When predators attack at night

Percheron chick

Crowing
10 Years
Apr 12, 2013
5,467
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Hudson, Colorado
When chickens are attacked at night, do they make any noise? If guineas are attacked at night, do they make any noise?

I had a bobcat get into my coop last year and my super vigilant guard dog slept through it. The only explanation I can come up with is they didn't make a peep.
 
Yes, they typically make a lot of noise when disturbed by a predator. You can sometimes determine the type of predator by chickens sounds like during daytime. Usually when a chicken is grabbed or bitten it squeals like when held upside down by legs. I go to considerable lengths to make so dogs and I can hear such and respond quickly. If you dog is worn out from a lot of activity it is more to sleep through a disturbance. Two dogs is insurance against that.
 
Most predators attack at night but I'm not certain that hawks and other predators As su h attack at night. Raccoons, weasels and thise kids come out at night. They say guineas are the best watch dog.. They defiantly alert you when something is near.
 
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.
 
Yes, Chickens typically will make a lot of noise when there is a predator around. I also find that my chickens won't sleep as soundly the next few nights after there has been a predator in the area.
 
Mollie where do you live with all of these predators?
I live in Three Rivers, CA... near the entrance to Sequoia/Kings Canyon National park. We have all sorts of predators here, from hawks and other raptors to bear, coyotes- you name it. Even rattlesnakes, although I've only seen one since I moved here three years ago now. I have my coop/run in an area where I can look out my window and check on the birds from time to time. In fact, the funny thing is that they seem to be able to see or notice I'm watching because the gals all gather at that part of the run and stare back, LOL.

I treat things as being part of living near the forests and the National parks- they are the natural species that belong here. I have to just make sure that my birds are safe, but not at the expense of these wild animals. So, it costs more to have a stout enclosure and predator defenses, but I don't mind. Thus far we're all doing well. Mostly deer and wild pig this time of year. Coyotes come around, but my dogs alert me to anything that wanders too close to the house.

Unfortunately, I can't free-range my birds. But their run is fairly large and I don't overcrowd them. I'm in the process of having another coop/run built right now. Can't wait to acquire more birds, LOL.
 
I have had numerous chickens attacked by bobcat's here and the first thing the cat will do is snap the chickens neck very little nose is made
and the chickens started roosting on my front porch and even with me less then ten feet away all I could hear was the cat bouncing around
the objects like chars and boxes on the porch so six months ago I got genies and yes they make noise but not enough to scare of the cats
so I bought a heat detector tool from home depo and it helps me find the predator for a faster departure from this world ....... and there are
as many as twelve chickens on the porch and not one sound of a struggle now I get out there fast enough that the cat will drop the bird but
the cat is still in the area so I look with my tool I got in May and my cat kill went up and chicken loss went down and the states here in Ca.
no traps alright but you can use a .22 or shotgun for live stock protection not pet protection ...........

gander007
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