Arizona Chickens

[CheerfulHeart2]

I have been happily going along under the impression that in Central Mesa, there just aren't any predators. This is very disturbing. And what a mess for cap to clean up. At least Cap's predator didn't get any birds. Thank goodness!

 

[AZKat]

For what its worth, I've yet to see a predator in my area, and the only person in my neighborhood who has lost chickens lost them to a dog who got into her yard. I also lost one to a dog, but that was the chicken's fault. I'm also in Central Mesa-University and Country Club.

 

[a2ms4chickens]

Speaking of predators, on Monday morning 4:15am, I was folding clothes and I heard the chickens go crazy. I looked out the window and saw something run past the chicken pen. I flipped on the outside lite and saw a coyote run back the other way. I ran to the kitchen and flipped on that outside light and ran outside to be sure they didn't get into the pen. (We have an enclosed stable, but still have a gate that we lock.)

The chickens were all right, most had flown on top of one our showbird pens. By the time I got out there, the coyote was gone. I don't know if there was more than one, or how it got into the backyard. We have a 6fl chainlink fence it could have climbed, or it could have come through the gate in our front yard, that someone left open. So, I have been double checking that the gates are closed, now.

When I ran outside I didn't put shoes or a jacket on, so by the time the adrenaline wore off, I was freezing!

The poor chickens squawked for over a 1/2 hr, and I think they scared the coyote(s) before I even flipped on the light. I don't think the coyotes knew which way to run.

That was the first time in 3 years that I have had that happen. Scared me to death.

Angie

 

[cap1717]

Quote:
Because we had such a dry summer in the greater Phoenix area, the wild prey species that coyotes, foxes and other such predators rely on is probably much lower than in a normal year, and may well be driving these critters to seek food in urban areas. We should all take precautions.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Quote:
Thank you AZKat. This is comforting to me. I started thinking about all the neighbors I have with chickens and decided that if there was a predator problem, I'd be seeing a lot more security for chickens in the neighborhood. Country living has its charm and I am sometimes quite envious ... but city living has a few perks too. . . fewer 4 legged predators!

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

We had a coyote in our backyard too about a month ago - it was seen easily jumping our 6 ft. block wall - thank goodness, it was still morning and we hadn't let the chickens out yet - our 3 dogs scared it off. A few years ago, during our first attempt to raise chickens, we had a bobcat steal a hen (this was before we had a secure pen and the chickens slept in the trees

), and once I saw racoon tracks in the wash behind our house (haven't seen an actual racoon yet). We've also had a couple of hawks eyeing our chickens when they were young and penned up - I think the hawks were passing through - our chickens have been free-ranging every afternoon for the past year and we haven't lost one to a predator yet. I also saw two javelinas in our neighborhood a couple of months ago (at least they're not predators and definitely can't scale a block wall).

We live in Glendale, near 75th Ave & Union Hills (next to arrowhead mall) - but have a big dry wash behind our house (I think the wildlife likes the wash).

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Quote:
Glad to hear you and the chickens are all ok. My Dad lives in NW Tucson near the river, Rillito? The cayotes live happily in the dry river bed. It is interesting to see the signs, but I am would have to have a much more secure chicken enclosure if I lived there!

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Quote:
Try this:
http://www.coopedup.net/store/product_info.php?cPath=48&products_id=192

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Speaking of AZ chicken predators - I found this on craigslist today:

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Cat Traps anyone? (Mesa)

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Date: 2009-12-30, 9:26AM MST
Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]
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Does anyone have cat traps I can borrow for a few days? We have a cat coming in and killing and eating chickens that are caged but it manages to pull the birds to the wire. I want the cat gone ASAP and have not heard back from any cat places for traps. It comes in the middle of the night and kills. I'd like to trap it before I have to do something else to it.

Let me know if I can borrow one from you please!!

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My guess is raccoons and I e-mailed them with some links (including one to our BYC predator forum)

 

[cap1717]

Quote:
I saw cat traps advertised on craigslist a couple of days ago. . . .