- Jun 23, 2013
- 22
- 3
- 79
Hello!
So over a month ago I got some lovely Red Comets, my first time having chickens in over 15 years. Previously, my father kept them in a coop that has long since been torn down and it was located behind two large kennels (also torn down now) where he kept his hunting hounds. Fast forward to now, my husband and I now live in my childhood home and kept our chickens in a horse stall. I thought we did a good job predator proofing it but this morning I went to check on my girls and 3 out of 5 were ripped apart. I'm pretty heartbroken over this, each one had a name and a sweet personality. My husband has never been much an animal person but he absolutely loved our girls.
I'm buying a chicken tractor today, since I'm guessing whatever got it, raccoon or possum, climbed over the walls via the rafters, and I want the ladies to be able to be outside more often. I was free ranging them and bringing them in at night. I read about 5 threads on here about predator proofing chicken tractors. I don't quite understand the "apron" - is that just excess wire like a skirt on the outside of the coop? If the coop is right outside my house, and everyone in my house is night owls - can a predator really dig under the coop in a few hours? We have people staying awake until 2am, and others leaving the house at 5am for work.
I want to add the extra protection to prevent digging either way but I just need somewhere to keep my two poor girls tonight. I'm seriously either going to sleep outside with them or bring them in the house. I have two traps set up, one dog friendly leg trap and one live trap. Whoever stole my lovely Felicia, Irene and Mrs. Weasley from me is not getting away so easily.
So over a month ago I got some lovely Red Comets, my first time having chickens in over 15 years. Previously, my father kept them in a coop that has long since been torn down and it was located behind two large kennels (also torn down now) where he kept his hunting hounds. Fast forward to now, my husband and I now live in my childhood home and kept our chickens in a horse stall. I thought we did a good job predator proofing it but this morning I went to check on my girls and 3 out of 5 were ripped apart. I'm pretty heartbroken over this, each one had a name and a sweet personality. My husband has never been much an animal person but he absolutely loved our girls.
I'm buying a chicken tractor today, since I'm guessing whatever got it, raccoon or possum, climbed over the walls via the rafters, and I want the ladies to be able to be outside more often. I was free ranging them and bringing them in at night. I read about 5 threads on here about predator proofing chicken tractors. I don't quite understand the "apron" - is that just excess wire like a skirt on the outside of the coop? If the coop is right outside my house, and everyone in my house is night owls - can a predator really dig under the coop in a few hours? We have people staying awake until 2am, and others leaving the house at 5am for work.
I want to add the extra protection to prevent digging either way but I just need somewhere to keep my two poor girls tonight. I'm seriously either going to sleep outside with them or bring them in the house. I have two traps set up, one dog friendly leg trap and one live trap. Whoever stole my lovely Felicia, Irene and Mrs. Weasley from me is not getting away so easily.
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