I can empathise with concerns re coyotes and any other predators. After constructing what I thought was a snake-proof, rat-proof hut, that contains an elevated coop, we lost 2 x 12 week-old pullets to a 7 foot (2.1 metre) Carpet Python a week ago. These were Suffolk/Bantam hybrids, but no idea of what the bantam breed was. With four 2 week-old 'hatched at home' Black Australorp chickens (feathering up quite quickly) and in their brooder, we are going over the hut/cage with a 'fine-tooth comb' to ensure our next generation of chickens never face that fate. We are hoping the quickly feathering up (particularly tails) is a sign that we have pullets. Our first incubator hatched flock of 5 were 100% cockerels. Interestingly, we never had multiple cockerels crowing (the first stared at 10 weeks) at the same time. Sort of like a pecking order. As we gave each cockerel away another chicken would start crowing, until we were left with a 14-week old who started crowing. One issue is that we obviously had no pullets to compare hackle feathers, combs, wattles, etc. We decided to advertise our last cockerel at 16 weeks of age and a couple who were gifted five laying hens purchased him. He is a partial blue, so not jet-black. Would love to have kept him, as he was the friendliest of all, but we are not in a rural environment and neighbours need to be considered.
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