Chicken theft?

[leighks]

Do you people- proof your coop overnight with a padlock?

During this covid 19 outbreak I have heard that people are stealing hens because there are egg shortages. I think it’s unlikely, but since my chickens are beloved family pets I have since installed a padlock and lock them up nightly. I always had predator locks on there but that wouldn’t stop a person from getting in. Just wondering what other people do.

 

[igorsMistress]

I've always had a padlock out there but I only recently started using it.

 

[HollyWoozle]

We are in the UK and do not padlock the coop, although there have been some chicken thefts reported recently and the British Hen Welfare Trust emailed members to advise that they may wish to up their security.

Our coop and run is situation down a driveway between my parents' house and my uncle's house (and with other neighbours nearby) so we feel fairly secure. Having said that, I do not think it unwise for people to take extra precautions at the moment if their chickens are easier to get to.

 

[featherhead007]

Yes I lock mine up every night. My chickens are priceless to me.

 

[lady dimitrescu]

my neighbor stole 2 of my hens and had the audacity to put them in their backyard lol

 

[leighks]

my neighbor stole 2 of my hens and had the audacity to put them in their backyard lol

That’s awful! Did you confront them? Maybe you can take them back!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Certainly no harm in locking them up. My coop door has a locking latch and I could padlock my run as well, but since I live on a private driveway with water on 3 sides, and 3 dogs that love to bark at every gust of wind, I'm pretty confident that we'd know about an intruder if someone did try something.

 

[alwaystj9]

I found a drunk guy chasing my chickens around the yard one afternoon. Don't know why. Called the cops. Usually my chained gate keeps weird folks out.

 

[lady dimitrescu]

That’s awful! Did you confront them? Maybe you can take them back!

it was a year and a half ago. I originally had 4 Australorps and 4 RIRs. THEN magically two disappeared, no feathers, no remnants, nothing.
A couple days later after my chickens were chicken-napped I spotted two peculiarly similar hens in his backyard. Maybe my neighbor coincidentally decided to get two chickens the exact breeds as mine? I dunno. I never confronted him about it, I wish I did. As soon as those hens appeared, they were gone. In conclusion, maybe he got two hens the same time mine went missing, or maybe he stole them.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have locks on my coops and a bright motion activated light that not only shines in my window but wakes the birds.

Why is waking them a good thing?
Because they set to complaining loudly which is guaranteed to wake me and bring me outside.

Last night I was "paged" to the coop at midnight. It was a cat lurking around.
I have been paged for coons and fox too so I don't mind.