Fox Troubles

[Howard E]

Agreed on the run, which is why I stress the "yard" concept. An area large enough to give the birds room to roam, good forage and cover options, but one with a perimeter established by that fence. Without that, predators can come and go as they please and would always be a concern. With it, not so much.

And as for predator control, I don't have any use for a dead one, so I'm in the live and let live mode. As long as I can keep them at arm's length, and they do no harm, I don't have to bother with them. I would, it's just that so far, I've never had to.

BTW, although it's difficult to make out, in my avatar, that is a farmer in bib overalls with a double barrelled shotgun trained on a fox stealing chickens. Farmer is suggesting to the fox he put em back. As for me, that ain't far off.

 

[Howard E]

One more thing, one of the rules of thumb as far as chicken math is concerned, is the amount of room or land it takes to support a chicken. The factor is one acre will support about 50 chickens or roughly 875 square feet per bird. More than that and the birds will wear it down.....eventually overwhelming the vegetation, leading to tearing stuff up and fouling the land. So when deciding how much of a "yard" to establish, that is a good number to work with. In my case, that translates to about 1/2 acre, which is what I have now.

I can improve on that by rotating that 1/2 acre around let the old area recover, which is why I'm opening up a new area.

The point being, when being yarded, they get all the benefits of a free ranged flock, but get to do so behind the security and safety of an electric fence.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Agreed on the run, which is why I stress the "yard" concept. An area large enough to give the birds room to roam, good forage and cover options, but one with a perimeter established by that fence. Without that, predators can come and go as they please and would always be a concern. With it, not so much.

And as for predator control, I don't have any use for a dead one, so I'm in the live and let live mode. As long as I can keep them at arm's length, and they do no harm, I don't have to bother with them. I would, it's just that so far, I've never had to.

BTW, although it's difficult to make out, in my avatar, that is a farmer in bib overalls with a double barrelled shotgun trained on a fox stealing chickens. Farmer is suggesting to the fox he put em back. As for me, that ain't far off.

Not everyone has the space for a big fenced in area though. However they might be able to let them out in the actual yard which is far better than a small run depending on the number of birds.
It only takes a few days of rainy weather for a run to be completely messed up.
Animals on the outside of a fence harassing birds isn’t ideal either. I’m in the camp that if you even seem interested in my chickens I’m taking your fur.

 

[Howard E]

Agreed on all that. Technically, birds let loose inside a yard area surrounded by a fence are not free ranging. They are being yarded, same as mine. I would not keep chickens if they had to be confined to a house and/or run. I wouldn't do it to them.

The difference is the fence. I have a chain link fence backyard. Standard chain link fence. I've seen coons, possums, skunks, dogs and cats go under it so fast they hardly slow down. Only takes a dip of a few inches. Varmints encounter these physical fences all the time and they are no impediment to navigation. Even worse is a woven wire livestock fence. If it's just a physical fence, varmints will go under, over or through them. They will find a way in.

But an electric fence is a different story. That thing bites back. Not a physical barrier at all, but a mental one. That is the great equalizer. That changes everything.

 

[cmom]

I have nice large pens for my birds with electric around my pens and coops. I have heard critters test my wire and I can tell. They know the birds are there but won't get too close. Coyotes.

This is an older picture and since it was taken we added another coop. I use the poly rope wire. It works well. When I have accidentally touched it and it has made my heart skip several beats.

 

[cmom]

I haven't lost a bird to a predator in a few years. I have several game cameras on my property and most nights I see a predator on at least one of them.

 

[Ms. O...aka Jean]

I don't have problems with the furry kind of course that will most likely happen one of these days. Right now I am being hassled by a hawk! He comes every other day or so. I have been home and have chased him away so far. I live in a town so can't shoot him
(probably couldn't do it anyway)...Any one have any suggestions?

 

[Folly's place]

For raptors, keep your birds in their safe coop and covered run for ten days, or more, until that particular bird gives up and leaves.
In the USA, it's a federal crime to kill, injure, or harass any raptor. It's best to protect your chickens when one turns up, and outwait it.
Mary

 

[cmom]

For raptors, keep your birds in their safe coop and covered run for ten days, or more, until that particular bird gives up and leaves.
In the USA, it's a federal crime to kill, injure, or harass any raptor. It's best to protect your chickens when one turns up, and outwait it.
Mary

True...

 

[cmom]

I encourage the crows here to hang around. When they see a hawk they usually chase it off.