[Dizzycow]

One (hopefully not more, I can't find them) of my Cream Legbars has been eaten. The roost in the rafters of the shed, and this morning there are lots of feathers below where they roost and in the hay shed more feathers and a clump of feathers with a bit of flesh attached. I'm feeling so sad and very guilty, and hope she didn't suffer too much. I'm wondering if a rat could be the culprit? A fox would take the ducks as they're not shut up at night. We lost quails to a weasle (or stoat, who knows or cares?) so that could be it. We have lots of rats.
Sniff.
 

[Chris H]

So sorry, what a rotton thing to happen

[deepinthewoods]

i feel for you, i lost fernando my cuckoo maran blank firing cockerel yesterday to a fox, during daylight too, im gutted. theres feathers all down the drive

[Castle Farm]

If your not locking you birds up at night what do you expect ?

[deepinthewoods]

mine was during the day!!

[Sandy]

DOn't feel too much to blame, my daughter had her hens taken in the day as well and know one can keep an eye on free ranging birds, thats what chance we take.....one possible solution is to secure them some how, electric fencing, enclosed area etc as they could be eaten anytime, who ever took that hen will tell his/her mates!!!! To the animal who took her, at least she was eaten and not just ripped apart as thats what fox's do sometimes!!.......

[plumseverywhere]

Oh I'm sorry Dizzy    that's not good at all.

And you Deepinthewoods - I've lost them during the day too (in fact the 2 we lost were both during the day!) its harsh.

[Dizzycow]

Thanks guys. It was rumpless, my lovely little (and very young) CL who didn't have a tail and I adored her for it, so I'm gutted. She was very sweet. I know we all have the same experience and feelings, nice to have that camaraderie and your kind words.

Castle Farm, that comment was a bit harsh. My troop of Cream Legbars eschewed their hen house as soon as they were able to, and the whole lot insist on roosting in the rafters of the shed. Short of a nightly mission involving stepladders (not to mention tackling three cockerels and a particularly flighty variety of chicken), that's not a good idea given my penchant for Vino Collapso, they will just have to stay put and I'll have to accept my losses. Be nice, though. I'm feeling sensitive.

 

[CameronS]

Awwww very sorry to hear of your loss, especially as she was unique!!


it's a horrible thing to happen, even worse not knowing what caused it!


regarding the locking in, during the summer i often don't lock my birds in i like them to have as much freedom outside as possible and they stay up later than me, dose this make me irresponsible?? i don't think so, others may disagree.

the statment above

If your not locking you birds up at night what do you expect ?

  i find quite harsh, it's nobodys fault sh** happens it's how we deal with it that matters

[Dizzycow]

Ta, Cameron, that's nice.

I'm interested that sometimes you don't lock your birds up. It never crossed my mind not to, though God knows I'd love a lie in at a weekend and not have to get up at JesusChrist O'Clock to let them out. Have you lost many overnight with an open hen house?

I've just been out to lock them up (only 3 eggs from 12 layers today, unusual, maybe stress?) and the CL's were kicking off about something. I couldn't see anything which would upset them, but they're definitely not happy, so I'm bracing myself for another loss tomorrow. I wish the three CL cockerels would either stand up for the ladies or get eaten instead!

Pass that stepladder.....!

 

[CameronS]

In years i have lost a total of  4 birds to predators, on  3 were taken by rats from under the mother hen (in a locked pen) and the other was my wee blind birds she got cornered bu a buzzard.

our garden is not 100% fox proof but we may just be very lucky,

i had thought about one of these automatic closing trap doors  but i worry that something gets shut out in the elements and in full view or predators,  to me that is worse than not being shut in  as atleast that way they have some shelter.

[Dizzycow]

Goodness, your losses sound a bit traumatic. I've also looked at the automatic closer, they're a bit pricey though. But you haven't lost any due to them not being shut up at night? Interesting.

[CameronS]

nope none of my losses are from not locking in

[Miss Piggy]

Sorry to hear of your losses, any loss is sad and upsetting. I have used an electronic pop hole for at least 12 years maybe more. It was expensive,£80 ish but has been worth every penny considering it has lasted so long. I bought it when was doing regular ballet, swimming  taxi runs etc with children and couldn't guarantee I would be back in time to shut up. Never had a problem with a hen being  left out. The door dosen't go down until dusk and all the hens are on their roost by then. I frequently do a head count if I am passing the henhouse just to check all is well. Would recommend to anyone as the hens are up and out early in the summer with the light mornings and peace of mind if not at home in the evenings. We do have 400 metres of mains powered poultry netting which is frequently moved around and havnt had a hen taken ( fingers crossed since this was installed along with the automatic pophole. Did see a big dog fox about 50 yards away from enclosure last week at 12 midday and often see foxes crossing field adjacent. We leave the fence on 24 hrs a day so if a fox does come sniffing around at night he gets a good belt from fence and will stay away. Our dog got shocked once, yelped like mad and as never been near it since, he stays well away. I understand it is not practical for everyone to have this system but works very well for us. 

[SallyintNorth]

Sorry to hear your sad news, Dizzycow    I do hope it doesn't happen again...

We have a repeating pattern of going quite a while with no losses, then losing one, then a few nights later another, and so on.  Personally I have usually felt it was a fox - if s/he can lift one quietly and take it away to eat, there's no need to slaughter the whole flock, whereas if the hens are in an enclosed space that the fox has got into, they start panicking and flapping about, so the fox can hardly help itself but kill them all.

Before I lived on a farm I always had hens that got locked up safely at night, either with a light-sensitive electronic trap door or by human hand.  Now I have the same problem as you - I want them to range freely during the day, so I'm helpless when they decide that the top of the Dutch Barn is a better bedroom than the nice lockable house I have provided for them.  All is well until Foxy or Stoaty finds them... 

Our only alternative is fox-proof runs, clipped wings, lockable fox- and stoat-proof house, no complete freedom.

We like to have them pecking about and being in the way, looking pretty, hiding their eggs, suddenly turning up with a brood... and have to accept that from time to time we will lose some birds.

Oh, and we too have lost eggs and young birds to rats - and to hedgehogs.  A cat has moved into the barns now, so we are hoping that will assist in keeping rats at bay.  I'm not sure what you can do about hedgehogs!