Always hear about predator problems. why not me? (PICS)

[Olive Hill]

I can't believe no one else has already said this but, most of us don't live at a monastery with eighteen other people.

I would place a hefty bet on at least a good portion of your "luck" being due to activity. There is a big difference between a monastery with eighteen people present daily and the average American backyard -- whether suburban or rural -- where maybe one person is present. You've got a good setup there and nighttime lockup will make a big difference in predator losses when people are asleep, but during the day those eighteen people being active around your property makes the biggest difference of all.

 

[jmc]

Quote:
Ditto. I don't tempt fate by saying its never gonna happen.

don't worry dearies. i surely haven't said that 'it is never gonna happen'--at least not about (dreaded) daytime strikes. in fact i KNOW that eventually it WILL happen. Next year i am going to raise the fence to 8 - 10 ft. high, the last 3 to 5 ft. being an unclimbable 'floppy top'

as far as night time goes, i remain not too concerned. we have already had a visit, i suspect a mink. this was back in august i think. 3 nights in a row 'it' came by, then left a nice piece of poop as a gift. never returned and, of course, no losses. it could never get into that cage.

 

[jmc]

Quote:

 

[jmc]

It would be nice if some of you who have been stricken by preds. would post some pics of YOUR set up...........................

hmmmmmmmmmm??

 

[centrarchid]

Also those that have not. A pattern is likely to emerge.

 

[Debbi]

Well, my chicken saga since the last 18 plus years without any, started in June this year. In September the run was "visited" by a coyote at about 6am one morning. Evidently, the electric fence made him believe that there were surely other easier places to get a meal from, as he woke me up with his yelping, as I caught sight of him making a beeline back to the woods! My coop is totally enclosed inside my run. The run has a 6 ft. fence, the bottom 4' being 1/2" hardware cloth, the top 2' being 2x4 welded wire, and the top is also enclosed with the 2x4" welded wire. I then have a 2' apron of wire buried by gravel all around the run, with two strand of electric fence, at 6" and 37" off the ground. The coop is solid and secured with hasp locks and clips. Still, I have my doubts and will always keep an open eye and ear! The predators are many here, so I will always be on guard...

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Ditto. I don't tempt fate by saying its never gonna happen.

don't worry dearies. i surely haven't said that 'it is never gonna happen'--at least not about (dreaded) daytime strikes. in fact i KNOW that eventually it WILL happen. Next year i am going to raise the fence to 8 - 10 ft. high, the last 3 to 5 ft. being an unclimbable 'floppy top'

as far as night time goes, i remain not too concerned. we have already had a visit, i suspect a mink. this was back in august i think. 3 nights in a row 'it' came by, then left a nice piece of poop as a gift. never returned and, of course, no losses. it could never get into that cage.

Mink will come in the daytime... i lost several birds to one in the daytime.

 

[BlackBart]

Quote:
No pictures but my property is fully fenced with one string of electric on the top and two strings of electric on the length that follows the creek. Thats the wilderness side, the creek side. We also have a pond and fields.

Huge Cedar, Maple and Firs trees dot the property in groups. Coops are under a huge Maple tree.
Chickens are free range. Dogs are always free to roam the yard.
Most attacks have occured when the humans have not been home and it has been raining or when we have gone in the house, any weather.

I think the attacks have happened when we are not home, and it has been raining, because the dogs will sleep on the porch when it is raining. When it is nicer weather they sleep in the driveway, waiting for us to come home and it is usually right near the coops. In the thick of chicken action.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Sure! Here ya go! Lost two hens to a hawk last winter, as my old white dog had become quite arthritic and she is usually my hawk watcher. That is the only predation I've had in the five years I've been using this particular dog to watch my flocks. The brown dog is a younger dog in training....fast as lightning. Got his first coon at 7 mo. of age. I'm quite pleased with how little predation I have on my flock and count two birds as low losses in 5 years time, considering I live in hawk central territory, not to mention eagles, coyotes, foxes, bobcats and black bears.

Now, picture my setup at night as a coop~ pop door open~ with these two creatures patrolling right outside the door. Their sleeping quarters are adjacent to the coop and they take turns on watch. It's a great setup!

 

[jmc]

Bee, what beautiful pictures! is the white one a GP, and what about the brownie (that one looks mean!)...?

lovely area you have..