All my chickens are gone...

[Sweeethearts_2002]

So my DH decided he would buy me a "chicken coop" last spring from traxmctor supply and put it together for me. During putting it together I thought to myself " it's a very piss poor excuse of a oop because this material is worthless" , but I didnt complain , i was grateful and just fallowed his lead like a good HW is supposed to do. This year in about November somehow half my flock just had died pretty much and was already separated from my silkies. I had 2 silkies which were a pair and 1 other silkie .. idk how but my silkie rooster died which left the two (now laying) hens I also had another rooster and hen in a different coop. The silkies were in the "cheap coop" and the others in a modified hay keeper modified for chickens. I have no idea what but something ATE my silkies..nothing left but feathers . They broke through the wire netting and 2 months later my other two were gobbled by dogs that dug under my coop. How do I have or train a dog to be good guard dogs for my chicken and protect them? I have to start all over after all the investing from last year. It's so expensive but I want a new flock and to do something better and different to protect them. Help!

 

[centrarchid]

First thing I would do make your coop / pen more predator resistant as that will give short term benefits. Can you show pictures of your setup?

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

I'm sorry for your loss. In 1 weekend I lost 5 of 7. It happens to all of us. On my replacement flock now with just 1 old hen left that stopped laying.

How many did you lose at first? At least predators you can find and prevent or dispatch of. Did they free range or always in coop/run?

 

[Howard E]

Sounds to me like you are at a crossroads........It's decision time.

Now that you have a year of tending birds under your belt.......is keeping chickens something you really want to continue with? If that is a yes, then how many?

After that, it's doing the research into a type and size of coop and setup that will fit your situation and the amount of birds you want to keep. Do the research and build first......and then when you have that ready to go, start shopping for chicks to fill it.

Keep in mind.......for the most part, it is far and away better to build or have built the type of coop you want. Most of the small commercial made coops are horrible........motivation of the folks making them is as a product to sell as much as a product offering functional use. Folks selling them are often as uninformed as the folks buying them.

 

[Acre4Me]

Sorry for your loss!

letting us know your general location will be helpful. I’m in western Ohio, so I have different things to be concerned about as compared to other climates, for example.

what resources do you have to create a coop and run? Access to free/low cost building supplies or have any ability to build or modify a shed (or a friend/relative)? Are you limited to certain number of chickens (in or out of town)? Cost limitations? Etc.

Dont get rid of the small pre-built bc they are handy to have for isolation or in the run for introduction periods or even for momma hen/chicks.

 

[50-45-1]

No matter where you are located there are chicken eating varments just waiting to find one flaw in your setup and eat your chickens.
a good guardian dog can be of help, but will he be out with the chickns 24/7?
At night is when chickens are most vunerable.
you need a silod, locking coop with no gaps or cracks larger than an inch. Hardware cloth covering window and screening. And closing them in at night so nothing gets in. Chicken wire does not protect your birds. It only containes them in an area.
This is what you need to focus on first.
Sorry for the loss of your birds.

 

[chloemae]

So my DH decided he would buy me a "chicken coop" last spring from traxmctor supply and put it together for me. During putting it together I thought to myself " it's a very piss poor excuse of a oop because this material is worthless" , but I didnt complain , i was grateful and just fallowed his lead like a good HW is supposed to do. This year in about November somehow half my flock just had died pretty much and was already separated from my silkies. I had 2 silkies which were a pair and 1 other silkie .. idk how but my silkie rooster died which left the two (now laying) hens I also had another rooster and hen in a different coop. The silkies were in the "cheap coop" and the others in a modified hay keeper modified for chickens. I have no idea what but something ATE my silkies..nothing left but feathers . They broke through the wire netting and 2 months later my other two were gobbled by dogs that dug under my coop. How do I have or train a dog to be good guard dogs for my chicken and protect them? I have to start all over after all the investing from last year. It's so expensive but I want a new flock and to do something better and different to protect them. Help!

I am so sorry for your loss . I completely understand your pain and heartache. I posted just last Friday here as something took all of of my flock overnight (it was me that accidentally left the front coop door open). All I had left were feathers and the general BYC concensus was that my predator was a fox. This site is great for opinions and help. Recommendations included electric fencing, underground wire to prevent digging, predator proof coops, live traps for predators (to rehome), etc. - I am so sorry, it is truly devastating.....

 

[Soy Milano]

I would build them a predator proof run next time... http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/tips-for-protecting-poultry-from-predators

 

[chloemae]

I would build them a predator proof run next time... http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/tips-for-protecting-poultry-from-predators

My coop and run were predator proof, it was my fault as I accidentally left 1 of the 3 hutch doors open

 

[Criticalicious]

So sorry for your loss! These stories are my worst nightmares. Get a solidly built coop that predators can't easily access and close up the chickens at night. Get an automatic door timed to sunup and sundown in case you can't be home in time to lock them up. Run should be entirely enclosed top to bottom in hardware cloth and add dig skirts on the ground wherever you can. Then surround the whole thing in electric fence. Every set up is secure until it isn't.

I thought stories about the TSC and prefab coops were hyperbole until I was expanding my flock and decided to try one. It was SO tiny and flimsy that I refused to put any birds in it, even temporarily. I could tear it apart with my hands! $150 wasted.