Daytime predator

[PoppiesChicks]

I've been reading this board and I was wondering if these were happening at night or during the day. The chickens sleep in the coop at night but they go into their covered run during the day while I'm at work. I haven't gotten my run like Fort Knox but my coop is. I just hate to come home from work and find all my ladies dead or hurt. I close the hens in at night.
Edited for spelling.

 

[sjmarshall87]

Hawks are an issue during the day... opposums & raccoons tend to be more night go-ers. I think your biggest issue during the day would be a wandering neighbor dog.. I highly recommend the "raising chickens for dummies" book as light nighttime reading.. LOTS of useful information

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Coyotes, I've had them come out and trying to kill chickens right before/after lunch, thankfully I was outside when I saw them loaping up.

~Aspen

 

[sjmarshall87]

I never even thought of coyote's during the day... But I have a dog that keeps those types away

 

[weekendskp]

My son caught a rat snake in the middle of the afternoon. Well he surprised it anyway and it scurried off with an egg. I would have been overjoyed if he had actually caught it and dispatched it.

 

[sjmarshall87]

Pulled all of the following from "raising chickens for Dummies" Hope it helps (pg 177-178)

Dog- Day or night
Oppossum- night
Raccoon- Night
Fox- Early Morning and Late evening
Coyotes- Mostly night, may hunt in daylight in COLD weather and little human activity
Hawk or owl- Hawks- Day
Owls- Mostly night but day during winter months
Minks or weasles- Day or night but shy away from human activities...

I am sure there are many other types of predators but these are the main ones the book felt needed the most attention..

Other possible predators I can think of that MAY be daylight are mice/rats/ and snakes... But all of that can be kept at bay with proper cleanup and disposal

I highly recommend the purchase of this book.. It is an excellent source of information for beginners

Hope this helps

 

[sidney]

If I found a rat snake in my yard, I would let it live. Found a nest with 2 rats under the manure collecting pan under my coop. Snakes are good in the yard and long as they're not poisonous.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

The fact that the run is covered minimizes the risk of daytime predators. 100% protection is not possible but you probably don't want to coop them up all day. Of course check your run for any holes on a regular basis.

 

[mdbokc]

Lastly, electric fence will determine everything on the ground while you are away. Not a lot of bucks but sure works.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
That happened two years ago, in the Summer right in the heat of the day.

~Aspen