essexfluke Posted September 23, 2017 Report Share Posted September 23, 2017 Hi dose anyone have any thoughts on what is killing my poults? I have found 6 all dead like this one over the last couple of days, they are in a pen set in a wood all around 13 weeks old. All have had feathers plucked from back or side and got a tear in skin deep into body. I have tried uploading image but cant as it is to big, will try again later. Any ideas o the culprit would be great and anyways to stop it. Cheers luke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted September 23, 2017 Report Share Posted September 23, 2017 Can you sit in a tree nearby or put up a trail cam? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr gen Posted September 23, 2017 Report Share Posted September 23, 2017 are they being taken during the day or night? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIDES EDGE Posted September 23, 2017 Report Share Posted September 23, 2017 Bird of prey probably Buzard we have lost and still loosing loads this year to them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted September 23, 2017 Report Share Posted September 23, 2017 Yep, sounds like a buzzard to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gustaff Posted September 24, 2017 Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 goshawk daytime owl in night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilksy II Posted September 24, 2017 Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 Tawny owl or buzzards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexfluke Posted September 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 Thanks for the replies, I thought buzzard or tawny but wasn't sure if they were to big now for tawny. No more dead today but lots out of the pen a bit unsettled which hasn't happened yet this year. not sure when its happening as haven't been able to check them early in the morning this week, but hoping to get down there one day this week first thing depending on work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingo15 Posted September 26, 2017 Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 could be a sparrowhawk we have had a couple like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
termin8r Posted September 26, 2017 Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 Feral cats proved to be a significant problem on a previous shoot I was involved with. No-one had come up with that as an expanation for our losses, but putting in a couple of trail cam's provided incontrovertible evidence! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Scotland Posted September 27, 2017 Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 My thoughts would be a sparrow hawk they will normally pluck back and sides before flying off with it . But in your case after plucking it was to heavy to take .I think if it was a tawny owl the heads would be off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexfluke Posted September 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 Thanks for all the replies, well all good since I posted no more dead so hopefully it was a sparrow hawk and its now realised they are to big for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingo15 Posted September 28, 2017 Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 Thanks for all the replies, well all good since I posted no more dead so hopefully it was a sparrow hawk and its now realised they are to big for it. There are some sparrowhawks that seem to forget this logic. We did have to dispatch a good size hen bird due to a sparrowhawks strike last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.