Buzzards stealing my Bantums ?

Farm Girl · #1 (**permalink**) 13-08-2008, 07:36 PM

Hi there,

I live in Surrey and have recently lost two 5 month old bantums an older Bantum and a duck! Im no sherlock holmes but they did not fly out and there were no feathers (fox) so what could have taken them? It must be another bird....I have started to net the pens off now tho difficult as there is an oak tree in the middle of one! any ideas ? Buzzards ?x

wanabewild · #2 (**permalink**) 13-08-2008, 07:42 PM

Hi, to be honest there would be signs if it were a buzzard, feathers etc, also the buzzard would probably struggle to fly away with a whole duck, i have kept buzzards for years and would doubt they were to blame for the duck, however possible for the bantums??
Alan

Gill Catton · #3 (**permalink**) 13-08-2008, 07:56 PM

perhaps a fox was able to make a clean kill and carried them away to pluck elsewhere?
Or even a cat maybe?

RobinP · #4 (**permalink**) 13-08-2008, 08:08 PM

Did it happen during the day or at night?

P.S. It's bantam not bantum.

wanabewild · #5 (**permalink**) 13-08-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinP

Did it happen during the day or at night?

P.S. It's bantam not bantum.

my bad "bantam" thanks for the heads up,
i have known fox to take birds without a trace...

RobinP · #6 (**permalink**) 13-08-2008, 08:46 PM

...also humans!

Dae · #7 (**permalink**) 14-08-2008, 06:38 AM

Buzzards I believe simply aren't strong enough to take a bantam, their claws are very small in relation to their large size. And as there aren't any feathers in evidence, I'd look to more ground-related theivery, ie: foxes, humans, dogs, etc.

lovfinion · #8 (**permalink**) 14-08-2008, 08:46 AM

Maybe an Eagle Owl did it

Gill Catton · #9 (**permalink**) 14-08-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dae

Buzzards I believe simply aren't strong enough to take a bantam, their claws are very small in relation to their large size. And as there aren't any feathers in evidence, I'd look to more ground-related theivery, ie: foxes, humans, dogs, etc.

Surely if a buzzard can take an adult rabbit, it can take a bantum? Similar is size and possibly lighter than a rabbit! I agree though that a land based predator is more likely

nightshade · #10 (**permalink**) 14-08-2008, 11:47 AM

How big is the Bantam run, a Buzzard needs a big space for a big wingspan to be able to take off!
I have seen rats take battery hens, another possibility?