| Author | Content |
Loon
AuGres, MI (Zone 5b)
April 30, 2011 11:28 AM Post #8530413
| All that is left of two of them is a pile of feathers. Whatever it was left a lot of the last chicken so we picked her up and are using her for bait in a trap. All killed were two year old golden comets which are smaller hens.
The rest of the hens are scared to death. They won't come out of the barn. Even the barn cats are scared and won't come out of the barn. We found the dead chickens out by the apple trees on the edge of the woods. This had to have happened yesterday while they were free ranging. I'm afraid to let the chickens out now. They have a big covered run so I'll likely keep them penned up. I hate doing it because they love to free range and go all over the farm but whatever it was that killed these three will be back for more I'm sure.
Their coop is pretty secure but I think we'll close the doggy door tonight locking them up in the barn. I won't take any chances something could get in their run.
I am going to take some treats out to the hens and talk to them and try to get them calmed down. Poor things. It must have been scary to them to witness that. |
ZZsBabiez
Lodi, CA (Zone 9b)
April 30, 2011 11:35 AM Post #8530433
| I'm so sorry to hear that. I know it's not much consolation, but at least whatever killed them ate them and didn't just kill for nothing. :(
I know it's a horrible feeling.. I hope you find out what it was. |
Loon
AuGres, MI (Zone 5b)
April 30, 2011 11:39 AM Post #8530440
| Thank you. I hope so too. If any had to die at least it was the older birds who aren't laying as well as they used to. I've been thinking that maybe we can let the others free range late in the day while we sit out there with guns and watch them...but not for a while. |
Eufaula
Eatonton, GA (Zone 8b)
April 30, 2011 11:57 AM Post #8530484
| So Sorry loon. Ive been there so many times and it never gets any better! Dont let it get you down.
Hopefully you will soon find out what the culprit is and take care of it! |
jab91864
Northern Michigan, MI (Zone 5a)
April 30, 2011 12:03 PM Post #8530501
| Sorry for your loss.
A couple years back we were losing some of our free ranging hens to mid-day fox attacks. One ran right across the front steps chasing the hens in the middle of the day.
Good luck with your trap!! |
DonnaB
Vancleave, MS (Zone 8b)
April 30, 2011 3:27 PM Post #8530774
| So sorry. Hope you catch it because it now knows where dinner is and will return |
AnnieBBB
(Zone 5b)
April 30, 2011 5:39 PM Post #8531057
| Awww, Loon, I'm so sorry to hear that! I sure hope you're able to dispatch whatever did it. I feel bad for your other chickens for being so afraid. I'm sure you'll be able to coax them out with some treats and sweet talking. Hugs for you all! |
Loon
AuGres, MI (Zone 5b)
April 30, 2011 8:05 PM Post #8531360
| Well there is a bit of good news. Upon recounting the hens it turns out there was only one killed not three. When we saw the two piles of feathers we thought two had died and been eaten. I guess it is where it was being killed or struggling with the predator. I think my husband was so upset he just couldn't count right. He is their main caretaker and is closer to the chickens really. We'll keep them penned up and see what we catch in the trap in the morning. Of course there is no guarantee that what we trap was the original culprit. At least it seems now there was only one animal that got to her. |
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
May 1, 2011 5:09 AM Post #8531726
| Loon, I'm sorry. I know how hard that is. Just a thought, but if the attack happened during daylight hours, setting a trap at night may not help as much. I'd set for the day, as well. Since the poor hen was eaten, I'd agree with jab, a fox is a good possibility. I'm curious now about daylight predators. if I find anything interesting, I'll pop back. |
porkpal
Richmond, TX
May 1, 2011 6:18 AM Post #8531812
| Someone posted a link to an article that described how to tell from the damage to your chicken what the predator was likely to be. Does anyone remember that site? |
podster
Deep East Texas, TX (Zone 8a)
May 1, 2011 7:41 AM Post #8531996
| http://www.freewebs.com/professorchickenspredators/ |
porkpal
Richmond, TX
May 1, 2011 7:52 AM Post #8532037
| Podster would you put that in the sticky? I think it is of general interest. |
podster
Deep East Texas, TX (Zone 8a)
May 1, 2011 10:24 AM Post #8532348
| It is handled... added to the reference links sticky. |
Loon
AuGres, MI (Zone 5b)
May 1, 2011 10:37 AM Post #8532375
| We caught and killed an opossum this morning. Reset trap to see what else wanders in. Thanks for the link. I've bookmarked it. Will come in handy in the future. |
porkpal
Richmond, TX
May 1, 2011 12:17 PM Post #8532512
| Were you able to make a guess at your predator? |
Loon
AuGres, MI (Zone 5b)
May 2, 2011 7:24 AM Post #8534225
| Yes, we think it was the opossum that we caught and killed in the trap. |
terri_emory
Alba, TX (Zone 8a)
May 2, 2011 12:37 PM Post #8534880
| Sorry, late coming to this thread. Very sorry for your loss. Hope you caught the culprit already and no further worries ahead! |
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
May 3, 2011 5:56 AM Post #8536434
| It would be unusual for a possum to be able to catch and kill a hen who is walking around during the day, as they're pretty nocturnal. I suspect something else is around. Possums are pretty opportunistic, and will take eggs and such at night, but they're not really daylight hunters.
Not saying it's not possible, just suggesting you keep your eyes open for something else that's a more effiecient predator.
I hope it _was_ the 'possum, and that your chickens are safe now. |
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
May 3, 2011 6:02 AM Post #8536463
| Ok, this is OT, but I was just looking at the predator guide, and checking out "coyotes".
Imagine my surprise when I found out that I was feeding the feral cats completely inappropriately...
It says
"•Don't feed feral cats / stray dogs / wildlife / anything except your children"
I don't have kids, wonder what I should be using instead?? |
terri_emory
Alba, TX (Zone 8a)
May 3, 2011 6:39 AM Post #8536535
| catmad, I feed a feral cat we keep here at the shop. We caught her (trapped her shortly after someone somehow dumped here) and had her spayed and vetted up, then released her. She is an excellent ratter! I feed her once a day, first thing when I get here. I don't give her more than what she can eat in one sitting. The I put her bowls up out of reach of any other animal. We do have coyotes around here, but they don't come looking for her food as we control when it is available. Don't leave bowls full of cat food overnight, etc. Maybe you already do this? I read somewhere that this is the only safe way to feed outdoor cats and keep the racoons, etc. out of the feed. Don't even leave the empty bowls out for other animals to investigate.
She knows when her food is coming. She stays with her bowl until she is done. If she is still hungry I give her more. She even recognizes my truck when I pull into the parking lot. Cats are smart. They catch onto the drill fast.
|
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
May 3, 2011 6:59 AM Post #8536588
| Oh dear. That flopped.
What I found extremely funny was the caveat not to feed them anything except children.
Maybe I need more coffee. Or sleep.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post that info, it's spot-on. The only thing I would add is that while raccoons can climb (very well, i'm afraid) they cannot jump. If you put a feeding/resting station up high (at least 6 feet) and encase the legs in metal flashing, it's coon proof. I put another platform within easy cat-jumping distance, and they figure it out quickly. Keeps unwanted critters out of cat food and gives the cats a safe place. |
terri_emory
Alba, TX (Zone 8a)
May 3, 2011 7:11 AM Post #8536616
| LOL! My children were all too skinny (although they ate like hungry cows). Not enough there to keep the wildlife fed for even a day. And my two boys would probably have just joined the other side! And those boys ate a lot! They would have taken over and led the animals to hyjack passing Schwann's trucks, ice cream trucks, and pizza delivery cars. The implications would have been Orwellian! |
Eufaula
Eatonton, GA (Zone 8b)
May 3, 2011 7:52 AM Post #8536701
| Hmmmm, Cat I wonder if I could use Neighbor Kids (teenagers)! Just wondering! |
porkpal
Richmond, TX
May 3, 2011 10:20 AM Post #8536968
| I'm afraid I don't have enough children! We have lots of feral cats to feed; I guess I didn't read the directions either. |
podster
Deep East Texas, TX (Zone 8a)
May 3, 2011 5:05 PM Post #8537775
| Catmad ~ it was not wasted on me. I almost choked on my dinner when I read that ~ need to wipe the chewed food off the monitor. Thanks ~ after today I needed that.
I will second the daytime possum thought. It is odd to see one moving during daylight hours. I would keep an eye peeled just in case he wasn't the culprit.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
May 4, 2011 5:29 AM Post #8538813
| Glad to amuse, I had giggling fits for hours:)
I am taking Eufalas thoughts into consideration. Not necessarily Neighbor Kids (I don't think there are any), but maybe Neighbors... |
Light_for_Jesus
(Zone 6b)
May 4, 2011 5:49 AM Post #8538838
| You can have my bad neighbors. |
terri_emory
Alba, TX (Zone 8a)
May 4, 2011 6:28 AM Post #8538899
| I had the neighbors from h-e-double-toothpicks in my last neighborhood. She had several children worthy of wildlife fodder. And I understand, since we moved, she's had a couple more!
I think between us all we could feed whatever it is and keep it away from your chickens! This is turning into a Grimm Brother's fairy tale! |
Light_for_Jesus
(Zone 6b)
May 4, 2011 6:34 AM Post #8538913
| There was this woman years ago that lived on the corner that had a little boy, about two. They lived here several years. She didn't like us and would send her little boy over to curse us out when he was three or four. I would just tell my daughters to come in the house. Finally they moved, WHEW.
I just heard a few weeks ago that that little boy spent most of his teen years in juvenile boot camps and has been in prison several years. He just got out and has fathered a child.
I love children, but the parents can sometimes sure mess them up. |
Eufaula
Eatonton, GA (Zone 8b)
May 4, 2011 10:24 AM Post #8539300
| "train up a child in the way it should go..." |
greenhouse_gal
Southern NJ
United States (Zone 7a)
May 6, 2011 4:02 AM Post #8543223
| Catmad, I loved your observation. We used to go to a restaurant that offered "child burgers" and it was always a source of jokes for us. My sister also once got us a fake Campbell's soup can that said "Children and Stars" on the label. I think the original label would have been "Chicken and Stars" for star-shaped noodles.
That predator reference is excellent. When we lose a chicken during the day it's always to a hawk. But we have found that geese do a good job of deterring their visits when we run them among the chickens. We did have a mink or weasel in the henhouse last year, and that was just terrible. We lost a lot of birds.
Keeping your chickens in a protected run is probably the best way to handle things right now even though it's a shame to have to confine them. |
CajuninKy
Biggs, KY (Zone 6a)
May 6, 2011 6:52 PM Post #8544740
| Possums usually catch chickens off the roost. They can move faster than you think but not fast enough to chase down a chicken in the open during the day. They will steal eggs during the day. |
Lazarpl
Tulsa, OK
May 6, 2011 10:15 PM Post #8545042
| Catmad, I'm still chuckling over your quandry on May 3rd over what to feed the feral cats since you don't have kids. That's sooooo funny!!
Keep us posted on what else you catch. Whatever it is, I hope you catch the real culprit soon. That would be so heartbreaking, to find a chicken that way.
Does anybody know if hawks very often take chickens in towns, or just in the country? Here where I live in Tulsa we do have hawks, also foxes, skunks, racoons, sometimes possums. So do I need to keep them in a covered run in the daytime, unless I'm there with them? (Actually, it's illegal to shoot a gun in town, so my being there wouldn't be much help if a hawk did fly down.) Oh oh, another problem to deal with with raising chickens! |
greenhouse_gal
Southern NJ
United States (Zone 7a)
May 7, 2011 3:28 AM Post #8545129
| If you see hawks they can see your chickens, and if they're hungry they'll try to get them. Might not be as much of a problem if you have a small yard where they'd have trouble maneuvering, though. Anyway, shooting them isn't the answer; it's illegal to kill raptors and other native migratory birds. Grackles and English sparrows are fair game because they were imported. |
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
May 7, 2011 4:25 AM Post #8545178
| "Possums usually catch chickens off the roost. They can move faster than you think ":
Ain't that the truth. I took one out of my cat enclosure (still don't know how he got in) and took him to a wild area to release. I dropped him close to the tree line, but he took off in the open, running hard towards another stand of trees. He really got going, and I was surprised.
Hope he found enough to eat. Never seemed to have bothered the chickens, and I know he'd been around (or a buddy of his) for some time. |
green04735
Bridgewater, ME
May 7, 2011 5:15 AM Post #8545244
| I use avairy netting that I got of ebay,it works great even in the winter,hope you can see it in this picture 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Loon
AuGres, MI (Zone 5b)
May 7, 2011 6:19 AM Post #8545337
| The chickens are back out free ranging. The opossum got into the chicken coop and drug off the hen. My husband was out late at a ham meeting and forgot to close the coop door before he left. We won't make that mistake again.
We're in the process of cleaning out the indoor coop and putting the pine shavings on our vegetable garden to turn under. We're looking forward to adding ten more light brahma chicks to the group. They're coming in the mail the week of May 15th.
That netting looks interesting. I need to put something up around my pole barn porch to keep the hens off it. They crap everywhere and like to sit on my furniture. :) Keeps us busy pressure washing off the cement. |
green04735
Bridgewater, ME
May 7, 2011 3:18 PM Post #8546247
| You can see the netting a little better in this picture 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
CajuninKy
Biggs, KY (Zone 6a)
May 7, 2011 5:14 PM Post #8546460
| Be careful. That moose antler is going to attract porcupines. LOL
|
porkpal
Richmond, TX
May 7, 2011 8:45 PM Post #8546908
| What? |
green04735
Bridgewater, ME
May 8, 2011 2:44 AM Post #8547100
| Its inside the coop now,its leaned up against the nesting boxes and they get behind it and lay there eggs.Do they really attract porcupines? |
CajuninKy
Biggs, KY (Zone 6a)
May 10, 2011 7:50 AM Post #8551974
| Porcupines chew on them in the wild. I think it ups their calcium but I really don't think it would attract them. I think you are pretty safe from a porcupine infestation. LOL |
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
May 10, 2011 8:57 AM Post #8552115
| Antlers are a calcium/mineral source for lots of critters. I keep looking for shed antlers for my dogs to chew, and never find them. I asked a hunter, and he told me they're pretty quickly consumed by squirrels, mice and chipmunks, so I'd guess that anything else could be chewing them, as well.
Hopefully, you won't be swarmed by small fuzzy things. |
greenhouse_gal
Southern NJ
United States (Zone 7a)
May 10, 2011 9:39 AM Post #8552196
| You can buy antlers for dog chews at pet supply places. A friend in France asked me to bring some to her when we went over this fall, and she had them shipped to me beforehand. They were bulky and a very odd shape, and I have no idea what Homeland Security made of them when they opened my luggage, which they did probably to check on the jar of pecan pie mix that she had me bring her, too. I'm sure that looked very suspicious in the x-ray! |
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
May 10, 2011 9:47 AM Post #8552209
| Which is why I want to find them in the woods!! The piece I saw the other day was about 8" long including two branche about 1.5", and priced at $23.49. I love my dogs, but that's out of line *G*
They'll probably enjoy the walks hunting for the antlers, so we'll compromise... |
greenhouse_gal
Southern NJ
United States (Zone 7a)
May 10, 2011 10:27 AM Post #8552285
| Oh, I don't think those were anywhere near that expensive! My friend wouldn't have gotten them if they were. This is where she bought them and the price seems reasonable:
http://www.petexpertise.com/dog-toys/antler-chews.html |
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
May 10, 2011 2:57 PM Post #8552902
| Actually, turns out it's about the same, just my size estimate that's off. I called the store, and the antler was 10.5", not 8". So, equivalent to the XXL on the site, where it's $23.75.
Rats. Off to the woods... |
AbbeysMom
De Soto, KS (Zone 5b)
May 31, 2011 2:10 PM Post #8599696
| I've been lurking around reading but don't recall ever posting on this forum. My daughter raised chickens for 4H. She had a flock of 36 assorted specialty breeds and had pretty good luck with some of them. Somehow the coop door didn't get locked one night and the next day we woke up to a huge bloody massacre. Something or several somethings had killed 11 of our hens, one rooster and injured another rooster. To this day we never figured out what killed them, we're guessing a pack of coyotes. The sad part is that only a few were taken and/or eaten the rest were just mangled and left. It was a really awful sight for our daughter, especially since they were all being groomed for the fair a few weeks later. Our daughter is grown now and lives 1200 miles away but we still have 6 hens and 2 roosters left. The youngest one is 4 years old and the oldest is around 8 now. We still get a few eggs to enjoy. I'll miss those eggs but my husband doesn't want to continue raising chickens after these die and I'm somewhat physically disabled and can't do the heavy work. |
porkpal
Richmond, TX
May 31, 2011 3:52 PM Post #8599849
| Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you still have chickens; I find them a joy to have around and the eggs are extra. My guess is that it was dogs that caused your massacre. Typically they kill without eating much.
We're always glad to hear from chicken heads here - whether you own any chickens or not. Post often. |
CajuninKy
Biggs, KY (Zone 6a)
May 31, 2011 9:57 PM Post #8600617
| Does sound like dogs. How neat you still have some of them. |
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
June 1, 2011 3:49 AM Post #8600763
| AbbeysMom, I hope you'll find a way to keep a couple of hens for eggs. Three or four shouldn't really be much work, and the benefits are many.
I agree with the dog ID They are waht most commonly kills without consuming.. Raccoons or weasely things might also kill and leave, but usually coyotes take what they kill with them. Just my experience, so don't put much weight on that:) |
greenhouse_gal
Southern NJ
United States (Zone 7a)
June 1, 2011 4:57 AM Post #8600852
| Weasels and minks kill and leave. We had a mink in our henhouse a couple of winters ago; it was just horrible. So much carnage. You could understand and almost forgive if the animal was hungry and was killing to eat, but this was murder for the sake of murder - pure evil. |
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
June 1, 2011 5:11 AM Post #8600872
| That's what I meant by "weasely things" *G*
Sometimes they only take certain parts. Shudder. |
porkpal
Richmond, TX
June 1, 2011 7:19 AM Post #8601137
| Gourmet weasely things? Worse and worse! |
CajuninKy
Biggs, KY (Zone 6a)
June 1, 2011 7:52 AM Post #8601228
| Mink and weasel family members are blood thirsty devils to put it lightly. |
porkpal
Richmond, TX
June 1, 2011 1:56 PM Post #8601992
| Yes, for sure! But just think of how many chickens a critter would have to kill if it had a taste for only, for example, gizzards. |
Light_for_Jesus
(Zone 6b)
June 1, 2011 6:02 PM Post #8602642
| When my dog killed and ate my hens she ate the entire bird. Only a few feathers remained. She lives here though so guess she took her time.
What is so strange about her is as long as she's on the chain she never hurts the hens. They walk right up to her. |
AbbeysMom
De Soto, KS (Zone 5b)
June 1, 2011 7:05 PM Post #8602809
| We do have bobcat and even a couple cougar that have been spotted around here and I think that keeps a lot of our nuisance animals in check but I hadn't thought about it being weasel or mink. Do they live near streams and rivers? There's a very large creek about 150 yards west of the hen house and the Kansas River is only about 400 yards behind our property. All of that area is pretty wooded too so I imagine there's all kinds of wild beasties around that we don't see. We've had trouble with oppossum a few time but they only stole eggs, they didn't hurt the chickens. The coop is pretty secure so it's been awhile since we had any trouble and I hope it stays that way.
|
MissJestr
Kingman, AZ (Zone 7a)
June 1, 2011 9:54 PM Post #8603146
| porkpal wrote:Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you still have chickens; I find them a joy to have around and the eggs are extra.
We're always glad to hear from chicken heads here - whether you own any chickens or not. Post often.
What pork said... Welcome... |
greenhouse_gal
Southern NJ
United States (Zone 7a)
June 2, 2011 3:00 AM Post #8603289
| Mink and weasels are aquatic; if you live near a river that's good habitat for them. We live along a small navigable river and there are lots of critters around, including muskrats, although they just eat my pond plants when we are temporarily without a cat. |
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
June 2, 2011 4:07 AM Post #8603336
| Apparently I'm now dealing with coyotes. We thought it was foxes (and it still may be) so did some new fencing, but fences won't stop coyotes. So, my poor birds now stay cooped up (I now understand the expression) until I can be down there to see that all is well. They used to be allowed out at sun-up, but no more.
Last night my SO went after what he thought were dogs, just about dusk. His description was wolves, but I have to go with coyotes. Shepherdy looking, light sides, dark backs. Ran them off, seemingly without injury, but they were back quickly, or there were more skulking about. The second time they didn't seem to return, but I waited (armed) until all the straggler-chickens came home to roost (another expression*G*). I did get tired of waiting, and managed to capture the little Silkie roo who is the last one in, and install him. He has to wait until "his" hen goes to bed, and she has chosen the front porch as home.
Now to get thru today...
p.s. The porch hen is carried into a cage in the bathroom to spend the nights. No wonder no-one wants to visit me *G* |
meadowyck
Bradenton, FL (Zone 8b)
June 2, 2011 4:11 PM Post #8604644
| catmad
I love your ps.
Jan |
catmad
Pelzer, SC (Zone 7b)
June 3, 2011 3:56 AM Post #8605585
| I just didn't want anyone to think she was left there unprotected. It's a good thing I do. Last night something ripped up her nest (also on the front porch) and ate her eggs! I had to use eggs gathered yesterday :(
I'll take them in the evening, now... |
