3rd one this month

[ChuckenGirl]

So i'm sleeping all nice and comfy in my cool and cozy bed when around 4:00 am I hear the chickens go crazy, I'm thinking 'oh wonderful! What now?!' So i "run" (can a person run at 4AM when their practically asleep?) Keep in mind with the weather we've had lately in northern maryland, the tarp on the run has been taking a beating (can't change it, My dad doesn't trust me to do it, the run is 8 ft tall and he's on a business trip) and I was hoping nothing got IN the coop, thats where most of the Chickens are (we have some valuable roosters tied outside to their own dog cage.) So i look out the window and all the chickens are okay, a few flew out of the coop but im in a "whatever, I don't care" state of mind at the moment... I attempt to go back to sleep, doesn't work... So at 6:00 i decide, ok! I'm going out to check out the chickens! All in the coop were accounted for, so i go to the field where our roosters are, let them out of their cages and Theres 2 roosters that are tied to dog houses, one rooster has a dog house that is at least 5ft tall and he''ll jump on the top to roost at night the other one has a 4ft(ish) tall dog house and he's usually good at night.
not last night though...
I go outside to find 2 legs the "body" between the legs that keep them together and feathers.
That's the 3rd chicken this month we lost to predators!! But the first at night for at least 2 months... the first 2 were hawk attacks, and i was outside when they happened and couldn't do anything because it happened so soon!
Erg!!!!


Hope this post made sense!

 

[darbella]

Quote:
I am sorry for your losses, however, I need to ask that if you know there are predstors in your area, why on earth would you leave roosters "tied up" to dog houses with no way to get away . That is like offering food to the predator! Have your dad cut some wood and buy some hinges and a latch and make doors for the dog houses and lock the roos up at night.

 

[ChuckenGirl]

We do lock them up at night, they go inside a metal dog cage and we close the door and lock it securly and theres tires on top of the cage so it can't be knocked over.

 

[kikescove.com]

Sorry you lost a nice rooster. Four culprits probably, coon, coyote, bobcat or neighbors dog. Probably one of the first two and they WILL BE BACK for more. I promise.

 

[darbella]

Quote:
Then your right in asking if your first post makes sense...NO it does not. In the post you say you tie them up to dog HOUSES, not dog crates...so which is it? Also, racoons will PULL the chickens thru the crate bars. And how can they jump on top of the crate if they are locked inside it??? I think you need to post pictures of how they are kept so we here can offer you some suggestions as to how to keep them safe. I am glad you are concerned enough to ask for advice, and hopefully somebody here will be able to offer a simple affordabe solution to the problem! I know I will try seeing as I just lost 3 of my favorites to a coyote that managed to get inside the enclosed tractor by pouncing repetedly on the top door and get them. He must have been so pannicked about figuring how to get back out that he jumped around so much he moved the tractor pen!!! He has not been back and it is a good thing cause the gun is loaded and waiting!!

 

[kikescove.com]

Forgot about fox....sorry, its a west thing. They'll still be back for more. Chicken is whats on the menu.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

"Theres 2 roosters that are tied to dog houses, one rooster has a dog house that is at least 5ft tall and he''ll jump on the top to roost at night the other one has a 4ft(ish) tall dog house and he's usually good at night".

The above is what you said. I'm a little confused as well. Sounds like you tie the poor things up to the dog house.

"3rd one killed in one month" It's obvious you need to be locking up your chickens in SECURE and PREDITOR proof coops so you don't continue to lose more.

Hardware cloth and lock them up every night.

 

[chickencoop31320]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

"Theres 2 roosters that are tied to dog houses, one rooster has a dog house that is at least 5ft tall and he''ll jump on the top to roost at night the other one has a 4ft(ish) tall dog house and he's usually good at night".

The above is what you said. I'm a little confused as well. Sounds like you tie the poor things up to the dog house.

"3rd one killed in one month" It's obvious you need to be locking up your chickens in SECURE and PREDITOR proof coops so you don't continue to lose more.

Hardware cloth and lock them up every night.

I second everything that has been said so far.
I'm glad you're asking for advice, however, If you have lost more than one bird in a month... You may want to COMPLETELY rethink the way ya'll house your birds.
Tethering your birds to a dog house isn't very safe... unless you are locking them up each night with openenings no bigger than 1/2 inch in the wire... Racoons will grab, pull and scratch every piece until they get a meal. (what a horrible way to die!!!)

I hope your father returns soon so that you can both come up with a better way to care for your chickens.

Good luck

 

[ColoradoMike]

How do you 'tie' a bird to anything? Tether their leg or something?