Daytime predators?

[raro]

I've heard a lot about nighttime preditors, but that's not an issue for my hens. I am wondering what kinds of daytime preditors would I have to watch out for? I've seen what look like hawks or even eagles up in the sky on occasion, and I saw a couple of raccoons a while back crossing my yard. I did find a 6-foot black racer snake in my garden. I live in the suburbs of northern Virginia area, and although there is a "common" area in my neighborhood, it's more of a park than a woods. But the other predators I'm reading about (coyotes, bobcats) I don't have to deal with, and others like raccoons tend to only come out at night...right?! I'm just wondering how secure hardware cloth is against whatever is out there.

 

[SparksNV]

neighborhood dogs & cats & kids

I am dealing with a neighbor's cat right now - thinking about coyote urine but waiting on feedback from others if it will bother the gals...

carol

 

[theFox]

Also any normally night time predator that is hungry, has hungry young, or is sick.

 

[raro]

Well, as to the neighbor kids, cats, and dogs, I have a 6-foot high fence around my back yard, and my chickens only range in the run area. Nobody, furry or skin, comes into the backyard, because it's so small and boring, I guess. I wouldn't have thought of the hawks except that I read about attacks here, and I'd be willing to bet they would love a chicken buffet.

I have a very ridiculous set-up that I'm going to take pictures of at some point. My chickens are under the deck, which is surrounded on all sides by lattice. I also made what my kids call "the Cube" out of PVC pipe and hardware cloth, and attached it to the lattice and punched a hole so they could go from the under-porch area to the Cube. I had originally made an A-frame out of PVC pipe, but I thought it was too small. So my kids suggested that instead of wasting it, I could add it to the Cube. So basically, my chickens have a habittrail. Fortunately, it's out of sight of the neighbors. But determined raccoons could get in, I think?

 

[gaillardia]

I have just lost 3 of my lovely birds, in the middle of the day, to a coyote. I was free ranging, but after the second loss, I built a run and only let them out when I am home. I lost my favorite girl today when I was just 20 feet away. I thought they only hunted at night.

 

[theFox]

A six foot high fence is not a barrier to several predators, for example a raccoon can and will climb such a fence as will many others.

There have been cases of canine and feline family members leaping over such a fence.

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

Hardware cloth, when installed properly, is an excellent deterrent to both daytime & nighttime predators. Haven't lost a single bird since I switched EVERYTHING to hardware cloth

 

[21chicks]

I live in Maryland and we've had a couple dozen chickens go missing (and their eggs) over the past year. It always happens during the afternoon. We've also had several fox sightings- all during the day. A neighbor/ farmer seems to think that the foxes have adapted to day-time hunting and hiding techniques. I wouoldn't rule out coyotes either.

 

[raro]

Coyotes?! In Virginia?! I always thought they were western creatures. But thanks, guys, this gives me more knowledge to work with.

 

[Stevo]

Coyotes and fox will take your birds during the day. Also Hawks. Coons and Skunk are your nite time prowlers. Predators are and always be our arch enemy. We just need to accept that we will loose some birds if we freerange.

Now I have found that if you do a limited freerange as to unlimited the toll goes up. Chickens that are allowed to run at will all day everyday tend to be more predator wary then the casual yard roamer. They fly better and keep a keener eye out for them.