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03/11/13, 06:25 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: West Central Arkansas
Posts: 3,611
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Predaitor
I have a predator. Last week I had seven free ranging roos. My BIL lost BAWB his roo week before. Then monday week 4 disappeared. Yep no feathers or blood just vanished. Mid week there were feathers and a leg only. Today two more gone. The gunieas seem to dodge the bullet. I have tried everything I can think of from game camera to sand for prints. No sounds of squawking or any noise at all. This is errie.We have Cayotes, bear, bob cat ferral cats and have see cougar, wolf. Has anyone ever had this experience with a preditor?
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03/11/13, 06:56 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,754
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My guess would be a horned owl. They are very early nesters and have hungry mouths to feed this time of year!
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03/11/13, 07:43 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Greaney, MN
Posts: 487
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i would agree with an owl.
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03/11/13, 08:02 PM
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Born in the wrong Century
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5,067
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Fox!!
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03/11/13, 08:19 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: West Central Arkansas
Posts: 3,611
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Ok so a flying Fox? Is that why there are no feathers or blood? By the way this happened to my gunieas three years ago. They were in a covered cage. Only left one foot no feathers or blood. NO GUNIEAS.
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03/11/13, 09:15 PM
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Born in the wrong Century
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5,067
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Foxes can climb... and carry. no flight involved.
if you found remains under a tree or in a tree owl.
owls also leave pellets. bone fur and other non-digestible things.
you need to scout a bit, see whats roaming. the sand thing can help a bit.
critters like paths.
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03/11/13, 09:21 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Eastern North Carolina
Posts: 34,198
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Quote:
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Is that why there are no feathers or blood?
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A Fox or Coyote will normally carry off the birds whole
Owls would have a tough time carrying a large chicken, and would pluck and eat on the spot most of the time
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
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03/11/13, 09:23 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 1,420
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I was losing chickens like that too until early January when Annie, my flock guard dog killed the fox. No signs of anything, just gone. Since the fox is dead have not lost another chicken. Before I was losing at least two a week if I let them free range. Now, they free range every day.
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03/11/13, 09:45 PM
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Born in the wrong Century
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5,067
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm
A Fox or Coyote will normally carry off the birds whole
Owls would have a tough time carrying a large chicken, and would pluck and eat on the spot most of the time
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not always had a few would kill several and eat and carry one off.
so several birds killed and spread around, no real sign of struggle.
just dead birds with bit ate out. and one gone.
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03/11/13, 09:58 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,443
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Eagles, owls, and chicken hawks would have no problem carrying off most chickens. Heavier breeds might be a problem to them but your smaller type chickens wouldn't be to heavy for these birds of pray. However, a fox is very sneaky! I've lost a chicken within a hour after opening their gate to let free range and then not ever see it again. That's how fast it can happen.
But are you losing them at night while penned up, during the day while penned up, or while they free range during the day?
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r.h. in oklahoma
Raised a country boy, and will die a country boy. 
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03/11/13, 10:12 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: West Central Arkansas
Posts: 3,611
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The Gunieas were penned. The other roos were free range. It is not one at a time it is like three to four each time this happens. I can see a fox or owl doing this but three to four at a time and no noise.
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03/11/13, 11:08 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: South of DFW,TX zone 8a
Posts: 3,554
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sounds like coyotes or bobcats to me
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"Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness."
Thomas Jefferson to George Washington 1787
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03/11/13, 11:41 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 107
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Keep that game camera out there Dave, something will turn up. I would also put a chicken inside a big live trap.
Cheers..........Skul
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03/12/13, 02:29 AM
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Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,623
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Dingos. It had to be dingos. Nothing else is big enough to carry off a kangaroo, let alone many of them.
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03/12/13, 04:28 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 107
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Oh Wogglebug......When Americans talk about "Roo"s" they mean "Roosters" NOT Kangaroosters..........Sheeeeez
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GIVE BLOOD.......Tease my Boerboel
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03/12/13, 06:46 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 258
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Big Dave, I'm going thru the exact same thing as you.
2-4 dead at a time, no noise, etc..
Our problem is a coon. Caught in on camera.
Smart smart coon and I haven't been able to catch up with it yet.
I have set traps, I've sat up and waited all night for it and still haven't gotten it yet.
But I will.
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03/12/13, 10:16 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Four Corners, Colorado
Posts: 545
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I had 5 hens disappear in one night - from their pen. Fox had dug in just at dawn as they were getting off the roosts. It must have been comical to see her hand each one out to her kits. One for you, and one for you. I knew where she had them and enjoyed watching them until that morning. Now I have a Pyr, and no more losses.
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03/13/13, 02:04 PM
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 16
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chupacabra, or big foot
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03/13/13, 02:48 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: EastTN: Former State of Franklin
Posts: 4,482
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Coyote or fox, I'd agree. They will carry the whole bird off, you might find a feather or two where the initial fight took place, but you might not.
We lose a 5 one DAY while we let them out to free range a bit, and us right there around the place. Next morning, coyote was back early for breakfast. .223 round ended that idea.
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03/13/13, 02:53 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: EastTN: Former State of Franklin
Posts: 4,482
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Racoons have been our problem lately. They've managed to work a hole in my fence and get in. Conibear 220 spring trap in a bucket baited with tuna has gotten three of them so far.
(Camera date is off)
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