Flock safety

[Small Farmer Jane]

I had a flock of seven last night but two of them were killed. I believe by a raccoon. Due to inclement weather, we left the coop door open so that the birds could be inside our four stall center aisle barn. They were not roosting high up. We are now debating whether we should lock them into the coop where they insist on sitting on roosts outside or let them fly into the rafters of the barn. They started to do that tonight. They are about 14 feet up. Not sure which one we should use and prepare for. Any thoughts? We do have metal mesh under the entire coop. The barn is not able to be completely secured. The stall doors are metal 16 gauge bars that allow the birds and any other small animal that can climb up there access crawl through. I doubt they can get at the top of the rafters. They are metal.

 

[Callender Girl]

I would lock them in the coop. Predators always return to the site of an easy meal. And, unfortunately, it's impossible to know for sure how agile and determined the killers are until it's too late.

I am sorry that you lost two. And I understand wanting to give your chickens shelter in the barn when the weather is awful. But, here in the windswept and too-often-frigid prairie of northern Iowa, I am AMAZED at how well my chickens function in weather that makes me cringe. If your birds CHOOSE to sit outdoors and know they can go inside the coop if they need to, I think they will make the decision when the weather is too much for them.

Best wishes for you and the survivors!

 

[Small Farmer Jane]

I would lock them in the coop. Predators always return to the site of an easy meal. And, unfortunately, it's impossible to know for sure how agile and determined the killers are until it's too late.

I am sorry that you lost two. And I understand wanting to give your chickens shelter in the barn when the weather is awful. But, here in the windswept and too-often-frigid prairie of northern Iowa, I am AMAZED at how well my chickens function in weather that makes me cringe. If your birds CHOOSE to sit outdoors and know they can go inside the coop if they need to, I think they will make the decision when the weather is too much for them.

Best wishes for you and the survivors!

Thank you. We will try to get them in there. Since the predator entered through the barn and then went into the coop that was open to the inside of the barn, they won’t go in again. I’m sure their memory will fade. I appreciate your response.

 

[centrarchid]

The raccoon may or may not be able to reach chickens roosting in rafters. It is not a defense I would count on long term. Coop also needs to be safe and not all are. I be trapping raccoons. I have gotten into habit of moving small groups of chickens away from where raccoon is causing trouble and trapping. If chicken carcass available, then use it as bait.