Heartbroken to say the least....

ChickensComeHome2Roost said:

Why hasn't anything attempted to take my ducks? Why just my chickens and small roos?


The size of the predator doesn't always determine how many chickens it kills . Studying predators behavior will teach you what killed your birds. Coons can open latches and grab birds thru the wire.They only eat their heads if they grab them thru the wire. Weasels are small enough to go thru the openings in the wire & will kill them all.They may not eat any of them. Foxes have small stomachs & prefer to kill more than they need and will bury some to eat later.

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BirbMama92 said:

thank you. virtual hugs work just as well *hugs*

No birds lost last night, and one sneaky predator caught. Going to get rid of it and then reset the trap to see what else I can get.

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BirbMama92 said:

I didn't realize that raccoons would take whole birds, I thought they just took pieces and then left what they wanted to move on to the next bird. I set a trap last night and caught a raccoon - out smarted this one, finally. But going to reset again tonight to see what else I can get. The small opening in the side is where it was headed to. I blocked that off with wire and sat the trap right in front, sure enough I got it.

We did have a fox with 3 kits, but she has since moved on because we found her little den and i'm sure she didn't want to be disturbed.

I had thought about a weasel or a mink, but from what I understand is they kill basically all and only take a little from each bird (but I could be mistaken).

This is still a learning process for me. I'm thankful to have this forum to help me out.

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BirbMama92 said:

This is the only place I know where I can post this and others will understand.

I started my bird journey last year after my son wanted to bring home a chick his class had hatched from school. He wasn't chosen so we went to our local Bomgaars and that's where my journey began...

Since then I have raised 40+ girls, along with ducks and two geese in the past year. Unfortunately some of the chicks I had struggled so I lost some along the way but to me it was rewarding because I gave them my whole heart and they were loved until the very end.

This spring, my neighbor killed 9 of my babies. I don't have enough evidence to press charges but I know it was him. He's the only one that hates me enough to do such emotional damage. Since then it has been nothing but hell trying to keep my babies safe.

Over the weekend a predator came into our yard and took 19 of my girls, one of my bantam roos, and my remaining guinea who's name was Bob. My husband and I made the run smaller and put a cover on in hopes to save my remaining babies.

It didn't work....

This morning my step dad shows up around 640 to pick up my kiddos; he went in the back yard and found that something had gotten in. This time it couldn't carry my girls off as there was no hole big enough for it to escape with it's catch. I found the remains of my girl, Hennifer, the one that started my whole journey; and half of my sweet girl goose. I just now realized that my bantam roo, Harold, is also no longer with us. I didn't find any parts of him, but there wasn't much to him...

I have 5 girls left, my rooster (Oreo), my young gander, and my ducks.

Why hasn't anything attempted to take my ducks? Why just my chickens and small roos?

I'm beyond devastated. I have no words to even describe how I feel. I honestly have made myself sick over this whole situation because I have tried to keep them safe, but I have failed. Failed miserably. I feel like the worst bird mom in the whole world right now.

I don't know what else to do.

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babyratt said:

Great job! I thought racoons were only after eggs.

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BirbMama92 said:

This is the only place I know where I can post this and others will understand.

I started my bird journey last year after my son wanted to bring home a chick his class had hatched from school. He wasn't chosen so we went to our local Bomgaars and that's where my journey began...

Since then I have raised 40+ girls, along with ducks and two geese in the past year. Unfortunately some of the chicks I had struggled so I lost some along the way but to me it was rewarding because I gave them my whole heart and they were loved until the very end.

This spring, my neighbor killed 9 of my babies. I don't have enough evidence to press charges but I know it was him. He's the only one that hates me enough to do such emotional damage. Since then it has been nothing but hell trying to keep my babies safe.

Over the weekend a predator came into our yard and took 19 of my girls, one of my bantam roos, and my remaining guinea who's name was Bob. My husband and I made the run smaller and put a cover on in hopes to save my remaining babies.

It didn't work....

This morning my step dad shows up around 640 to pick up my kiddos; he went in the back yard and found that something had gotten in. This time it couldn't carry my girls off as there was no hole big enough for it to escape with it's catch. I found the remains of my girl, Hennifer, the one that started my whole journey; and half of my sweet girl goose. I just now realized that my bantam roo, Harold, is also no longer with us. I didn't find any parts of him, but there wasn't much to him...

I have 5 girls left, my rooster (Oreo), my young gander, and my ducks.

Why hasn't anything attempted to take my ducks? Why just my chickens and small roos?

I'm beyond devastated. I have no words to even describe how I feel. I honestly have made myself sick over this whole situation because I have tried to keep them safe, but I have failed. Failed miserably. I feel like the worst bird mom in the whole world right now.

I don't know what else to do.

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BirbMama92 said:

Here's one of the gremlins that have been caught this week!!

We had one but I'm pretty sure my step dad missed with the pew pew. This could very well be the same one, nasty little sucker for sure!!

I was going to attach the video but it's not supported.

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RoyalChick said:

No words just

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babyratt said:

Little bastage! I would give them eggs. Let my babies alone!

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