Remember the mystery poultry predator we told you about this fall?
We were feeling quite pleased with ourselves after we added a few deterrents to the coop – namely a solar radio and a flashing LED light – and everything settled right down.
But things changed a few weeks ago when we noticed another dead chicken, head torn off and the carcass splayed open, in the same killing pattern as before.
We don’t lose chickens very often. In fact, we’ve been raising laying hens for 6 years now and it’s highly unusual for us to lose more than just a couple each year, mostly because we keep our electric fences so dang hot!
When it does happen, it’s usually in the dead of winter (pardon the pun) when there’s a foot of snow on the ground, the rodents are less visible, and the predators are clearly more desperate for a meal.
I have some compassion for that. But this was a different story seeing as how there are plenty of mice scampering about this time of year.
And not only that! This time, our predator was brave enough to walk through the narrow chicken-sized door (maybe 1 ft x 1ft opening) to feast on his prey inside the coop itself, where all the birds roost each night!
We suspected an aerial predator from the start. And all was confirmed when Greg took an evening walk to check on the birds and heard a commotion coming from inside the coop.
As he peered in to get a closer look, an owl swooped out and brazenly flew right toward him, narrowly missing his face!
The next morning we upped our game and relocated the hens into an entirely different structure – the high tunnel beside the barn – hoping the different set up and increased activity would serve as bigger deterrents.
So far, our plan is working. It’s been 3 weeks and we’ve had no further attacks. We do hope we’re in the clear. But, you never can be sure. It’s still a farm, after all….
Your Farmers,
Jenney & Greg
PS – Happy holidays to you! We’re open this Sunday and Thursday like usual. Please be sure to order ahead HERE while the supplies last!