First casualty of the season.

[User00025]

We now have a "Richness" of pine martens, in Norfolk, closely followed by an "Unkindness" of ravens, half a dozen to be exact, these creatures are appearing as if by magic, so what next, a "Predation" of wildlife. If anyone has read the Psychopath Test the author goes to interview a CEO who lived in a large mansion, what he saw there was loads of birds of prey statues everywhere & picture of himself, a lot of them mantling their victims. Kind of reminded me of a certain member of the hawk & owl trust who gets very aroused on TV when he mentions the word Predation, "Oh look, a PREDATION"!!!! as he fumbles around in his trouser pockets. I don't know whats worse, predators or people that get turned on by them.

We too have the big corbies in bunches. Buzzards unheard of in central England 30 years ago are now wheeling over Birmingham. They certainly didn't get there under their own steam.
There are so many releases of raptors, foxes, pine martens etc it's a wonder there are any ground nesting birds left. With the likes of Packham etc glorifying predators( his favourite bird is the sparrowhawk) Joe public think they are wonderful and give no thought to vulnerable species.

 

[Stalker62]

Just wandering around the pen yesterday and found some fresh blood on the top of one of the feeders.

No sign of any Pheasant feathers. As always, wonder what it was? Have I lost another bird?

 

[User00036]

Oh look, a PREDATION!!! fumbling around in my trouser pockets. I would say Buzzard or Goshawk. Goshawk might leave feathers.
Sparrow hawk would leave feathers. Pine marten would probably drag it to cover, Otters don't leave a trace, theyre like snakes. Was the hopper inside or out side the pen?

 

[Stalker62]

Was the hopper inside or out side the pen?

Inside.
Fairly good cover from trees but nothing that would stop a bird of prey.

 

[User00036]

Sounds like avian, tawny owls will take the head off, sparrow hawk will pluck feathers but can only just about drag a 10 week old poult. Either buzzard or Goshawk, only ever seen 2 goshawks in my life, that was enough, but Buzzards don't usually hang around after a predation, grab & go, like those moped gangs. Do you have an electric fence round the pen? it could actually have been a stoat or Banksy.

 

[Stalker62]

Do you have an electric fence round the pen?

I do.

I also regularly see Buzzards hovering above the fields in an about the pen. Last month I discovered, what appeared to be a live badger sett in the next field across.
Someone had actually set up a watching station.

There is no evidence that would indicate that any Badger has gained access to the pen. If I can lay my hands on a trail cam. then I would position it to cover the sett just out of interest.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Depending on the age of your birds,could be from tail feathers coming through. Tends to be in spots/blobs if this is the case.
No body, bitten off wing feathers would indicate buzzard. Held in one foot, bitten to immobilize then off to favourite post or tree. Very little evidence usually.

 

[Stalker62]

Depending on the age of your birds,could be from tail feathers coming through.

If (if) the birds were 10 weeks when delivered, they are now 12 weeks old.

 

[Stalker62]

Very little evidence usually.

True.

Worst crime scenes ever...

 

[Frank Homes]

Have you checked to see if any of your birds have been feather pecked?

 

[Stalker62]

Have you checked to see if any of your birds have been feather pecked?

Will have a look this morning.

Apart from asking the "bleeding obvious"...what should I be looking for?

 

[Frank Homes]

Will have a look this morning.

Apart from asking the "bleeding obvious"...what should I be looking for?

Usually begins round the tail, you will notice a bald patch with blood coming from the injuries. Once it starts other birds will go at the injured bird too.

 

[User00025]

Could even be worse Ar..hole repairing as we called it (vent pecking). They pull one another's guts out through the vent, only cure is to let them out, it usually happens in pens with not enough room for the quantity of birds.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Could even be worse Ar..hole repairing as we called it (vent pecking). They pull one another's guts out through the vent, only cure is to let them out, it usually happens in pens with not enough room for the quantity of birds.

Also happens if there's a queue for feeders and drinkers, impatient one pecks bird in front and it starts the business off.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Also happens if there's a queue for feeders and drinkers, impatient one pecks bird in front and it starts the business off.

Yep - add more feeders or best make sure plenty beforehand.

 

[Stalker62]

Usually begins round the tail, you will notice a bald patch with blood coming from the injuries. Once it starts other birds will go at the injured bird too.

OK, thank you for that.

Had a wee look this morning and nothing to cause me any concerns. There are sufficient feeders and drinkers, such that queuing is not (should not) be an issue.

Deployed the radio. Radio 4 is the choice on the dial - see how they fare with that.

Battery for the fence re-charged and re-deployed.

Tiny bit of a drama on the recharging front. I have one of those Clarke's 5 in 1 Jump starters. Seem to have mislaid the lead that charges the actual charging unit itself...

 

[sh1kar]

I do.

I also regularly see Buzzards hovering above the fields in an about the pen. Last month I discovered, what appeared to be a live badger sett in the next field across.
Someone had actually set up a watching station.

There is no evidence that would indicate that any Badger has gained access to the pen. If I can lay my hands on a trail cam. then I would position it to cover the sett just out of interest.

Swing by my place and will lend you one
S

 

[243 fallow]

I have now placed two feeders (and water) on the outside of the pen to try an provided for those that had wandered off.

I have (thanks to Mrs S62 and Amazon) just taken delivery of a small radio. I understand that some Keepers, deploy a radio at the pen to help keep predators away.

Now then.

Two questions with regard to that.

1) What station to program?

2) How long before it is stolen?

Radio 4

 

[243 fallow]

I have now placed two feeders (and water) on the outside of the pen to try an provided for those that had wandered off.

I have (thanks to Mrs S62 and Amazon) just taken delivery of a small radio. I understand that some Keepers, deploy a radio at the pen to help keep predators away.

Now then.

Two questions with regard to that.

1) What station to program?

2) How long before it is stolen?

I’d put the tyre on top of the manola lid though, it’ll stop the deer flipping it off and keep it on if the wind gets up.

 

[243 fallow]

Just wandering around the pen yesterday and found some fresh blood on the top of one of the feeders.

No sign of any Pheasant feathers. As always, wonder what it was? Have I lost another bird?

Probably blood from tails that have been feather pecked.