[Viv]

Hi everyone, here is an update on the predator and our chooks. I moved the ladies nearer to the cottage, they are now just across the road into our field. I have put an electric fence around the boundry except for the road side. I am still losing one girl every few days, and this is always  during the day in broad daylight. No one has spotted a fox in our field. There is one on the hill at the back, and a badger set there as well. Yesterday there was just a pile of feathers left, and one of my white leghorns has gone, in full view of the road and the odd passing person. There is never a body and no more than one goes, non of the others are killed.
We are losing one lady every couple of days, What  do you think it is? :?:  

Happy Christmas to you and your familes

Viv

[Bodger]

I'd still put my money on it being a fox Viv.

Badgers are nocturnal, where as Ferdy will hunt in the day time.

[babe]

i'd say its a fox too, they will come in daylight if they are hungry enough or have a family to feed.  and they are so quick. i wish i could tell you how to stop it, but i dont think that you can 100%.

so sorry that you are having to go through this, i know exactly how youre feeling. x

[Aunt Sally]

Stoats can easily kill chickens but I'm not certain if they could remove the body.

They do take rabbits so I guess a chicken would be a similar size.

[WG.]

Fox is one possibility but I wonder if they'd kill more than one at a time.

Any possibility that it is a raptor of some kind, e.g. a buzzard or the likes?  I tried a Google on this and found loads of Chicken Take Aways in Leighton Buzzard  :roll:

[Bodger]

If the chickens are spread out during the daytime free range as described the fox would just take one at a time. Its when they get them in confined in a small place that they try and kill the lot.
Seeing a fox take one of their bretheren would have been sufficient to scatter the rest to safety.

[gobs]

Fox is one possibility but I wonder if they'd kill more than one at a time.

Any possibility that it is a raptor of some kind, e.g. a buzzard or the likes?  I tried a Google on this and found loads of Chicken Take Aways in Leighton Buzzard  :roll:

Just what I was thinking, with that fencing and all, some bird of prey might be a possibility.

[Aunt Sally]

There's no electric fence along the road edge.

[gobs]

True. Just an idea.

[Bodger]

Buzzards are more akin to vultures than birds of prey in their habits. I've seen them take half grown pheasant poults and they can be a menace in this respect but they usually opt for the easy life and the easy way out. They love a bit of carrion. I have buzzards flying over my chickens everyday and touch wood, I've never had a problem with them.

[WG.]

They love a bit of carrion.

Agreed.  I did say raptors though since I wasn't sure which ones might frequent the "West Sussex/Hampshire border".  

[Bodger]

Black panther ? :shock:  :shock:  :shock:

[noshed]

Hoorays in 4x4s?

[Selkie]

We have white-tailed eagles here :shock:

[gobs]

Black panther ? :shock:  :shock:  :shock:

You are just being silly now, one chick every two days, would hardly be enough.