Am I paranoid?

[wanda047]

I'm just wondering how many other chicken owners make numerous nightly walks through their backyards looking for predators? I have made every effort to making both my coops predator proof and feel quite confident that nothing can get in there... however, I find myself every night walking to both pens with flashlight in hand checking out my coops. I do this at least twice between dark and midnight. In the beginning, I even carried my gun! Now I leave that sitting inside by the backdoor.... just in case!

My teenage son has even started doing flashlight patrol off the back deck every night, shining the light on the ground, in the trees, on the roofs of the coops, searching for those glowing eyes in the dark. Guess I'm making the kids paranoid too!

I also got another dog this last week, a cute little beagle pup I'm hoping will turn into a heck of a chicken/guard dog

Do others do this also, or am I just paranoid?

 

[gypsy2621]

I do so everynight also.
even with a broken foot.

 

[Cajunsamoan]

I'm with ya! I bought a spotlight so I can see farther. My dogs are very quiet so any time they bark I jump up and check everyone. Even if it's 2 am. My husband thinks I'm nuts.

 

[steveo]

Wow you sound paranoid to me lol.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Please see my signature. However, each and everyone of us has their own level and intensity.

 

[Lil Chickie Mama]

I think there is probably a good percentage of people that do this from what I've read. I will as our coop is going to be a fair distance from our house.
What happens when you see a predator though? Are they usually easily scared off. Would a raccoon turn to you?

scary...

 

[chickflick]

No, sure don't do that. If I happen to get up during the night I look out to see what's going on. I lock them in their coops at night and hope and pray nothing will get them.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

I do a nightly check as well. I have one friend that even bought a baby monitor for her coop so she can hear any fussing in the night.

 

[wanda047]

Quote:
Any predator in my backyard would be quickly eliminated and especially a coon. Once they know there are free meals available, they will return and often come in packs. I eliminated 3 coons trying to get into my mother-in-laws coop in one night.

Coons aren't easily scared off. They will often stand their ground and try to scare you off!

So far I have not lost a chicken to predators, but I have a big boxer who spends his night running circles around the yard. (I think he's hyper!) Regardless, I still patrol the area each night.

 

[gritsar]

I do nightly head counts when I go out to lock them in their coop for the night and unless the dog alerts me to something I don't check again until morning.
Something I learned when I was a BYC newbie, don't read the predators and pests or the illness forums too much. They'll make you paranoid.