birds of prey

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
A

Anonymous

Guest
I have free range chickens - some bantams and some L/F. I have recently lost 3 bantams which have simply just disappeared !! They go missing during the day - no signs of feathers or distress from the other birds. I just notice they have gone when they are missing at night from the chicken house. I am at a loss to know what is happening. If it were foxes or badgers there would be some signs of a killing - but there is simply no clues at all. Can a Sparrow Hawk take bantams. Any suggestions would be great I am so distressed to keep losing my lovely birds. Thanks Shirley
 
Hi Shirley
I had a bird of prey kill one of my orps, but it ate it and left the carcas in their compound. Normally if something has taken a bird, there would be feathers or some indication, also normally the other birds would be distressed.
I hate to say it but you have no problems with any 2 legged visitors??
 
Thanks for the reply but we live out in the sticks with countryside all around - so very unlikely that someone would come into the garden to take a hen and I would have thought they would take one of the Brahmas or Cochins which would give them a bigger meal !! We have had fox attacks in the past, but not in the day and they always leave an awful mess, this time there is nothing. Thanks again ,Shirley
 
were you getting eggs from them? or is it possible they have laid 'away' and simply gone broody and you just havnt seen them when they have been coming off the nest for food.
 
thankyou but they were too young to lay yet - really sad about it. :(
 
imho birds of prey always hit hard. They always dislodge feathers. There would be evidence. I suggest you review the possability of a local youth that knows your land and set up. It's a sad thing to say, but in my experience such events can often be traced down to a young "someone" learning one of lifes lessons the hard way. I suspect a slow camera would end up making you have to choose whether a slapped wrist and repayment, or prosecution for an unthinking youth.

JMHO. And I realy hope I'm wrong and you find them happy in a hedge sometime soon...
 
I've only ever experienced a fox getting into runs and killing all or most birds with a lot of feathers and bodies. Or a patch of feathers, where once was a bird. I forgot that they are called cunning for a reason. :)

Have you got a cockrell on watch ?
 
i have to agree its a fox. they are not called cunning for nothing. it will keep coming and taking them one at a time unless its dealt with.
 
No sadly - but a young fox was killed on the road outside our house so I think you were all right. He must have got into the garden during the day and taken them, since he has been killed I have not lost anymore. Many thanks to all of you who replied, fingers crossed it doesnt happen again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top