy for the night. And you know how docile they get at night....well, the predator (and I'm thinking probably raccoon), goes in there and makes a grab for Lilac, but she escapes, all the hens go berserk and run outside, so the coon sees those eggs in the nest and decides to eat them quickly. In the meantime, you come out because you've heard the chaos, and the coon drops the last egg and runs for the hills........

Wow, you've really got some predators just watching and waiting......very unsettling. Can you put a wire top on your chicken run of some type? Hubby did mine with chicken wire. So far so good.....knock on wood of course.

I know there's been nights where I didn't get home before dark, and I had to go out there and lock up.....makes me think I'd better be more careful too......

Good luck with the gals and I sure am glad things turned out ok for you this time!

Sharon

 

[kfchickenlady]

btw Smiley- love those names, I have goats w/ those names...

 

[elmo]

I once saw a raccoon run straight up our 6 foot tall board fence just as easily as running on level ground. They can climb like the dickens.

 

[herefordlovinglady]

Quote:
Yep I have to agree. We have too many coons and what you described it sounds just like one -- eating eggs, and grabbing at the birds. they can grab a bird and run. you are lucky to not have lost your lilac.

 

[nonseq]

Fisher cat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_(animal)

 

[Minniechickmama]

I would think a fisher could easily fit through a chicken door, they are not that big, less than 10-pounds and like a large weasel.
I agree it was probably the way herefordlovinglady put it. You were lucky. Get a top on your run.

 

[Hillsvale]

Quote:
yes, I do and they do.

Sorry your going through this... that is my concern sometimes during the day when I lok my peeps out if I am trying to intigrate in a new bird.... today is one of thiose days is LynnP asked me to take one of her girls which was getting roughed up and yesterday I had crows picking out some day old meaties which escaped the meatie hut....