lilmiz
In the Brooder
- Jun 19, 2015
- 37
- 2
- 26
I had a problem with a 35lb coon we caught it climbing up the wood pole in the corner after I had my favorite duck and my boyfriends grandsons favorite chicken (it was a barred rock rooster) I took one night we parked our truck between the house and coop about 50 feet from the pen for 2 nights I sat on the ground by the tire and hunted the little jerk. 3rd night I shot him. I know it sounds mean but he would have kept coming back and killing them usually once they find them this is what happened so Now I shut them in an enclosed part that they can go into the coop or out in that so far I haven't lost anymore. But in the beginning we lost half our chickens we free range them they were younger and never returned we walked our woods and never found them. I know for sure we have a fox den close. and the last couple days we've caught one running our field. I buy my hunting license to shoot these predators but I only bother them if they bother my hens. Also as a precaution I got a Blue Healer dog and he runs our property especially at night and so far hes kept things away from my coop. It didn't take long to get him to understand what he was doing we'd go take walks on and off around the coop and pen after a few months he does this on our own. He has also ran the neighbors cats off from near them and he doesn't allow my cat near the coop Ive watched him interact with her (they are friends and get a long great) he will just take his paw and hold her down when he lets her up she runs back to the house. I have been lucky with my dogs I have four Pomrats my 7th month old now did get one of my hens and hurt her trying to play. I brought her in the house we thought shed never make it 3 weeks of being babied and shes fine and a broody hen shes been sitting on 15 eggs going on 2 weeks