Tell How Predators Got Your Chickens. Save Somebody Else From The Bad Experience

Dogs for us... I remember my Grand had chickens too. She killed one of her dogs for killing her chickens. She was a farmer and dogs that kill livestock are not tolerated.
 
I lost over half of my flock to hawks. They would strick in the middle of the day, near the neighbors fence (the chickens were free ranging). I, or my neighbor, would come home to vultures eating the leftovers so we could never tell what happened. Finally, with the help of Backyard Forum, I found a carcass before the vultures. It was totally in tact with the belly eaten out and an explosion of feathers.

Now they don't free range and I haven't lost any more.

MV
 
We used to lose chickens to the coons when I was a kid. We had an 8 foot high fence around the coop and they could climb it, no problem.

I can still remember going out to gather eggs only to find half of a chicken in the nest box.
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My Dad finally figured out (as has been mentioned before) a simple hook and eye lock isn't sufficient. I think he decided that if I (the kid) could open the lock the raccoon could probably figure it out too.

With the last chickens we had a couple of years ago, I actually put a combination lock on my hen house and never had a problem, and I know for a fact we have coons around here, because I managed to catch THREE at one time in a live trap once.
 
We used to lose chickens to the coons when I was a kid. We had an 8 foot high fence around the coop and they could climb it, no problem.

I can still remember going out to gather eggs only to find half of a chicken in the nest box.
sad.png


My Dad finally figured out (as has been mentioned before) a simple hook and eye lock isn't sufficient. I think he decided that if I (the kid) could open the lock the raccoon could probably figure it out too.

With the last chickens we had a couple of years ago, I actually put a combination lock on my hen house and never had a problem, and I know for a fact we have coons around here, because I managed to catch THREE at one time in a live trap once.
If the coons figure out that combination lock we are all in trouble.
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Seriously ...sounds like you and dad have those coons figured out. Good job catching three at a time.
 
Dogs for us... I remember my Grand had chickens too. She killed one of her dogs for killing her chickens. She was a farmer and dogs that kill livestock are not tolerated.
Now days grandma would kill grandpa for killing one of her chickens and trying to eat it.
 
Has anyone tried Nite Guards? I had a lady in Tx who runs a million dollar operation and is a judge, tell me that she swears by them.

http://www.niteguard.com/

I think I am going to try some.

Interesting concept. I wonder if the predators don't eventually get used to the flashing light since it never moves.

I see they also have this: Nite Guard Repellent Tape

I wonder if stringing that loosely over the top of an open run would scare off the flying predators. Seems a lot cheaper than wire. Then, of course, I wonder: OK it works when it is sunny and breezy (maybe either is good enough) but is it effective on overcast, windless days?

Bruce
 
Snakes also get through chicken wire and eat eggs and smaller chicks.  I had one try to eat a 4 month old guinea only to kill it and spit it out because it was too big.  That was years ago but now I use Chainlink covered with hardware cloth.  I have tried my best to protect my chickens and so far so good.  I lock them in the coop at night which is also made of wood and hardware cloth.  Something is going to have to work really hard to get into my coop now.


Prettychicks

Thanks for your advice. I'm having my coop built now and would like to avoid that kind of heartbreak if possible. My daughter tells me I have the worst predators living in my house - two miniature dachshunds. Have you had any problems with your dachshunds and the chickens? Of course my dream is that everybody lives together peacefully, but I know I have to be realistic and aware they have been bred to be little hunters.
 

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