Had a predator attack and need some advice

[Az OEGB]

Automatic chicken doors do work and if you can’t totally free range which you probably can’t

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Maybe free ranging isn't the best option. Many people enclose their chickens in a secure coop at night, allowing about 4 sq ft per bird of floor space. They also build a predator-proof run for the birds to be in during the day, allowing a minimum of 10 sq ft of space for each bird. The run should include things to keep the birds active and busy, such as perches, stumps, ladders supported on low supports, chairs, pallets leaning against each other in an A-frame configuration, etc. These provide enrichment for the birds while keeping them safe.

The sides of the enclosure should be high enough to keep the chickens in and stout enough to keep predators out. I believe welded wire with 2x2" openings is generally considered adequate, provided it is reinforced along the lower 2' with hardware cloth. There should also be an "apron" around the perimeter consisting of additional hardware cloth or chicken wire laid flat on the ground outside the run and buried just under the ground, to prevent digging.

If hawks are a problem in your area, you might also want to consider bird netting over the top of the run.

@DobieLover might have some corrections to my suggestions or better advice.

Typos edited.

 

[Wesofox]

If you trap or kill a predator, there is space for a another predator to come along. Rule of thumb: always keep you’re chickens locked up in a coop safely from sunset till after sunrise.
An automatic pop door is a great help to do so.
If you have a high risk of predators during the day: make a run with hwc or strong netting on top. Free range only if there are people around. And make lots of hiding places in the garden.

The breed to choose is another thing. What kind of chickens do you have now? I would not recommend a mixed flock with game birds.

We had a California white, Orpington, silver laced black Wyandotte and cinnamon Creme. Our Orpington is the only one that survived.

 

[BDutch]

We had a California white, Orpington, silver laced black Wyandotte and cinnamon Creme. Our Orpington is the only one that survived.

I doubt if your Orpington and a game type of hen can live in harmony. A rooster is even more complicated. Only an older and friendly rooster is a possibility with one hen. Most (young) roosters need more hens not to overmate. It helps if you choose a rooster that is about the same size as you’re hen. I know Orpington roosters have a friendly character, so maybe this works good with only one hen.
Orpington’s do go broody and the roosters are great daddy’s in general. It would be better to have more hens with one rooster. But adding 3 new chickens to a solitary chicken at once is not a good idea.
The advantages of having one breed (only Orpies) is that their characters match and if you have many chicks you can sell them as Orpingtons. A heritage breed has more value as mixes.

If I was in your shoes I would :

1. Fix a safe run / auto pop door.
2. Try to find 1 ladyfriend, or a Orpington/friendly rooster for your solitary chicken.

If you find a hen now, that’s great . Add 2 more in spring.
If you find a friendly rooster wait for spring. Collect eggs to hatch (cool room temp/max 2 weeks) . Mark them with pencil. Lay 4-5 fake eggs in the nest. And give 7-8 eggs at once if your Orpy is a steady broody and stopped laying. Keep in mind that not all eggs will hatch and if you are normally lucky you get 3 pullets and 3 cockerels.

These instruction are in Dutch for a predator proof run against marters, weasels, dogs, foxes and such.
- at least 1.8 meter /180 cm high
- bended 30 degrees at the top or make electric wire at the outside at 20 cm and 110 cm.
- tiles of 40 cm around or wire 50 cm deep.
- hwc 15 mm or ½ “
- strong netting on top.
+
- raccoons need a lock on the doors , choose
- if the run is not a fort Knox, or if you free range, close coop at night (automatic)

I have a small roofed run within the coop area. The larger netted run is not fully predator proof. Therefore I made a automatic pop door between the coop and the larger run with some bushes in it. They love to sit under the Portuguese Laurel that has big green leaves all year.

I only let my bantam chickens free range when someone is at home/around. In 8 years 2 chickens disappeared and 1 was killed by a fox who broke into the run, probably around sunrise. This chicken went through the pop door into the run. I was disturbed by the noise. The other chickens were still safe in the coop. The fox panicked because (s)he couldn’t get out again. Never seen him/her again.
Over these years I always had 4-9 chickens (and sometimes a few chicks).

 

[Az OEGB]

What you could do if you don’t want Game fowl
#1 get some red jungle fowl these birds are not aggressive

#2make sure when you get them if you get adults :get the best flyers , also make sure your birds are athletic

#3Then in the spring breed your best hens that carry out these traits the best to your best rooster all you have to do is let the hens sit and lock your hens up so they don’t move and change nest

#4Then pick your best chicks that carry out these traits breed them and do it again tell the look and act like a true red jungle fowl

 

[Wesofox]

Shoot ok we ordered chickens before I saw the comments. My boyfriend did - but now we have the following coming home shit shit - Orpington, white leghorn, Wyandotte, Rhode Island something (again boyfriend ordered). I’ll follow the advice above but can we have another too? A lady on a fab group asked if we could take her americauana. Don’t think we have space in the coop- 5 suites w a perch on top - lower food & water. Getting a chicken run this weekend.

 

[BDutch]

@Wesofox
It all depends on what you find important in keeping chickens. Some like chickens that behave like feral poultry. Other byc keepers like max eggs, and cull the chickens every 3-4 year for soup.
And some go for the friendly and more cuddly breeds , who are (almost ) like pets to them.

If you have a mixed flock its always a bit more complicated than just one breed. But for you with these new chckens coming, it is okay that you bought a solid fun.

Did you order adult chickens (point of lay) or chicks? Bc you cant mix chicks with adults. You need to separate until the chicks are old enough to flee from the adults. And make hiding places where the adults can’t come, where the young ones can eat and sleep in peace.

Do you have a pic from you’re setup snd what you are buying/ordered?

Edited typo

 

[Wesofox]

We treat them as pets and for eggs. We do not want to breed - no roosters. I’ll post pics tomorrow when I’m back by the coop. All the chickens we ordered are 3-4 mos. old. Our Lemon, lone survivor, is 8 months old.

 

[BDutch]

You probably made a good choice with these breeds for pets.
Most of them are easy to handle/ friendly as far as I know and not the feral kind that are great in fleeing. But I’m not an expert.

Your last hen probably will be bossy. But I don’t see any severe problems if the pullets you are getting are at least 3 months old. Good luck with the newbies. .

 

[GingerRose]

My peacock and Peahen do a pretty good job keeping DAY predators away.. At night, the Peacock will alert us if he notices something unusual.. ANYTHING unusual... LoL.
Sometimes its a false alarm..
About 5 weeks ago we had 2 hawks attack at the same time.. my chickens were out that day. One flew off with 2 smaller chicks and one just sat in the yard killing a juvenile silkie.. As I was walking toward it, it didnt fly off until I was to close for my own comfort... Ibthought "you really got some balls, what if I had a gun"... Of course, I would NEVER kill any type raptor. I am a licensed rehabber, not a killer... The one that flew off with both feet full, dropped the chicks about 30 yards away in the woods..
My chickens arent free range. I just let them out on occasion, while I am outside with them. We have 7 large predator proof coops and this was the first successful hawk attack in 6 years..( my fault)
At night, we see on the cameras, and hear coyotes, bob cats and 3 different Owls - Barred, Great Horned and Screech... So far, they havent been successful OR they havent tried... sobfar, we havent seen any raccoons. We see Possums all the time, late in the afternoons and all during the night. They have never bothered my chickens, but they do wander around all over the place.. barn, outside of the coops, where my feed is stored, our back and front porch, my husbands shop... those possums just ramble around..
Those 2 hawks came back every day for 2 weeks. They didnt even care that I was outside watching for them.
If they had killed for food I couldnt be as mad about this... They killed just to kill.
I knew every day I was taking a risk letting my chickens out.. I cant blame a hawk for being a hawk, but why kill for no reason?
Anyway... I just thought I would throw this in here...