When I first got my chickens, a few weeks later my dogs went off in the middle of the night... it didn't register that something was lurking near the chickens. The following morning, I went to tend to them, only to find loads of feathers everywhere. I was shocked. I checked each hen and didn't see any injuries. Then I had to go out of town- and a friend said he saw some bobcats in the area. Another neighbor said that racoons were an issue. So upon my return, I fortified the coop/run and bought some anti-predator lights. They're about the size of a pack of cigarettes, and work off solar. They emit red dots of light, that look like eye-shine. Ever since I put those up, my birds have been left alone. I got them from Amazon.com for about $16 a piece- and having them run off solar is great, no replacing batteries. Thus far, I'm impressed with these little light units. It doesn't bother the chickens because the LEDs face out and emit small red dots of light. I live in an area that has bobcats, mountain lion and bear, foxes, racoons, possums etc. The only worry is bears, LOL. But knock on wood, they don't come too often. I also have to worry about wild pigs that tend to tear things up. I doubt they'll go for the chickens, but their feed, so I leave acorns and stuff on the other side of our 3 acres and don't have a problem.
Long story short- If my dogs bark in the middle of the night, I check on the chickens. I can see their coop/run from my house, so I have a powerful spotight to check the area at night if the dogs sense something around. I recommend those LED lights- they have worked great for me.
