Which Way to go?

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most of the time they consume the chicken in place. Most of the time. I have allowed them to work carcasses at their leisure and they do sometimes move carcass which can involve climbing with carcass. A farmer I used to work with had a sow coon with kittens come into farrowing house and drag live 10-lb pigs from farrowing crates, pull them through an open window that was 18" above floor before going into high weeds of paddock where actual dispatching took place.

We are too much into absolutes (black and white) in terms of how the world operates when there is lots of variation, especially where live is involved.

No absolutes here, just didn't want him thinking it was coons and only coons in case it isn't. Around here the raccoons never bother my chickens. I'm well aware things are different everywhere.

 

[rlshepard]

Yeah Opossum in the trap today... for clarity, I actually placed the trap just outside the fence where the feather trail went up.

I don't know the Racoons gender, didn't ask and Id hate to assume and offend him :lol

I'll work at taking out the tree this weekend, I like the Idea of running the electric wires along the top. I could come out and do something like 3,6 and 9 and stop the climbers.

Can a bobcat really clear a 6ft fence in a Jump? That's concerning.

I agree that the raccoon (and now Opossum) are likely not the culprits. I have the game camera posted now just inside the fence where the culprit is climbing in, facing in so if they go that route I should catch it.

 

[rlshepard]

Nothing out of the ordinary on the trail cam last night other than a curious turkey checking it out...

 

[rlshepard]

I view trapping as an immediate short term solution to a long term problem. BTW, once you know it is coons, I'd switch to the dog proof traps. They are more effective and you can buy 2 or 3 of them for the price of a single live trap. And yes, if you decide to trap it, do punch it's ticket on the spot. BTW, I know of one coon who was relocated 10 miles away, and beat the owners home. They knew it was the same one as they had marked it with a can or orange spray paint before they turned it loose. They turned it loose, went to dinner, then returned home to find it back in the barn where it had been trapped from.

Dog proof traps? (he asked hoping he didn't sound too dumb)

But as for the long term solution, going forward, you need to revise and perfect your fence system so nothing gets in.

Agreed!

And lastly, do not be surprised if this was not the predator you have been losing birds to. This one may be in addition to.....somebody who was in the neighborhood and got caught. The real culprit still at large........

I agree, may or may not have been him, even if it was, he's probably one of several. So what I'm hearing (reading) is that solid fencing is better/preferred over some-kind of predator urine?

Thanks everyone for all the awesome guidance!

 

[rlshepard]

Dog proof traps? (he asked hoping he didn't sound too dumb)

Viva la google!

 

[centrarchid]

No absolutes here, just didn't want him thinking it was coons and only coons in case it isn't. Around here the raccoons never bother my chickens. I'm well aware things are different everywhere.

I do not imply the predators vary their behavior based on where they are from. Rather, they vary as a function of individuals within a given area. You have to have raccoons bother your chickens to be able to make that assessment.

 

[rlshepard]

I do not imply the predators vary their behavior based on where they are from. Rather, they vary as a function of individuals within a given area. You have to have raccoons bother your chickens to be able to make that assessment.

My experience in the past with Racoons has been massacre style 3 or 4 birds and they have left them where they killed'em partially eaten. They could have changed their MO but I feel like this is something else. Carcass is no where to be found no bones, nothing but feathers...

 

[centrarchid]

A few years back a neighbor had the massacre issue. My dog and I killed the raccoon for him in the coop. Chickens massacred were confined close together in a location where they could not put distance between themselves and the raccoon. Individual raccoon there. Most recent issue where raccoons cause trouble where victim pulled off a very low roost in field. Kill took a little time over several feet. After kill made, raccoon dragged it about 30 feet. I left carcass out which was moved incrementally about 10' each night for next two. Raccoon taken on third night before it got to carcass.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

Nothing out of the ordinary on the trail cam last night other than a curious turkey checking it out...

Do you use a battery operated trail camera? If so, may I ask how well it holds up in rain/snow? I would like to get one just for curiosity sake. I've seen some big cat-like paw prints in the snow here the past 2 winters (how long I've lived here). Bobcat is what the prints looked like, but once the sun hits the prints they can "enlarge" rather quickly. Spotted the prints near my garage/lean to and way out on the other side of my field.

 

[rlshepard]

Do you use a battery operated trail camera? If so, may I ask how well it holds up in rain/snow? I would like to get one just for curiosity sake. I've seen some big cat-like paw prints in the snow here the past 2 winters (how long I've lived here). Bobcat is what the prints looked like, but once the sun hits the prints they can "enlarge" rather quickly. Spotted the prints near my garage/lean to and way out on the other side of my field.

Just bought this one
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XNJ6M3J/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It arrived yesterday.... we'll see how it goes