The Hunt for Mystery Predator

[theoldchick]

Get a game camera to see what is going on. Then figure out a way to cover your run.

 

[McChooky]

Keeping birds in any open fence is inviting aerial predators to come to your house for free chicken (or quail)dinners. Especially in the winter months because food will be scarce.Taking steps to cover the top is the only thing that'll solve this problem. Birds of prey can't legally be trapped or shot and are protected by law.4 legged predators will not mess with an electric fence after getting shocked a few times.

 

[Meyers And Sons Chicken F]

I lost a few chickens with all that's missing is its head, I've never gotten a proven real answer to what it might be, I have everything mentioned above, that's owls, raccoons, opossums, snakes hawks, and eagles. My next move will be to put up an electric fence and a camera to see what it might be.

 

[Musclemanchickens]

I had the same issue. Chickens with only the head missing. I set a trap last night and in fact caught at opossum. I will release it later today after my daughter gets a chance to check it out up close. They eat things like ticks also, I like that fact. I will set the trap again over the next couple night and see if anything else wanders in, but I thing the opossum is my culprit. I have a PetSafe In-Ground Fence System attached to my actual fence on the perimeter of my property. My dogs cannot get withing 3'. I have been putting some dog food a bowl next to the fence where i believe the predator was coming in at. Over a 2 week period (the predator) would come, eat the dog food and leave my chickens alone. This may be the solution I embrace in the end. With the way my area is populating, the wildlife will soon be completely pushed out. I would like to keep it around as long as possible. If feeding them so they don't eat my chicken works, ces't la vie!!