Rir Mia

[Tmec]

One of our RIRs is MIA. We let our flock free range during the day and they get penned in the coop at night. Night before last it was well after dark when they were penned and we were missing one RIR. Last night we spotted a Ringtail going across the road about dark in front of the property the chickens are kept. We have not found any feathers so we are still not sure what got it. We set one trap last night and have plans to set an additional one tonight.

Anybody have any suggestions on best bait for a ringtail?

 

[horsejody]

Is it possible that she has gone broody and is hiding?

 

[Tmec]

I don't think any have gone broody yet. They are only 16 wks old and none have started laying. They still have pale combs so I think we are still 2 or 3 weeks away from eggs.

We called the neighbor who's property the ringtail was headed to last night (since they also have chickens to warn them). She had taken care of the chickens while my friend was on vacation a few weeks ago. She said she saw a ringtail in a tree near the house where an old deer blind was. This evening I am taking my shot gun and plan on investigating the old deer blind. We knew there were predators around. I guess we just got lazy and have no one to blame but ourselves but this is the second bird we have lost.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

We are talking about a coon, correct? Everytime I read "ringtail" I think of those ringtailed lemurs, but I don't see them being chicken killers. LOL

Coons are suppose to be best baited by sardines and marshmellows.

-Kim

 

[spectrumranch]

Not sure if they are meaning a coon. But I was thinking they were refering to a Ringtail Cat:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2008-09-18-squaw-ringtail-28073.jpg

 

[Tmec]

Google Retail Cats and you will see what I am talking about. They are different from a coon. Coons are a possiblity also hawks but until we find the remains we are not sure. The ringtail is what we have seen in the area so that is our suspect for now.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Those are so cool looking. I have never even heard about those. Thanks for clarifying, I wasn't sure what we were talking about. LOL

I have no advice regarding them though. Learn something new every day.

-Kim

 

[Maryallison]

OMG............for some reason I thought you guys were talking about some kinda snake!

I was sooooo lost!

 

[briana1975]

I thought you were talking about a racoon too. I looks very beautiful. But I wouldn't want it killing my chickens.