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SandyR
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2015 22:07
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We had another chicken eaten again this morning. I don't know if I didn't close the chickie door or if something opened it up, but we need to find out what it is.
Cameras range between $40-$400. In your opinion, what is the best camera for the price?
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darz5150
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2015 00:10
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Perhaps you should consider getting a live trap and put it by your coop.
They cost about the same as a game camera. The difference between the two is with a live trap you not only can view what the culprit is ( no SD card or batteries required ) but you will be able to deal with the problem however you choose.
We keep a live trap by our coop baited almost daily.I have caught ferrel cats, racoon's, and possum(s).
But....FAIR WARNING....also we have got skunks. Removing a skunk from a live trap is very interesting to say the least!!!!!!!
Originally I relocated/released the coop invaders. We caught a racoon several years ago when I was doing the catch and relocate method. I put a stripe of neon spray paint down a racoon's back and released it about 3 miles away. Within 2 weeks I caught the same racoon!!! I never thought that would happen.
Now I have a more catch and dispose approach. But I guarantee that there have been no repeat offenders!
We have 24/7 security cameras, with 1 camera on the coop. And believe me, you don't want to see your chickens being killed.
We had a neighbors dog that tore into our coop, and killed all but one of our chickens!!!!! I called the dogs owner the next day and invited him over to have a beer. After a couple beers I showed him the video, told him he owed me $50 bucks for the chickens that his dog killed, and the beer was free. I was even kind enough to give him his dog back, so he could bury it. I never got the $50 bucks, but he did bring me a 12 pack, and said do what you gotta do, I'm sorry mah dog kill't yer chickunz.
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darz5150
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2015 00:35
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Forgot to mention that you need to look at your coop very carefully. A few months ago I went to let the chickens out in the morning and after the chickens went out to free range, I noticed a furry blob in the shady corner of the coop. At first I thought it was one of our silkie chickens, but it was a racoon napping...I guess because the sun was already up.
I grabbed it with my log tongs and flung it across the creek.
I checked the coop and found a small hole about three inches in diameter in the chicken wire. It didn' t kill any chickens, but I assume it got some eggs, then forgot how to get out.
Check your coop for any defects. Local varmints are very creative when it comes to getting to a food source. Then they always come back.
Did you find any feathers or blood in your coop or anywhere around your yard?
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SandyR
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2015 07:11
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We have the live trap and have also caught raccoons. The strange thing is that the coop is completely surrounded with 8 foot stockade fence. We have fox and fishers here. Whatever took the bird yesterday carried it in it's mouth and got over the fencing with it because we found all the feathers in the yard. The chickens are being eaten in the early morning around 5 or 6. If we knew what it was, we could trap it easier. That fisher isn't gonna fit in my have a heart trap.
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SandyR
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2015 09:01
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Whatever it is took two more chickens. Whatever it is also opened the latch on the coop door and helped itself. Whatever this is can scale my 8 foot wood fence.
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Smawgunner
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2015 09:39
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Wild game innovations,...cheap, simple, takes great pics and batteries last a good while. I had a Stealth cam and it was junk. Ate batteries, too complicated, a light lit up when the batteries were low (so much for the "stealth", and it finally leaked and killed the camera.
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RichInTheUSA
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2015 09:45
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I agree with recommending Wild Game Innovations cameras. If you have a Dick's Sporting Goods in your area... they are often about $70, and come with a $20 mail in rebate.
Here is a one of the videos from my WGI cameras... set on "medium" resolution. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYoZV6FIKX4
I recently set the resolution to "high" and will have these videos after this weekend.
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Rockfish Dave
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2015 03:18
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You sound like you have a Racoon problem. Sadly it's either the coon(s) go or your chickens... your choice.
Dukes Dog Proof traps are the best way to eliminate them. Bait with cat food, tuna packed in oil, or you can buy special bait paste.
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neb
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2015 16:34
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Are they eating the chicken or are the chickens gone totally? What are you finding when you discover the dead chicken? It may not be a coon. Could you give some more info?
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pizzadude
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2015 21:43
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Sounds like owly work to me.
Cover the coop
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2015 23:01
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Quoting: SandyR The strange thing is that the coop is completely surrounded with 8 foot stockade fence
Raccoons have thumbs, they will walk right over that 8 foot fence with ease. You need to install fencing over the top too.
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SandyR
Member
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# Posted: 9 Aug 2015 12:53 - Edited by: SandyR
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Neb, the first chicken was totally missing. All we found was a few feathers in the yard. The next night another of the chickens was missing, but the third one was in the yard with its head, gizzard, and both breasts eaten. All that was left of the head was the beak. Whatever took them carried them over the stockade fence. We boarded up one small door and padlocked the big door, so luckily no more have been taken. Like I said whatever is taking them is climbing over the wooden fence, and actually opening the coop door. We do have fisher cats. I wonder if it's them.
I have trapped raccoons in our traps with cat food twice in this month. This doesn't seem like raccoons. They like our chicken food and garbage more than the birds themselves.
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Bzzzzzt
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# Posted: 10 Aug 2015 14:20
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I have 3 cameras on my property. 2 Bushnell and 1 Wild Game. The 2 Bushnell cameras are reliable and the batteries last a long time. I bought both of them (at separate times) at Sam's Club. The Wild Game camera takes great pictures..... for a couple days until the batteries die. The colder it is the faster it eats the batteries. I can change the batteries in the Bushnell's about once a year (takes 4 AA and I use LIon batteries) the wild game takes 4 C batteries. Can't get C batteries in LIon so I bought some adapters and that helped extend the life to a couple weeks in the winter and up to a month in the summer. Have been very dissatisfied with the wild game camera.
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