Predator Attack.

[Guest Doostalker]

Well that's the end of a pretty miserable week! Monday my neighbour had 10 chickens killed. They had been accidently loose for the first time and were slaughtered. Did some security improvements for my own birds. Then on Friday neighbours last chicken killed in a relatively secure pen. Only way in was too small for a fox or cat so had to be pine marten or mink. Then spent more time on own security. To no avail; found all my young cocks and 10 year old favourite killed in pigeon loft. Total mayhem. 3 had been dragged into a void above the breeding boxes. In total 4 Dordins, 3 Soontjens, 1 Jan Theelen, 1 Cooreman and my old favourite. Moved all remaining birds out of loft till total security revamp done. In one night all my breeding cocks from last year and hopes for this year wiped out.

[Ian McKay]

Hope you get it M8 :emoticon-0179-headbang:

[white logan]

Well that's the end of a pretty miserable week! Monday my neighbour had 10 chickens killed. They had been accidently loose for the first time and were slaughtered. Did some security improvements for my own birds. Then on Friday neighbours last chicken killed in a relatively secure pen. Only way in was too small for a fox or cat so had to be pine marten or mink. Then spent more time on own security. To no avail; found all my young cocks and 10 year old favourite killed in pigeon loft. Total mayhem. 3 had been dragged into a void above the breeding boxes. In total 4 Dordins, 3 Soontjens, 1 Jan Theelen, 1 Cooreman and my old favourite. Moved all remaining birds out of loft till total security revamp done. In one night all my breeding cocks from last year and hopes for this year wiped out.

 

 

 

you should always have some tunnel traps set if you near Martins Mink or have visits from Rats

[paddymac]

Sorry to hear your sad news doostalker, especially the loss of an old favorite. I agree with you as regards the culprits but would say it was more propably a mink that has caused the damage and will probably be back for another visit so hopefully you'll catch the f**ker.

[showman]

When you phoned this evening, I didn't expect the terrible news you were bearing. I don't like to hear of these tragedies at the best and worst of times, but when it's a good, good friend it happens to, well it takes you to a different place altogether. I know with your neighbours help things will be rectified over the next few nights. Naturally I talked to Lorraine, and she also sends love and best wishes in getting the thing sorted out. :wub:

Anyhow, mate, I'll sign off leaving you my best wishes, and don't worry about the Dordins, we'll have a chat about them when you're in a better frame of mind

[b.massey]

Really horrible news Terry

 

Could not imagine the feeling walking into that sight

[andy Burgess]

devastating , hope you sort it very soon

[Guest Gareth Rankin]

i know how you feel Terry, had the same problem 16 months ago with a Mink, i'm sure you will get a hold of the culprit. We in the central belt of Scotland are fortunate that we don't have the same issue with the pine Martins as you do in the west coast.

[bullcock]

Sickening, it would be hard to come back from this, but I hope you do, all the best and hope you catch it, as you won't be able to settle until you do.

[Guest Doostalker]

Hi, first of all thanks for all your comments on the recent attack on my doos, and an very special thanks to John Duthie for his offer, and my great friend Paul Chatterton (Showman) who is always able to find the right words in any situation.

An update on where I am at the moment: the beastie killed the birds Saturday night/Sunday morning. I had the birds split into 3 sections leaving 1 section empty. The first section where the attack took place is a racing bird section with nest boxes and with dowelling on the front, and had 10 cocks in it. The next section is another racing section but was empty. The stock hens were in the 3rd section with the front sealed and the stock cocks were in last section with nest boxes; again sealed at the front.

The dead birds were all of the ones in the first section. 10 cocks. Initially I could only find 7; 2 on the floor in the section, 4 in their nests boxes sitting on their nest pans and 1 on the floor of the corridor outside the section. After a look around I noticed blood on the top of the corridor partition outside the section and blood at the gap above the nest boxes. I gingerly put my hand in the gap and the other 3 were there. Neatly stored away for a rainy day!! All the remaining stock birds were moved on Sunday out of the big loft and into a smaller loft where they might be a bit crammed but there is no dowelling only wire mesh.

So whatever has done it is small enough to get in the dowelling front of the racing section where the dowelling is at 2 inch centres and strong enough to lift some really big cocks over 6 feet to get them over the partition and then store them away. My bets are on a mink or a Pine Marten.

Yesterday there seemed to be no activity and nothing in the loft had been moved, maybe because me and some mates had been around it all day measuring for grilles and other security improvements. The grilles are 1 inch weldmesh and should exclude whatever it is. These come tomorrow, but I don’t think I’ll fit them all yet until I see what’s causing the damage.

Today when I went in the loft there was only 1 bird in its nest box and 1 on the corridor floor. Matey had taken another 5 into its food store. A friend gave me a trail cam which we have set up so that if it takes the remaining birds into the void we will hopefully see it.

So far whatever it is has killed 11 big chickens at my next door neighbour, 10 of my pigeons and possibly 6 bantams a street away. It’s time has come eh???

[ally mac]

Hi, first of all thanks for all your comments on the recent attack on my doos, and an very special thanks to John Duthie for his offer, and my great friend Paul Chatterton (Showman) who is always able to find the right words in any situation.

An update on where I am at the moment: the beastie killed the birds Saturday night/Sunday morning. I had the birds split into 3 sections leaving 1 section empty. The first section where the attack took place is a racing bird section with nest boxes and with dowelling on the front, and had 10 cocks in it. The next section is another racing section but was empty. The stock hens were in the 3rd section with the front sealed and the stock cocks were in last section with nest boxes; again sealed at the front.

The dead birds were all of the ones in the first section. 10 cocks. Initially I could only find 7; 2 on the floor in the section, 4 in their nests boxes sitting on their nest pans and 1 on the floor of the corridor outside the section. After a look around I noticed blood on the top of the corridor partition outside the section and blood at the gap above the nest boxes. I gingerly put my hand in the gap and the other 3 were there. Neatly stored away for a rainy day!! All the remaining stock birds were moved on Sunday out of the big loft and into a smaller loft where they might be a bit crammed but there is no dowelling only wire mesh.

So whatever has done it is small enough to get in the dowelling front of the racing section where the dowelling is at 2 inch centres and strong enough to lift some really big cocks over 6 feet to get them over the partition and then store them away. My bets are on a mink or a Pine Marten.

Yesterday there seemed to be no activity and nothing in the loft had been moved, maybe because me and some mates had been around it all day measuring for grilles and other security improvements. The grilles are 1 inch weldmesh and should exclude whatever it is. These come tomorrow, but I don’t think I’ll fit them all yet until I see what’s causing the damage.

Today when I went in the loft there was only 1 bird in its nest box and 1 on the corridor floor. Matey had taken another 5 into its food store. A friend gave me a trail cam which we have set up so that if it takes the remaining birds into the void we will hopefully see it.

So far whatever it is has killed 11 big chickens at my next door neighbour, 10 of my pigeons and possibly 6 bantams a street away. It’s time has come eh???

 

Nightmare Terry, I lost all my race team last Xmas eve and Pine Marten was prime suspect, never had any trouble again after I sorted out more secure trap.

[Valiant Fifer]

Nightmare Terry, I lost all my race team last Xmas eve and Pine Marten was prime suspect, never had any trouble again after I sorted out more secure trap.

Very sorry to hear that m8 and well done to the offers from your two friends above

:emoticon-0137-clapping: