Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[bigzio]

Dang cd, hard to say what's up with no feathers and I assume no tracks for identifying the culprit.... I've had problems with yotes, foxes, and hawks.....but they always left feathers behind, even when I spoiled their efforts.

bigz

 

[rustymurphy]

Where in Wis are you I'm near Eau Claire I got bantam chickens

 

[rustymurphy]

Sorry for your loss sound like Hawks or eagles to me we had problems with weasel s they like to pile up their victims one dead weasel no more casualties

 

[CherMoz]

GOOD MORNING WISCONSIN! IT IS ANOTHER FOGGY MORNING HERE. OTHERWISE, ALL IS WELL ON THE HoMEFRONT.

 

[chickendreams24]

Bad day here yesterday. I'm still sick and miserable. Went outside twice yesterday because the birds were predator calling, both times I saw nothing. The third time I went to walk outside I looked through the porch wind and there with my salmon favorelles cockeral in its mouth stood the largest fox I've ever seen. I ran for the gun it was still struggling with the bird when I got back. I aimed and took a shot, but the fox didn't go down. The scope on the gun is a little off so I probably missed. Amazingly the fox ran a few feet and stopped the bird no longer struggling, his neck snapped, as I ran in the house realizing the gun had only had one round in it. I ran back out and much to my shock the fox stood in the same place starting to pluck the bird. I shot again and it ran. I went after it and shot off a couple more shots as it ran around our entire property and out into the field. It had dropped the bird. I called DH2B and he came home. We waited and watched the fox didn't show back up. We processed put the bird to try and save some of the meat. It was awful and tough from the struggle, when cooked. We tossed it.

It may seem cold to some people but we left the bird out as bait. We are hoping the fox shows back up so we can finish the job. Anything to stop losing birds. Still no sign of Ducky. I think I found where the fox must have gotten Mickey. I'll be looking for a nice little black OEGB cockeral or some chicks, if anyone has spares, or hatching eggs. I would also like to find another silver duckwing pullet as I no longer have any hope for Ducky. I miss my babies. This fox is bold. It must have been out there yesterday waiting in the fog and the mist and hiding every time I walked outside. It couldn't have been more than three minutes that it took to grab the salmon favorelles cockeral. While it still sucks majorly at least the bird it grabbed yesterday wasn't one we planned to keep. We also believe it took a cockeral the day before yesterday as we are missing a mixed color rock boy that was destined for freezer camp, but we never found any signs of that bird.
All in all this brings out total predator losses up to 24 +/- in 2016 and we've already lost 3-4 in 2017. DH2B is proud of me. While I enjoy shooting and grew up in a family of hunters I have never shot at a living thing before. I'm amazed that in the moment I didn't even think of it. I only thought of whether or not I could save that bird.

 

[babylady4]

Crazy question, but do you have a predator proof run of some sort or are your birds always free ranging during the day? Do you have a dog at all to protect your flock?

I am sorry about your birds. I had a weasel take out all my call ducks, but I feel it was my fault as I knew there was a small gap in their pen big enough for a weasel and I was negligent in repairing it. Nothing happened for quite a while but all it takes is one time.

 

[GranolaGirl72]

Jeepers, sounds like it has been rough for some of you guys with the predators... I let my hens free range, but only if I am outside. Our property is pretty wide open with a line of trees on the north against their coop, so I usually stay out there so the hawks don't get any smart ideas. Our run is made with 1/4" hardware cloth sitting on concrete pavers 8x6x2 or so. We then ran a 2 foot wide skirt along the ground against the run and covered that with a bunch of mulch. If anything tries to dig down they will hit the hardware cloth so they cannot dig under unless they start out a couple feet, not normal for an animal. Underside of the coop roof has the same thing, although I something small could potentially get in there if it tried hard enough.. only so tight we could secure that area. We only have 5 hens at this point, planning to add 3-4 more this spring, and when I am done in the garden I just shake a red solo cup with scratch in it and they all come running back to the coop.

Side note, one of our EE is molting. She was kinda creepy to look at anyway, now she looks like a tiny velociraptor...

 

[corewassen87]

God I hate predators. They can wipe out a lot fluff butts in a hurry. Sight that gun in!! And if you don't have curious critters set some traps!! I hope you get to blast that ******* lol

 

[bigzio]

Yep, sorry for the losses....I always have a turkey gun loaded with heavy 4 shot.....no fox at 40 yards would ever be back with a well placed shot.....aim is more important than shooting....if you don't have a good aim, it's a wasted shot. Practice makes perfect...hope you can get even, if that's even possible now with that many lost. Even buckshot loads with a mere 7 pellets would do the job. Good Luck!

bigz

 

[corewassen87]

Where the heck has The Godfather been???