Discuss all aspects of raising poultry. No topic is too small
Buzzards
Think I am having a problem with buzzards taking my hens ( 3 gone this week ) Anyone have any solution ideas. Run is big so total coverage is not viable
Dollachick
Tuesday, May 21st, 2024 Curious as to why ye think buzzaaards.
Ratcatcher
Tuesday, May 21st, 2024 Not buzzards
Glen
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 I have to agree with the others who are sceptical about it being buzzards. Buzzards can take a hen if they really needed to, but are lazy scavengers, and would far rather find an easy meal of roadkill or worms behind the plough. We have buzzards nesting here and no problems with them taking adult or young birds.
Have you ruled out other predators? What time of day are your birds being taken?
Glyn
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 Birds are being taken in the morning.
I haven't actually seen a buzzard taking them ,but the are around the area.
Birds are being taken even when someone was close by and dogs were around. Disappeared within seconds and no trace
Suggestions welcome
Dollachick
Thursday, May 23rd, 2024 Pine marten would be my first thought, they are around during the day and very bold, little fear of people. Are there any remains left or do they just vanish?
Glyn
Thursday, May 23rd, 2024 I still think people underestimate what the fox can do. Any time of day or night. Can leave next to no trace. They have the least fear of any predator..
Still could be anything really. Buzzards have been known to take fully grown birds but it is very rare.
Adrian Kelly
Thursday, May 23rd, 2024 There are no remains at all. Just a couple of feathers.
It really is a puzzle
Dollachick
Friday, May 24th, 2024 A buzzard would have trouble carrying them off, they have small feet and weak legs compared to other birds of prey. They also create a lot of loose feathers when they kill. Buzzards also usually kill by dropping from a tree, post or other suitable perch so the location of the kill site can be a clue.
Glyn
Friday, May 24th, 2024 It could be a cat I 've had one twenty years ago come and take full grown birds out of a tree where they were roosting and leave no trace I caught it in the act one moonlit summers night,had a fox take six ducks on me a few years ago came in over a four foot wall in the day time past dogs on chains took five and left the other one dead and returned that night for it.
paddycrawford
Friday, May 24th, 2024 Glyn Said: " Buzzards also usually kill by dropping from a tree, post or other suitable perch so the location of the kill site can be a clue."
I've had a busy day, Glyn. But, when I dashed by earlier and glanced at that? Swear to go, I wandered off wondering in my head:
'How far does he think they'd have to drop an adult hen?'
I, sometimes, Seriously wonder about myself! :D
Ratcatcher
Friday, May 24th, 2024 Boosting fence height to over 6 ft . Added a few shelters made from pallets ( in a tent) formation and hoping this will help. Did see a fox in the field last night so it may be a vixen feeding cubs 🤔
Dollachick
Saturday, May 25th, 2024 " Boosting fence height to over 6 ft. "
Plugged in?
Ratcatcher
Saturday, May 25th, 2024 Defo a fox . And seen where he was getting in....tiny gap in over linked wire !
Other than securing that corner , any advice.???????
🦊🦊🦊
Dollachick
Saturday, May 25th, 2024 " Other than securing that corner , any advice.??????? "
Plug.
Ratcatcher
Saturday, May 25th, 2024 Electric fence, a hungry fox will barely be slowed down by a 6ft non electric fence, now they know lunch is in there.
Glyn
Saturday, May 25th, 2024 Two years ago I had the same problem you are having now.I see buzzards and other raptors (birds of prey) in the sky often and they never attack my hens.
It was a fox that was taking my hens.He took at least 12 before I managed to get a handle on it.
This time of the year a Mr.fox has a Mrs. fox and pups in a den nearby and parent foxes get much bolder and brazen and take greater chances in a quest to rear them successfully.Most likely this is your problem.It certainly was mine
The fox is definitely lying in wait in cover nearby watching and listening and has become familiar with your routine.
The advice can give you now is for know lock them in and inspect the run and look for feathers around the edges outside. If you find them then you found where the fox is getting in.
If the area around the round the run is overgrown cut down and keep it short. The hens then can see him coming and sound the alarm. The less cover the further away the fox is.
I also bought a fox trap which found useful i ended you catching three foxes and not the one that needed to be caught.
It just happened i was nearby when he struck and gave him such a right he never returned and haven't a problem since.
Hope this helps Dollachick.
roostercroweburn
Sunday, May 26th, 2024 An a electric poultry fence also seems like a good idea
roostercroweburn
Sunday, May 26th, 2024 Thanks roostercrowburn.
I ve found the way it was getting in.
And I'm letting them out later and locking then in earlier too.
Where did you get a fox trap ?
Dollachick
Sunday, May 26th, 2024 https://www.maceoinltd.com/vermin-control-traps-snares/fox-d...
Bough this one
roostercroweburn
Monday, May 27th, 2024 Put a strand of electric fence around the pen and a few correctly set snares along the fence.
paddycrawford
Wednesday, May 29th, 2024
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Buzzards
Think I am having a problem with buzzards taking my hens ( 3 gone this week ) Anyone have any solution ideas. Run is big so total coverage is not viable
Tuesday, May 21st, 2024
Curious as to why ye think buzzaaards.
Tuesday, May 21st, 2024
Not buzzards
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024
I have to agree with the others who are sceptical about it being buzzards. Buzzards can take a hen if they really needed to, but are lazy scavengers, and would far rather find an easy meal of roadkill or worms behind the plough. We have buzzards nesting here and no problems with them taking adult or young birds.
Have you ruled out other predators? What time of day are your birds being taken?
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024
Birds are being taken in the morning.
I haven't actually seen a buzzard taking them ,but the are around the area.
Birds are being taken even when someone was close by and dogs were around. Disappeared within seconds and no trace
Suggestions welcome
Thursday, May 23rd, 2024
Pine marten would be my first thought, they are around during the day and very bold, little fear of people. Are there any remains left or do they just vanish?
Thursday, May 23rd, 2024
I still think people underestimate what the fox can do. Any time of day or night. Can leave next to no trace. They have the least fear of any predator..
Still could be anything really. Buzzards have been known to take fully grown birds but it is very rare.
Thursday, May 23rd, 2024
There are no remains at all. Just a couple of feathers.
It really is a puzzle
Friday, May 24th, 2024
A buzzard would have trouble carrying them off, they have small feet and weak legs compared to other birds of prey. They also create a lot of loose feathers when they kill. Buzzards also usually kill by dropping from a tree, post or other suitable perch so the location of the kill site can be a clue.
Friday, May 24th, 2024
It could be a cat I 've had one twenty years ago come and take full grown birds out of a tree where they were roosting and leave no trace I caught it in the act one moonlit summers night,had a fox take six ducks on me a few years ago came in over a four foot wall in the day time past dogs on chains took five and left the other one dead and returned that night for it.
Friday, May 24th, 2024
Glyn Said: " Buzzards also usually kill by dropping from a tree, post or other suitable perch so the location of the kill site can be a clue."
I've had a busy day, Glyn. But, when I dashed by earlier and glanced at that? Swear to go, I wandered off wondering in my head:
'How far does he think they'd have to drop an adult hen?'
I, sometimes, Seriously wonder about myself! :D
Friday, May 24th, 2024
Boosting fence height to over 6 ft . Added a few shelters made from pallets ( in a tent) formation and hoping this will help. Did see a fox in the field last night so it may be a vixen feeding cubs 🤔
Saturday, May 25th, 2024
" Boosting fence height to over 6 ft. "
Plugged in?
Saturday, May 25th, 2024
Defo a fox . And seen where he was getting in....tiny gap in over linked wire !
Other than securing that corner , any advice.???????
🦊🦊🦊
Saturday, May 25th, 2024
" Other than securing that corner , any advice.??????? "
Plug.
Saturday, May 25th, 2024
Electric fence, a hungry fox will barely be slowed down by a 6ft non electric fence, now they know lunch is in there.
Saturday, May 25th, 2024
Two years ago I had the same problem you are having now.I see buzzards and other raptors (birds of prey) in the sky often and they never attack my hens.
It was a fox that was taking my hens.He took at least 12 before I managed to get a handle on it.
This time of the year a Mr.fox has a Mrs. fox and pups in a den nearby and parent foxes get much bolder and brazen and take greater chances in a quest to rear them successfully.Most likely this is your problem.It certainly was mine
The fox is definitely lying in wait in cover nearby watching and listening and has become familiar with your routine.
The advice can give you now is for know lock them in and inspect the run and look for feathers around the edges outside. If you find them then you found where the fox is getting in.
If the area around the round the run is overgrown cut down and keep it short. The hens then can see him coming and sound the alarm. The less cover the further away the fox is.
I also bought a fox trap which found useful i ended you catching three foxes and not the one that needed to be caught.
It just happened i was nearby when he struck and gave him such a right he never returned and haven't a problem since.
Hope this helps Dollachick.
Sunday, May 26th, 2024
An a electric poultry fence also seems like a good idea
Sunday, May 26th, 2024
Thanks roostercrowburn.
I ve found the way it was getting in.
And I'm letting them out later and locking then in earlier too.
Where did you get a fox trap ?
Sunday, May 26th, 2024
https://www.maceoinltd.com/vermin-control-traps-snares/fox-d...
Bough this one
Monday, May 27th, 2024
Put a strand of electric fence around the pen and a few correctly set snares along the fence.
Wednesday, May 29th, 2024