Critter removal

noway2

noway2

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I think we have a couple of different predators that killed all of my parents chickens over the last few weeks, just as they started laying eggs :mad:

They put out have a heart traps with cat food, twice. First time trap was sprung cat food gone but trap empty. Second time trap not sprung cat food gone. Also was eating head and neck, which both suggests possibly weasel.

Also going to guess at racoons. First time, it forced open a vertical slide door we installed. This time it pulled the hardware cloth loose where it had been stapled and also pulled a pin and then turned and retracted the door latch. It also got past the electric netting fence around the run.

Last night we lost the last three. Feathers all over inside the coop, found two carcasses one inside the coop, one out in the run.

Whatever these predators are, they've developed a taste for live chicken and need to go.

Hypothetically speaking if someone were to leave poisoned bait, what would be a good choice?
 
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Chihuahua Floyd said:
and an opossum the next morning.
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We lost our first one and I put out a trap. Got an opossum. It got dispatched. Several weeks later we lost two more. No idea what. Discovered the first one had torn a hole in the kennel fence that we use as a run area.
 
I don't expect critters like this in my backyard, but I'm seeing that nothing is out of the question now.

Assuming critters with thumbs or longish teeth will pull at the hardware cloth (and for aesthetics), I'm putting the hardware cloth on the inside of my new coop.

136371.jpeg
 
noway2 said:
Hypothetically speaking if someone were to leave poisoned bait, what would be a good choice?
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I'd never do poison if I had other animals around. Get a couple of coon cuffs (also called dog proofs) and set them out. They'll get the coons and Opossums. You'll need something different if it's foxes.
Weasels can be caught with rat traps baited with raw meat.
 
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noway2 said:
I think we have a couple of different predators that killed all of my parents chickens over the last few weeks, just as they started laying eggs :mad:

They put out have a heart traps with cat food, twice. First time trap was sprung cat food gone but trap empty. Second time trap not sprung cat food gone. Also was eating head and neck, which both suggests possibly weasel.

Also going to guess at racoons. First time, it forced open a vertical slide door we installed. This time it pulled the hardware cloth loose where it had been stapled and also pulled a pin and then turned and retracted the door latch. It also got past the electric netting fence around the run.

Last night we lost the last three. Feathers all over inside the coop, found two carcasses one inside the coop, one out in the run.

Whatever these predators are, they've developed a taste for live chicken and need to go.

Hypothetically speaking if someone were to leave poisoned bait, what would be a good choice?
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Nope. Poison is bad juju.

Traps are the best choice. There are some dedicated to certain species. If its coon, box traps are good but the right size is important.
Another excellent one is a dog proof. They catch the coon by the front paw. Like a hand cuff. They will catch a cat, possum and skunk but incidental catches can easily be turned loose. Coons like sweets and using honey buns and not cat food will cut back on the cats messing with your sets.

Weasel’s can be caught in a rat trap set inside a wooden box with an entrance hole.

Fox can be caught with the right sized box trap. But as with Coyotes, a properly sized leg hold is the best tool. Just keep your dogs put up while they are in use or they will have a sore paw for a few days.

Patients is helpful but eventually you’ll put a dent in predation.
 
If it eating the heads off, probably grinner. Get some dog proofs, load with wet cat food and grape juice.

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Dog Proof Coon Traps - F&T Fur Harvester's Trading Post - Everything you need for Trapping, Hunting With Hounds, and Predator Calling
www.fntpost.com
 
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I had that same problem. From the feather trail i saw they were getting dragged up the hog wire to larger holes to pull them out. My dog alerted in the middle of the night, I smoked the bastards south a flashlight and a 7-08.
 
Burt Gummer said:
need a game camera on the chicken lot
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That was one of the things that got done today. They ordered a game camera after the first loss, but it never went up till now. I’m hoping whatever it is comes back hoping to find more and we discover what it is.
 
@contender ?
all else failing... if you dig around enough on here you'll see that one of our active members sells snares, which contender tells me are 100% illegal to use in your situation.
Not sure where you stand on laws, given your history...
 
DrScaryGuy said:
@contender ?
all else failing... if you dig around enough on here you'll see that one of our active members sells snares, which contender tells me are 100% illegal to use in your situation.
Not sure where you stand on laws, given your history...
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I did ask hypothetically speaking didn’t I? ;)

Edit to add: I’m willing to engage in the circle of life and all that, but becoming hell bent on breaking into my chicken coop is out of bounds. Bad choices, just like any other criminal. While the animal may not have the concept of evil like humans, it still killed for no gain.
 
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"I did ask hypothetically speaking didn’t I? ;)

Edit to add: I’m willing to engage in the circle of life and all that, but becoming hell bent on breaking into my chicken coop is out of bounds. Bad choices, just like any other criminal. While the animal may not have the concept of evil like humans, it still killed for no gain."

Ok, I understand your feelings & thoughts. Trust me when I say I wish we could use snares. They are a very effective & inexpensive trap.

BUT,, the law is the law. And while we can hypothesizes, all we want, if you catch a non-target,, and especially a neighbor's pet, you'll have issues. Even in a legal trap, legally set,, issues can arise. It's best to follow the law, and use a legal method.
Get a permit to trap an animal that's causing damage, and use a legal trap. Mark the trap (required by law) and follow all the laws concerning trapping.

NCWRC wardens do not have a sense of humor when you don't.

And if you THINK nobody will know,, remember,, cameras are everywhere now, and people are just plain nosy too often.

All that said,,, there are ways to build a chicken pen to PREVENT critters from getting in & killing the chickens.
 
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Yup. Snares are a moot point.

Unless it’s beavers eating your chickens and you have enough water in the coup to set them in.
 
Seriously, order the dog-proofs, they work and won't catch things you don't want like a foothold or longspring.
If you’ve got birds, this won’t be the last predator you’ll have to stop.
 
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@contender thsnk you for the detailed response. Certainly something to think about. Very frustrating. Whatever it is tried breaking in again last night. It removed the screwdriver that had the lift door to the fenced run wedged and got in that way. Tried to abscond with the two carcasses in a bag that were in the coop proper but couldn’t get them out. Damned thing is as determined as a terminator,
 
noway2 said:
@contender thsnk you for the detailed response. Certainly something to think about. Very frustrating. Whatever it is tried breaking in again last night. It removed the screwdriver that had the lift door to the fenced run wedged and got in that way. Tried to abscond with the two carcasses in a bag that were in the coop proper but couldn’t get them out. Damned thing is as determined as a terminator,
Click to expand...

Is there a circus nearby?
 
contender said:
"I did ask hypothetically speaking didn’t I? ;)

Edit to add: I’m willing to engage in the circle of life and all that, but becoming hell bent on breaking into my chicken coop is out of bounds. Bad choices, just like any other criminal. While the animal may not have the concept of evil like humans, it still killed for no gain."

Ok, I understand your feelings & thoughts. Trust me when I say I wish we could use snares. They are a very effective & inexpensive trap.

BUT,, the law is the law. And while we can hypothesizes, all we want, if you catch a non-target,, and especially a neighbor's pet, you'll have issues. Even in a legal trap, legally set,, issues can arise. It's best to follow the law, and use a legal method.
Get a permit to trap an animal that's causing damage, and use a legal trap. Mark the trap (required by law) and follow all the laws concerning trapping.

NCWRC wardens do not have a sense of humor when you don't.

And if you THINK nobody will know,, remember,, cameras are everywhere now, and people are just plain nosy too often.

All that said,,, there are ways to build a chicken pen to PREVENT critters from getting in & killing the chickens.
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so what you're saying is that he should NOT put some old chicken meat on a treble hook hanging 4 feet off the ground. got it.
 
Nor should he run a 110v line to the metal part of the screwdriver that holds the fence door.
 
Ferrisfan said:
Nor should he run a 110v line to the metal part of the screwdriver that holds the fence door.
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Speaking of squirrels….

I had a friend who was complaining about the squirrels climbing the pole and eating out if his bird feeder. I suggested he borrow one of the 480vac to 130 vac PTs from work, wire up two sections of wire mesh around the pole and boom, instant squirrel. Well, he did as I said, but minus the transformer and put an Xmas tree lightbulb in series to limit the current. Squirrel climbed the pole, crossed the meshes, zapped, convulsed, fell to the ground unconscious and then staggered off a few minutes later.

Another, ham radio friend, saw a squirrel on his feeder nearbthe antenna. Turned the radio up to 100w, keyed down the xmitter spoke. The squirrels tail shot out straight, it’s eyes bulged and it stopped. The next day, it sat in the ground looking up at the feeder and chattered madly at it.

There is a 120vac line out there, just needs to be hooked up.
 
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Coon cuffs are great. On advice of a friend who's a trapper I bait them with cat food. I put some cat food in a baggie and add a few drops of anise extract. Smells like licorice, which apparently raccoons and possums love and cats don't.

First night I set out two traps like that, I caught 2 racoons.

Have caught a bunch over time, a few possums too. Dispatch with .22 and rebait.
 
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I've only had a hawk thus far. I did catch a neighbors cat in a live trap Sunday. Anyone have advice on getting the Tree rats out of my soffit? Doesn't look like they are in the attic yet and I can't seem to catch them coming or going. Rat Trap near the entrance?
 
First off,, I know the good people here do NOT advocate any illegal activity.

Treble hooks & chicken, snares on dry ground, (the State allows them for beaver & otter,) or other such methods are illegal.

That said, coon cuff type traps are very effective & mostly species specific.

ANY TRAPPING DONE OUT OF SEASON WITHOUT A TRAPPING LICENSE OR A DEPREDATION PERMIT IS ILLEGAL.

If you have a critter problem,, the State recognizes you have a need to protect your property. THEY DO NOT ALLOW ANYBODY TO CHARGE FOR ISSUING A DEPREDATION PERMIT.!!!!!!

THEY ARE FREE!!!!!!!

Now,, that said,, there are baits that are effective on coons & such that cats or dogs ignore mostly. Cat food will attract cats. Yes, it's an effective bait,, but not a good choice when trying for coons. Catching a pet Fluffy or Fido can create a bad neighbor problem.

As for chicken pens,, there are methods of building them to PREVENT coons, hawks, & other animals from getting to the chickens. It's a one time, long term type of construction, and is well worth the effort. Get educated in such things.

Sp00ks, I'll PM you with a few things about your squirrels.
 
as above:
" Anyone have advice on getting the Tree rats out of my soffit? Doesn't look like they are in the attic yet and I can't seem to catch them coming or going."

had a similar situation.
hardware cloth over the entrance/exit solved it....so far.
 
TLDR

I had an issue something killing my chickens back several years ago. I wanted to know what it was, so I put sand around the entire coop to get its foot prints, turns out it was a coon.

A big fat one too. We put him to sleep with a .17hmr.

1679444156416.jpeg
 
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