Predators, Frosty Nights, - Do Chicks Survive in Chicken Tractor in Sweden??

[@sharonslife6153]

Very nicely done and thank you for bringing us alone as well as the informative discussion.

[@ukulelefatman]

Great job on the video. I am going to be showing my 93 year old Dad your videos. He grew up on a farm in Finland (Tjarlax) and I know he will absolutely love today's video, seeing the sun rise over the farm on a frosty morning. Fantastic!! You will put a spring in his step for sure. Thanks for sharing.

[@simeonandalex]

That is awesome!

[@mikestone9129]

I enjoy your videos. I like the way you care for your chickens.

[@1969countryfarmer]

Excellent video and very nice tractor design....good luck

[@patbootie9552]

Gorgeous sunrise!!!!!!!! Chicks did very well.

[@utrutr6013]

Love watching your videos! Thanks for sharing your life on the homestead/farm and bringing us along.

[@MrKeegantrice]

love the video simeon, my only advice from experience is to use round PVC pipe on the bottom edges. The round edge seems to bump the chickens in the chest before their feet. if it's not to pricey make the whole thing out of it, makes it half the weight as well when moving

[@JoshuaSmithHomesteader]

Really enjoying the videos. The simpleness of it all. We chicken tractor the same way. Last year I grew broilers to 7 weeks and just took the breast and legs. No plucking, no gutting. Cost only 2$ a pound to purchase and feed. I do that for the warm months and BBQ.. In the fall I grow out whole chickens for the winter. Cheers!

[@lkhfun6575]

Beautiful walk!!! Loved it. Great job with the chickens. If it so important to have someone like you that is raising the chickens using numbers and reality of production and sales. Love the stats. Your channel is the best of both worlds. Thank you!

[@jenniferm3572]

Your wife is so blessed to have a strong, hardworking, capable and willing man to build what you have. I absolutely love what you are doing and I love learning from you! Thank you so much for sharing your life and knowledge with us.

[@terriefriday2462]

Good morning, thanks for sharing your experiences.

[@-htl-]

Hi' Simeon share the feeling of the young ones. Got 17 day old Bresse chickens and 10 in combination old chickens inside and moved the 3 week old Orpingtons/Sussex/Island reds and Bantam's in outside rens and night cages to 4-25°c. To respond to your words it is clear how beautiful it is to be out. On your walk you past by several homes which makes it look like a world on it's own.

[@Lydia1914]

Excellent information. Really enjoyed watching this. Thank you.

[@MikeSheasheaDtree]

Thanks for taking us along, and sharing the details.

[@angryamerican1]

really cool walk through. thanks for the video

[@peterlosangelos4108]

great channel. amazing you showing new subject or interesting developments each day over and over again. all the best to you and your family.

[@Brian.N]

Great video,always look forward to new videos from you.

[@drewid100]

Your right about taste and texture, A recent study found in U.K that store sold chickens had 50%more fat than free range,also /and more important from a health standpoint free range chickens had 50%more omega 3 oils than store / factory chickens

[@martijnheeroma5492]

Simeon thanks for the great video and all the information, nice to see you're big chicken-tractor's in action and sharing details like the 'sled-plate'

[@simeonandalex]

You are welcome!

[@jamiejames1928]

Enjoy your channel, get about to start chickens myself and find it interesting. We suffer from wolves, foxes, bore also. But in southern Italy so no Bear problems. Keep up the good work.

[@johngalt7870]

I think I would do this but I would put a tarp over the cage at night to keep it warmer and I would put wheels on an axel to make it easier to slide. The axel & wheel would be removed once the cage was parked. Thanks for the idea.

[@leesommer5871]

We use 1/2 inch utility wire for the lower parts of our chicken tractors. Never had a dismembered chicken, so far.

[@dixierose535]

Thank you... Just a old Texas ranchgirl trying to learn new ways. Currently my girls free range, and from time to time I lose a few due to coyotes. (This year the war is on!) I have fortified their sleep barn as much as a human can! I do have a Akbash dog of 5 years who does all he can do, but he is with the cattle a lot of the time. Now the last 5-7 years we have had to start dealing with these black vultures (look like buzzards) Killing our cows/calves and chickens! (And their a so-called protected species to boot! (Not around here their not!!...I have videos of them attacking my heifers while Calving And my chickens.. Anyway “Thank You sir” Learning a lot from you at 63 years of age!!

[@yorikvatral929]

What about to install two little wheel's in one (rear) side ? Also you can make ∆shape roof on half or quarter of your tractor, it's adding some space to fly a bit, and they can sit a bit higher from the ground. It's not going to cost you a lot of money.

[@davidjacobs6500]

Great video I appreciate all of your opinions!

[@cam221]

Appreciate the honesty about the dead chicks. Not everyone's favorite topic but if you've dealt with poultry before that is a pretty good ratio. Love the content!

[@simeonandalex]

I know. I wanted to share this honest part of the project... Could have kept it to myself.

[@saintisidorehomestead]

Thanks for answering, Simeon. We both seem to be dealing with similar issues (i.e. marketing the chicken, the ethics of breeding layers--and what happens to male chicks, and chicken taste). And that sled/skid device is awesome. Blessings.

[@simeonandalex]

Yes. I think people think quite similar in many places.

[@872521]

Beautiful music as the tractors are moved. There is wisdom and intelligence in the tending of animals. 2 questions - - is your land interspersed within other peoples land, homes and farms? - do you ever practice a controlled burn to your acreage? Wonderful day! Thank you for your postings.

[@simeonandalex]

+Johan P the buildings you see are the neighbours farm. We farm 2 neighbours farms I hope to not have to burn the grass in the future so it can build soil and gets grazed. We have burned our pastures in the past.

[@GoodDayFarm]

Great video! Thanks for sharing! Take care!

[@peterford9369]

I as others get appalled at farming methods here in the US, seeing your videos give us more an understanding of the complications of proper animal raising for the different purposes. Still believe we here could do things more humanely. Profits are always such a terrible excuse for mass farming. I wish our and I'm sure even there, would work as hard to give these animals the best life, one with respect, even if they are raised for one reason, their inevitable demise , for our bellies. It is very interesting seeing the methods used to give the most humane and thoughtful life to your animals. I realize larger organizations have more to deal with but if they would care as much for the care and consideration of the animals as they do their profit margin, it would just make a final outcome be easier to take. It's nice to see people that care for the lives of the animals as much as the product. Thanks again for making your videos. You are the true meaning of farming.

[@GuruRasaVonWerder]

WHAT A BRILLIANT IDEA, TRULY, WHO THOUGHT OF THIS? PERFECT SOLUTION TO THE CHICKEN PROBLEM. I LOVE CHICKENS. THEY WERE MY RESPONSIBILITY AS A CHILD ON THE FARM.

[@Laiynnalaiynna]

You've got such an interesting channel, I love it :)!

[@regsparkes6507]

Very interesting video, Simeon, thanks.

[@karenhorn6685]

Nevermind. Haha I just watched your previous video where you talked about numbers and size. thank you!

[@I_Am_Michael]

chickens are barnyard pimps. (just think about how they walk). good video. I find them entertaining and quite informative. please keep it up.

[@sunflowersnbluebirds7362]

Great video Simeon!

[@arlingtonguy54]

My biggest threat to my pastured birds in Salatin tractors is cold wet weather. Despite covering the cages with tarps I still loose a couple of birds when its cold and rainy which is the condition the last few days. I suspect they are piling up and some are getting smothered.Of course these are Cornish Cross which are not as hardy as your birds. Maybe I should switch to a heritage breed in early Spring.

[@simeonandalex]

Yes. Cold and wet weather is the biggest challenge.

[@DaybirdAviaries]

You're doing a fantastic job.

[@MushtaqAhmad-jg3bn]

Thanks so much very nice l I build on my farm I it is very good I move every week and grow vegetables

[@KDKGaming]

Its incredible how quickly your channel has grown i have being subbed to you since about 500 subs and from then you grew rapidly, well done 👍🏻

[@rbo350]

Beautifully land I live in california and don't get to see much livestock, if you don't mind I have an idea, can you make your coops 2 or 3 piece and in the morning add a section to the other side and have one way door so they will move to the New section...I just want to make your job easier and keep the chickens sage and healthy

[@kimepp2216]

Have you tried placing a row or pile of feed at the front end of the tractor before you move it? That should get there attention to the front end and keep them safer.

[@alwayslearningthankyou2708]

Simeon, would adding a rope or flap of some kind a foot or so ahead of the pinch point help keep the chickens out of danger when moving their enclosures each day. It doesn't have to be elaborate or permanent. Just something you could quickly put in place before each move. Just brainstorming with you. Great video as usual.

[@simeonandalex]

Maybe. But they learn quickly After a couple days of moving them they know to stay away from the end.

[@peterlosangelos4108]

Swedish Homestead good suggestion about the rope. i think you cant see them. one went under the board. with rope you can move more quick and dont have to worry about the chicks. i am lying in my lazy chair typing a comment, just ignore :)

[@victor-charlesscafati]

I was thinking the same thing. A rope would be hard to get in and out, but a thin pole, stuck though the wire from one side to the other, until they learn, would only take a moment to put in and out each time.

[@welshharlequin7722]

@1:07 MUCH BETTER! Great lighting is found in the mornings! :)

[@welshharlequin7722]

Will you please do a video on your geese? I had my geese for 5 years and my next door neighbor's dogs killed my geese 1 week ago. So sad. Would love to see geese!

[@welshharlequin7722]

You do such great work. Your chx tractors look perfect. (my goodness!)

[@REALDADD]

LOVE YOUR VIDEO, ENJOYABLE!

[@MetaView7]

great vid. enjoyed every minute of it

[@peewees6199]

I remember when you did a video on selecting the best breed. There also is an exorbinant price for the Bresse here in the U.S. Too much for us right now.

[@simeonandalex]

Yes, I have heard about that. I would be careful with the american bresse from what I have heard. They might be good to cross breed with other breeds though.

[@malwoanders]

Hey Simion! Wieder mal ein sehr interessantes Video. Besonders der morgendliche Gang über Euren wunderschönen Hof hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Ein schönes Fleckchen Erde habt Ihr da!!! Hätte nicht gedacht, dass es so groß ist. Nicht jeder kann 5 Minuten über sein eigenes Grundstück spazieren ;) Bin gespannt wie das dann im Sommer aussieht. Sach mal, kann dat sein, dat Ihr aus dem Siegerland stammt? Ich meine, als Ihr das Spielhaus für die Kinder gebaut habt hätte ich ein gerolltes R gehört, als Ihr Euch unterhalten habt. Und Dein Vater hat doch auch so einen Einschlag in der Sprache, oder täusche ich mich?

[@simeonandalex]

Ja sischr. Aus Siegen. ;) Kommst du auch aus der Gegend? Der Spaziergang war nicht mehr auf unserem Hof. Wir bewirtschaften auch zwei Nachbarhöfe.

[@malwoanders]

Das ist ja witzig! Ich bin in Siegen geboren und am Giersberg auf die Schule gegangen. Jetzt wohne ich im flachen Münsterland und vermisse die "Berge" und den Hauberg!!! Euer Wald sieht ja mit den Birken ein bisschen so aus, und das Wetter scheint mir auch ähnlich zu sein. Nur dass man in Schweden wenigstens die Chance auf einen schönen Sommer hat ;) Ich freue mich jeden Tag auf ein Video von Euch und jetzt noch mehr! Viele Grüße, auch an Deine tolle Frau, Alexander

[@simeonandalex]

Krass! Vielen Dank! Die Welt ist klein. Wir sind in Neunkirchen aufgewachsen.

[@GreatNorthWoodsHillbilly]

That is a great setup, nothing better than natural feed meat.

[@mathews238]

Just beautiful there! I also love your shout outs to our permaculture guys here in the states. How often do you come over here?

[@netkissa]

I was wondering what the plates were on the sled.

[@Avidarcher88]

beautiful farm! going to try electric fence around my tractor. fox are determined around here

[@timkirkpatrick9155]

At least in the Americas, Lynx are larger than Bobcats. I bet you also have skunks, Martins, Weasels and Badgers.

[@Leffe192]

Lynx are about 20 kg here in Sweden. No skunks, but badgers an foxes are quite common and weasels, martens and similar also occur to some extent.

[@derickchetty]

Hi bud. Did you ever do a batch of cornish cross in winter or when it was cold, and how did it go? Can this be done?

[@TheOldNorwegian]

Your moving of the tractors makes for an interesting ballet! :-) The Old Norwegian

[@simeonandalex]

Haha.

[@AlvinaRayne]

Love this video, just perfect!

[@newandoldtech5634]

Many years ago we had a dozen roasters a year. One year we bought a batch of small broiler kind that was told to gain much weight. They arrived as small and grew in summer and in fall they were placed in the fridge. The thing this year was that this particular kind weighed so much that their bones didnt carry them. When they got really big, their bones snapped, and couldnt walk or get up.Have you any thought on that one.

[@simeonandalex]

Yes. Modern broilers like the cornish cross grow at such a fast and unnatural way that their organs and bones can't keep up with the weight gain. It is important that these birds get limited feed, twice a day, a lot of pasture and good exercise. Too much feed and too little exercise will kill these birds.

[@newandoldtech5634]

We had them in similar circumstance as you have. Outdoors but bigger and fixed corrall. Otherwise we treated them as "normal" roasters, but that was not good enough. When they reached 3-3,5 kilo they Went down. They just lay down with feets out. Not a good breed. We used to have "dwarf hens" in all kind of colours just for the fun of it.

[@michaelchastain4957]

How do you keep the water from freezing? Is it a problem? Is the tubing soft so it won't break if frozen? I love the channel! Keep the faith! Awesome content.

[@SendMeTheRemote]

Hi I'm Francis, the host of this show, cooking with dog.

[@Godshole]

All good stuff. Shame about the losses but like you say, that's farming. I would be very interested in how you go about harvesting the chickens come the time. Please would you consider making a filem on how to kill and butcher a chicken or two when the time comes?

[@simeonandalex]

I will do that. Have you seen my video on turkey processing? It is pretty much the same way.

[@williamwalter8554]

Hi Simeon, At 6:55 begin the slo-mo farm porn j/k. But seriously, great job filming and editing. Do you always walk out to the chicken tractors or do you use the quad some days? I understand that this is such a great morning today for a nice walk. Have you thought about bringing out your oldest child to help move the chicken tractors early in the season? They could shoo the birds up towards the front of the tractor, or tell you to stop pulling because a bird is too close to the skids. Cheers, Bill

[@angkit216]

Good job bro. They fertilize your land as well

[@TheEscape2012]

How much space does 1 chicken tractor need? I mean can i have 1-2 of those tractors even on a small land like 3000qm²? How long does the soild need to renew so you can put the tractor on it again?

[@simeonandalex]

+TheEscape2012 we touch the same land only once a year.

[@michaeljankowski1300]

As a means of preventing the chicks from getting caught/run over when moving the tractors, why not make a board with rows of something like dowels attached (sort of like making a large wooden brush without a handle)? You can push the dowel end through the chicken wire (back) portion of the tractor? This would force the chicks away from the back of the tractor preventing them from getting caught under it. Attach it temporarily with wire or hooks so you can remove it once the tractor is moved. It would have to span the width of the tractor of course but if the lowest rows sit low enough so they can't get under them and the highest row is close enough to the top to prevent them from climbing on top of them I would think it would work.

[@simeonandalex]

Interesting concept to think about. It really only is a problem the first couple of times until they have gotten the hang of it but sure... if it helps and makes it easier...

[@karenhorn6685]

Hello Simeon! Please tell me how many chickens you have in your tractor and what is the dimension? Thank you Karen from Indiana

[@jemckee]

If you move the chicken tractor everyday, it seems that you either have to have a huge field, or you put the tractors on the same patch now and then. What would be an appropriate interval for bringing the tractor back to the same place? Two weeks? Three weeks? I would like to do this, but with only an acre of available land for this kind of use, it seems that would make a difference. Thank you.

[@simeonandalex]

+Joel Mckee with a maxed out chicken tractor we only touch the same land once a year, otherwise the manute load gets too much.

[@candicechristensen1753]

We usually just butcher our extra roosters, but this year we're trying just four Cornish cross chicks. So far I think I like the roosters better but I'll let you know once we eat them.😉 we nicknamed them "the pigs"😅

[@timkirkpatrick9155]

Canadian Lynx are about that same size, Bobcats are 12-15kg. Of course over here we also have Coyotes, they run 20-30 kg. What about raptors? We have many species of owls, hawks and 2 eagles (three in some places.) Have you tried hanging the chickens water so the access tray is a couple inches off the ground. They don't foul (pun) it as easily. The tractor beam above the hanger needs a little bracing like an upside down T to take the weight. Dreadful to hear about the bombing! Condolences to all for the tragedy.

[@chopwoodfarm1974]

Simeon, why are the chickens so far from the house? No place closer to put them?

[@heidiwhaley1135]

If you would pull the other direction you could see your chickens and you would be picking up the lighter end. Thank you Whaley Family Farm

[@jonathantarrant2449]

how many acres is your homestead? you seem to use the land well

[@bennystropicalswimmigwolf8691]

Awesome upload really enjoy the video great

[@randyc5650]

Cats may sometimes kill chicks. A row of smaller 1/2" or 1/4" square hardware cloth around the lower 6" might help.

[@Ticdaniel]

lite slowm scener idag. det har jag inte sett förut. Alltid lika skojj innehåll i övrigt. tummen upp :)

[@Catesgarden]

You have lynx and wolves???? Whoa!

[@johnmarquardt1991]

Beautiful walk, scenery reminiscent of my youth. What time is sunrise? Also, thought about you and your family and all the people of Sweden today after the terrorist attack. This violence must end.

[@StarrTrekn]

Why not put a tarp over the exposed area during the night?

[@oldtimeengineer26]

Add two wheels to the back and it will save your back then you pick it up it rolls and you are done. Since I am old I like to work smarter not harder. Nice video

[@simeonandalex]

I think the wheels would reach there limit fairly quickly on uneven ground. The Salatins who invented these use a dolly in the middle. They have a lot of these and it works great.

[@gordbaker896]

It seems the younger generation would rather ignore the knowledge and experience gained over decades than embrace it. Of course wheels would work. Large Diameter (12") mounted down from the roof Inside the pen at the back. We in Ontario Canada would call these similar to 'colony houses' placed out on the range and tightly fenced on the perimiter. They were not portable. Never heard of the houses being called a tractor!

[@gordbaker896]

Archer 46. I really don't care who Joel is. I have had decades more experience, grew up on a farm, later a poultry operation. If you don't want to modernize stay in the stone age.

[@gordbaker896]

I have seen his video of building a lean-to and I assure you I do have the skills and experience to do it a better way. There are many ways of doing many things, usually only one right way. Sorry you are unable to learn otherwise. Most come here to learn and observe and contribute. You do neither.

[@tommmarree3689]

Hey Simeone! With the risk of predators, do you carry a handgun, or what happens if a wolf comes up on you? LOVE you channel, the BEST on KZbin!!! And your children, WOW, are you BLESSED! AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY......GOD BLESS!!

[@simeonandalex]

Thank you. We are blessed! I don't carry a gun, which is also not easy to get a permit for here. The wolf are so scared of humans you are lucky if you see one. Moose are the only animals I am really scared to meet in the forest. More than brown bears even.

[@bigdaddykurt]

you leave them overnight in the frost? why not put a roost in there so they will be off the ground?

[@geraldswain3259]

Simeone, those birds wouldn't last 5 mins over here in GB ,the foxes would dig under the lower frame pretty sharpish ! we are over run with them . In many places it is nothing for local game keeper's to shoot well over a 100 a year without making one iota difference to the population ! as soon as you shoot a couple ,they are quickly replaced by others.the bottom of the pens would have to be netted. Regards.

[@simeonandalex]

Well, I don't know about GB... You could certainly build these with a netting on the bottom. Joel Salatin only does that for the rabbits. He has foxes and so do we but the thing is that all the predators seem to be confused by the built of the chicken tractor. They see and smell the birds laying in the back but don't know how to get to them. I think the daily moves confuse the foxes as well. The Salatins have lost chicks to foxes in these but only when the fox got ahold of a leg of a sleeping chick through the wire...

[@geraldswain3259]

Swedish Homestead Hi again simeone, I hope you did not think I was deriding your chicken tractors

[@geraldswain3259]

Swedish Homestead Hi again simeone, I hope you did not think I was deriding your chicken tractors in fact just the opposite ,I think they are great .I was just pointing out what we do .ref netting the underside .it doesn't sound as if your foxes are very bright ! as here in Oxfordshire they have a very high IQ having attended the local university which has quite a good reputation!!!.HaHa.

[@simeonandalex]

I didn't feel at all that you were deriding my chicken tractors. Joel Salatin always says that if someone has done it, it can be done. But obviously there are different climates, wildlife and so on... But yeah, foxes are smart creatures. We probably have a bit more of natural prey in our wild forests here...

[@dropshot1967]

Please tell me what is that hat you are wearing. I like it and might get on too. I work as a landscaper and since I am bald the baseball caps I have don't provide enough protection from the sun.

[@simeonandalex]

Check one of my earliest video about my workwear.

[@dropshot1967]

I already did but you didn't mention the brand/type of hat you wear. Just that you wear a hat in summer. I already found similar hats from fjalraven and other brands but I just was curious about what hat you are using. Great video's by the way. I think I may have missed maybe 5 since your video about sharpening a bandsaw. Please keep making these awsome video's.

[@simeonandalex]

Oh sorry. I missed that you specifically wanted to know about the hat. Read the comment to quickly. www.patagonia.com/product/tenpenny-hat/29150.html?dwvar_29150_color=EKGB&cgid=mens-hats-accessories-hats#tile-30=&start=1&sz=48

[@dropshot1967]

Swedish Homestead great. thnx for the info.

[@Segorean]

What is the age of the chicks when you move them into the tractor? I have 2 months old chicks and I want to put them outside but I fear they will be too cold and maybe get sick...

[@simeonandalex]

We do it at about 3 weeks once we are in the right season, from May on...

[@Segorean]

Thank you!

[@flugschulerfluglehrer]

Don't you have the wonderful woverine in your region? I know that this predator is still quite common in Sweden.

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

I am sorry for your losses:. It seems inevitable with poultry, but it does not make it any easier for knowing that.

[@theoldtimeywoodworker2488]

You are giving them a good quality of life Simeon and I hope they will be safe from the predators. But in the end however, quite a few of them will be eaten by foxes. ;-)

[@simeonandalex]

Haha. Yes. They will.

[@23Michael23]

I used chicken wire and two raccoons ripped it apart and killed all my birds. I only use a strong gage wire fence now.

[@maehay4065]

Thank the for sharing this information on the way to cook them👍❌⭕️❌⭕️

[@MrVailtown]

Just how old they are please& thank-you.

[@simeonandalex]

These chickens were at different ages but we put them out at 3 weeks of age about.

[@deniset2115]

If I were an animal I would want to live on your homestead : )

[@Northisbest]

Denise T Me too 😀

[@johndiengdoh4332]

Hii Denise ❤️😍😍

[@lavinabowman8489]

morning chicken meditation 😆

[@itex136]

Guys you may or may not have found out that youtube has now exploded and starting to Demonetization alot LOTS of chanels now here on youtube, just wanted to be friendly and give a heads up cus i love your chanel!. And some reports are saying that people below a certain ammount of viewers will be off the hock completly :S

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

Forgive me, but I am not familiar with the term "off the hock completely"; what does it mean? I can't tell from the context. Thanks in advance!

[@itex136]

It means that creators that has less than 10k watchers as an average on their videos will no longer be alowed in the money generating partner deal that comes with the advertisers on youtube

[@craigmooring2091]

I'm sorry you lost those chicks. What do you do with them?

[@simeonandalex]

I bring them into the forest or compost them.

[@samanthacrowe3980]

Mine name is Samantha can and I am trying to see what is the best to build a chickens tractors for mine chickens

[@ronaldstout1390]

Is it LEGAL to caponize in Sweden?

[@ProfessorAV]

Raccoons are persistent and will find a way through wire, under fences, and between nearly any gap. They will also kill indiscriminately and return again and again. You are lucky not to have them in Sweden! They are our most difficult predators in my part of Quebec, and we defeat them in part with paving blocks around the runs. However, this means we have not really been able to incorporate a proper tractor system.

[@simeonandalex]

I know people are using these tractors in Oregon. I think they have racoons. Maybe you could find someone and see how they do it?

[@MikeSheasheaDtree]

Thought you would like to know we bought 7$ USB rechargeable 250 lumins head lamps on eBay, water resistant and hands free, we got tired of buying batteries.

[@classic287]

I have never seen anything like that before...

[@billpattpr]

great video but the music is not necessary. i cant hear what you're saying.

[@blazfilipic2559]

how to solve problems with foxes, martens and other predators