Fall is such a cozy time of year. The leaves turn those beautiful shades of red and gold, the air smells like woodsmoke, and pumpkin spice is suddenly in everything from coffee to candles. But for chicken keepers, fall also comes with a less charming seasonal trend… predators on the prowl.
You see, as the weather cools, wild critters start thinking ahead to winter. They’re stocking up on calories any way they can. Unfortunately, to many of them, your chicken coop looks like a well-stocked buffet. Warm, feathery entrées with a side of fresh eggs? Yes, please.
Let’s walk through the most common fall predators and how to outsmart them, so your flock stays safe and sound all season long.
If you’ve ever watched a fox move, you know they could teach ninjas a thing or two about sneaking around. They’ll test your fencing, dig under it, and even figure out if a latch isn’t properly secured.
Prevention tip: Bury your fencing at least 12 inches into the ground to block diggers. Use sturdy locks or carabiner clips on coop doors. Foxes have nimble paws and can open simple latches like a toddler getting into the cookie jar.
Read on: Red Fox - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Foxes
Fall is prime time for raccoon raids because they’re trying to bulk up before the lean months. They’ll come in the dead of night, often with friends, and leave a mess behind.
Prevention tip: If your coop has wire mesh, make sure it’s hardware cloth, not chicken wire. Chicken wire keeps chickens in, but it doesn’t keep predators out. Hardware cloth with ½-inch openings is much stronger. And again, use predator-proof latches.
Read on: Raccoon - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Coons
Fall migration means hawks may be passing through your area more often. And when natural prey like rodents get scarce, your chickens start to look like a convenient snack.
Prevention tip: Give your birds a covered run or plenty of places to hide. Old pallets, bushes, or even a tarp strung overhead can provide cover from above. Hawks prefer an easy, open target.
Read on: Red Tailed Hawk - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Hawks
Because they hunt at night, many chicken keepers don’t realize owls are the problem until they find missing or injured birds in the morning.
Prevention tip: Keep your flock locked inside the coop after dusk. A secure coop with no gaps or weak spots is your best protection.
Read on: Owl - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Owls
Fall is when their hunting ramps up, and they’re fast, determined, and surprisingly vicious for their size.
Prevention tip: Inspect your coop for even the smallest openings and seal them. Pay close attention to corners, vents, and where walls meet the roof.
Read on:
They tend to work alone or in pairs, often testing fences for weak spots. And yes, they can jump—sometimes over six feet high.
Prevention tip: Use tall, sturdy fencing, ideally 6 to 8 feet high. An electric wire along the top and bottom can discourage climbers and diggers.
Read on: Coyote - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Coyotes
Prevention tip: If you know there are loose dogs in the area, keep your chickens in a secure run. And if you have your own dogs, make sure they’re trained to leave the flock alone.
Read on: Dog - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Dogs
Also, with shorter days, predators have more hours of darkness to work with. And since fall weather tends to make us a bit more relaxed about outdoor chores, it’s easy to slip up on security. That one night you forget to lock the coop? You can bet a predator is out there hoping for it.
Your flock depends on you to be their guardian, their alarm system, and their fence inspector all rolled into one. Yes, it’s a little extra work, but there’s nothing like looking out at your happy, healthy hens scratching around in the crisp autumn sunshine. That peace of mind is worth every latch you clip and every fence post you check.
So enjoy the pumpkin spice, the falling leaves, and the cool evenings… just don’t forget the critters who’d love to join you for dinner.
This list is in no way exhaustive; there are plenty more predators that would feast on your flock without hesitation. For more, check out this list here: Chicken Predators.
Further Reading:
You see, as the weather cools, wild critters start thinking ahead to winter. They’re stocking up on calories any way they can. Unfortunately, to many of them, your chicken coop looks like a well-stocked buffet. Warm, feathery entrées with a side of fresh eggs? Yes, please.
Let’s walk through the most common fall predators and how to outsmart them, so your flock stays safe and sound all season long.
1. Foxes
Foxes are beautiful animals… right up until you see one with a mouthful of your favorite hen. Fall is when foxes are especially active, hunting to fatten up before food gets scarce. They’re clever, fast, and quiet, which makes them tricky to spot until it’s too late.If you’ve ever watched a fox move, you know they could teach ninjas a thing or two about sneaking around. They’ll test your fencing, dig under it, and even figure out if a latch isn’t properly secured.
Prevention tip: Bury your fencing at least 12 inches into the ground to block diggers. Use sturdy locks or carabiner clips on coop doors. Foxes have nimble paws and can open simple latches like a toddler getting into the cookie jar.
Read on: Red Fox - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Foxes
2. Raccoons
Raccoons are basically the masked bandits of the chicken world. They’re cute, they’re smart, and they’re absolute trouble when it comes to your coop. Their little hands can twist, pull, and pry. They don’t just go after eggs either. If they can get to your hens, they will.Fall is prime time for raccoon raids because they’re trying to bulk up before the lean months. They’ll come in the dead of night, often with friends, and leave a mess behind.
Prevention tip: If your coop has wire mesh, make sure it’s hardware cloth, not chicken wire. Chicken wire keeps chickens in, but it doesn’t keep predators out. Hardware cloth with ½-inch openings is much stronger. And again, use predator-proof latches.
Read on: Raccoon - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Coons
3. Hawks
While many predators sneak in under cover of darkness, hawks like to go for a dramatic midday strike. They swoop down fast, grab a chicken, and are gone before you can blink.Fall migration means hawks may be passing through your area more often. And when natural prey like rodents get scarce, your chickens start to look like a convenient snack.
Prevention tip: Give your birds a covered run or plenty of places to hide. Old pallets, bushes, or even a tarp strung overhead can provide cover from above. Hawks prefer an easy, open target.
Read on: Red Tailed Hawk - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Hawks
4. Owls
Owls are the night shift version of hawks. Silent flyers with sharp talons, they can snatch a chicken right off the perch. Barn owls, great horned owls, and barred owls are some of the more common culprits.Because they hunt at night, many chicken keepers don’t realize owls are the problem until they find missing or injured birds in the morning.
Prevention tip: Keep your flock locked inside the coop after dusk. A secure coop with no gaps or weak spots is your best protection.
Read on: Owl - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Owls
5. Weasels and Mink
These tiny predators might look harmless, but don’t be fooled. Weasels and mink can slip through holes just one inch wide. They hunt for sport as much as for food, which means they might kill multiple birds in one visit.Fall is when their hunting ramps up, and they’re fast, determined, and surprisingly vicious for their size.
Prevention tip: Inspect your coop for even the smallest openings and seal them. Pay close attention to corners, vents, and where walls meet the roof.
Read on:
- Mink - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Mink
- Weasel - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Weasels
6. Coyotes
Coyotes are adaptable, and they’re just as happy to hunt in rural areas as they are to wander into towns. Fall is prime hunting season for them, and a flock of chickens is hard for them to ignore.They tend to work alone or in pairs, often testing fences for weak spots. And yes, they can jump—sometimes over six feet high.
Prevention tip: Use tall, sturdy fencing, ideally 6 to 8 feet high. An electric wire along the top and bottom can discourage climbers and diggers.
Read on: Coyote - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Coyotes
7. Dogs
Surprise! Not all chicken predators are wild animals. Neighborhood dogs can be a huge problem, especially in fall when they’re more likely to be out roaming in cooler weather. Many dogs don’t mean to be “predators” in the true sense—they just like to chase. But chasing can lead to injury or death for your flock.Prevention tip: If you know there are loose dogs in the area, keep your chickens in a secure run. And if you have your own dogs, make sure they’re trained to leave the flock alone.
Read on: Dog - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Dogs
A Few Extra Fall Safety Tips
- Close the buffet early. Bring your chickens in before dusk. Most predators do their shopping at night.
- Use motion-activated lights. Many nocturnal hunters hate sudden light.
- Collect eggs promptly. Leaving eggs in the nest boxes is like leaving candy out for kids—it attracts attention.
- Do regular coop inspections. Check for digging, claw marks, or chewed areas. If you spot damage, fix it before it becomes a doorway.
- Hardware cloth: When it comes to protecting your flock, this is the material that you should choose.
Why Fall Feels Riskier
In spring and summer, predators have more food options. There are rabbits, mice, squirrels, insects, and plenty of vegetation. Come fall, those options shrink. Your well-fed, easy-to-catch chickens become more tempting.Also, with shorter days, predators have more hours of darkness to work with. And since fall weather tends to make us a bit more relaxed about outdoor chores, it’s easy to slip up on security. That one night you forget to lock the coop? You can bet a predator is out there hoping for it.
Conclusion
Fall might bring more predator challenges, but it’s also one of the most beautiful seasons to enjoy with your chickens. The trick is staying one step ahead. Think like a hungry raccoon or a sneaky fox, and you’ll start noticing those weak spots before they do.Your flock depends on you to be their guardian, their alarm system, and their fence inspector all rolled into one. Yes, it’s a little extra work, but there’s nothing like looking out at your happy, healthy hens scratching around in the crisp autumn sunshine. That peace of mind is worth every latch you clip and every fence post you check.
So enjoy the pumpkin spice, the falling leaves, and the cool evenings… just don’t forget the critters who’d love to join you for dinner.
This list is in no way exhaustive; there are plenty more predators that would feast on your flock without hesitation. For more, check out this list here: Chicken Predators.
Further Reading:
