I’ve had chickens for 6 yrs. Never had a predator problem before. Live on 4.5 acres and have let my girls out of their run each day around lunchtime. So from around 1-sundown they are out in our yard/woods.
My flock size has always been between 10-16 birds. Never had a loss in six years to a predator.
One year ago we got a surprise Roo in our chick order. We decided we’d keep him and see how it goes. Dude crows constantly of course.
4 wks ago we lost our first hen to a hawk. It was my smallest white leghorn. I was so sad. Kept the flock in for ten days or so and then finally let them out. Two weeks went by. Then the hawk got my other white leghorn. No more white eggs! :-(
Then last night as the flock was heading in at sundown, a stink’n racoon (we assume) mauled my only cuckoo Maran. Just took a chunk out of her neck and left her for dead. I’m so sad!!! No white eggs and my beautiful dark brown layer is now gone too! I’m down to 10 hens and my Roo.
Could all his crowing be attracting the predators? Are my girls never going to be safe around our property again? My husband does not want to build or extend our run; and I would be so sad to have to keep them all locked up from here on out.
Insights welcome :-(
My flock size has always been between 10-16 birds. Never had a loss in six years to a predator.
One year ago we got a surprise Roo in our chick order. We decided we’d keep him and see how it goes. Dude crows constantly of course.
4 wks ago we lost our first hen to a hawk. It was my smallest white leghorn. I was so sad. Kept the flock in for ten days or so and then finally let them out. Two weeks went by. Then the hawk got my other white leghorn. No more white eggs! :-(
Then last night as the flock was heading in at sundown, a stink’n racoon (we assume) mauled my only cuckoo Maran. Just took a chunk out of her neck and left her for dead. I’m so sad!!! No white eggs and my beautiful dark brown layer is now gone too! I’m down to 10 hens and my Roo.
Could all his crowing be attracting the predators? Are my girls never going to be safe around our property again? My husband does not want to build or extend our run; and I would be so sad to have to keep them all locked up from here on out.
Insights welcome :-(