Help. . I am NEW and I think I am cursed with Tragedy

Glad you joined us!

I'm sorry for all of your losses. Unfortunately, your problems are good examples of why carefully planned predator protection is a must when raising chickens.

To keep your birds safe, you need secure housing and a covered, protected run. Use sturdy wood, plastic, or metal in your coop. Don't seal it up tight, though--it still needs ventilation. Make sure any windows or vents in your coop are covered in wire, preferably 1/2 inch hardware cloth. Use the hardware cloth for the run, too, and make sure there is at least a wire "roof" above the run. Otherwise, your birds will be at risk from aerial predators (hawks, etc.), or predators that can climb (raccoons for example). Chicken wire does not work. It is weak, easily torn apart by dogs and other animals, and large enough for raccoons to pull birds through.

The buried chain-link fence should help deter digging predators. One other thing you could do is make a wire "skirt" that extends 12-18 inches out from the base of the run. Most predators aren't smart, and dig right up against the fence, If there is wire up against the fence, they can't make any progress.

The snakes can be tricky to eliminate, but not impossible. Cover any cracks or crevices with hardware cloth, and they shouldn't be able to get in.

If your flock continues to be plagued with predators, another alternative is electric wire fencing. It is somewhat expensive, but is very effective with most predators.

Good luck with your flock!

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Just like everyone else I agree with drumstick diva. But Bantam Lover has also given you wonderful and detailed advice. I'm terribly sorry for your losses!!

That was a very long and good intro!

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Sorry for your losses, you've gotten some good advice on protecting your flock against predators of all kinds.

Sorry to hear about your losses. I, too, had a problem with predators when we got our chickens. A coyote got two of them in the morning in broad daylight when people were outside working. The neighbor even saw it walking up our driveway in the middle of the neighborhood. The raccoons we shot at with a handgun and they have not come back in four years. Our chickens are now in a fully enclosed coop with a concrete floor, hardwire walls (rabbit wire) and a PVC roof. They do get to free range in the afternoons when we are home from work, but they are out with the horses and no predators have come into the field with the mean pony we have. This has increased my workload (cleaning) and feed costs, but it isn't fair to them to let them be preyed upon and eaten.

Your chicks need constant protection and supervision because they don't have a momma to watch over them. Chicken wire is not appropriate for an enclosure. Coyotes, bobcats and dogs can chew through it; raccoons will reach through with their arms and pull chicks apart.

You could consider getting a larger guardian animal so your chickens can free range. My neighbors have a llama and rarely loose a duck or a chicken. In any event, the chicks cannot be sent out by themselves when they are little because they have no way to save themselves from predators.

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Oh, I am so sorry for your losses. You have to build, rebuild and over build to keep poultry safe. Build it like fort knox. Like you yourself are going to move in. I hope your heavy heart can heal soon.