Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

G.D. weasel again!!!! Three birds lost over night from my hen house...that I thought was predator proof. 13 years with this coop and multiple weasel attacks in the barn this hen house has never failed me. I think it gone in through a slight gap on the chicken door. I was letting the girls out because they were actually letting their feet hit the snow this year and with a wheezy bird leaving the door open was good for her. Think it got closed after some snow and a little build up cause a small gap in the seal. So I am now down to three birds left in my entire flock. Hubby is going to nail a piece of plywood right over the inside of the chicken door for the rest of the winter.

Lost one last week but it was my own stupidity. Was leaving the man door open because it was warm and sunny and the girls were sunbathing on the stoop and again it was good for wheezy bird. Left it open when we drove to Kingston to drop daughter back off at college. of course we got tied up there and did not make it home before dark...should have known better. had one dead bird in the yard when we got home.

Some good is coming out of this though. I had some posts on facebook from the Wild Bird Care Center in Ottawa . They have a falcon and some red tail hawks in residence. I gave them a call and they will happily take my dead birds as feed. Will make the trip in tomorrow. :lunch:

That is so frustrating, I can really sympathize.
After last year fox attack, we have by now had experience with raccoon and hawk, even with all the precautions we have taken, there seems to be something new every few year, just waiting for an opportunity.
I think you are going to need an Ameraucana rooster with an attitude for your flock.

Well I will have to rebuild my entire flock next year so will be open to suggestions!

Rhonda wrote:G.D. weasel again!!!! Three birds lost over night from my hen house...that I thought was predator proof. 13 years with this coop and multiple weasel attacks in the barn this hen house has never failed me. I think it gone in through a slight gap on the chicken door. I was letting the girls out because they were actually letting their feet hit the snow this year and with a wheezy bird leaving the door open was good for her. Think it got closed after some snow and a little build up cause a small gap in the seal. So I am now down to three birds left in my entire flock. Hubby is going to nail a piece of plywood right over the inside of the chicken door for the rest of the winter.

Lost one last week but it was my own stupidity. Was leaving the man door open because it was warm and sunny and the girls were sunbathing on the stoop and again it was good for wheezy bird. Left it open when we drove to Kingston to drop daughter back off at college. of course we got tied up there and did not make it home before dark...should have known better. had one dead bird in the yard when we got home.

Some good is coming out of this though. I had some posts on facebook from the Wild Bird Care Center in Ottawa . They have a falcon and some red tail hawks in residence. I gave them a call and they will happily take my dead birds as feed. Will make the trip in tomorrow. :lunch:

Rhonda sorry to hear about your birds.. Weasels scare me more than any other predator. :-(
On the plus side, you can start fresh with what ever breed you've wanted to try.
I hate to be a wet blanket, but......... feeding raw dead chickens to wild birds is a great way to spread disease especially Mycoplasma . Although if the hawks are busy picking off live birds in backyard flocks it's probably a moot point anyway.

That's terrible, Rhonda. Talk about a run of bad luck in the chicken department.

That's what Hawks / Falcons eat Robbie .Raw dead birds . When we had Hawks & owls at the zoo that's what we fed whole or in chunks . They might kill themselves & be fresher but sometimes raptors in rehabilitation centers can't kill there own . . We froze all ours obtained from turkey & chicken farmer heart attack birds . If a bit moldy the vultures liked them. Luck .

Rhonda, I am so sorry to hear

That's terrible Rhonda, so sorry to hear of your loss. We've lost poultry to skunks, it is devastating.

Oh no, that's crappy. I'd be tempted in your shoes to have 3 house chickens! When you're ready for some new birds let us know: I'd be happy to help out.

Aw so crappy.... awful. I am sorry to hear.