Hello all, I'm back into raising poultry!

[JMarch]

Had to take a break for a couple of years- we'd had so many predator problems- foxes, raccoons, possums, snakes, bobcats, and hawks- it got too discouraging, so I gave away all my birds.

Now our pen is refortified! Chainlink fencing all the way around and freshly lined on the inside and on top with chicken wire and a cinder block perimeter on the inside to deter any "digging predators". Last time we didn't have the chicken wire next to the chainlink and the raccoons were reaching in at night and pulling chicken and guinea heads off- not sure why they left their roost at night...Now, even the squirrels can't figure out how to get in and eat the chicken feed!

We now have 15 red sex link pullets (thinking probably Golden Comets because they look like they have more white than the Red Star and the Cinnamon Queens) and 11 Production Reds (straight run- looking like I'm gonna have 4 roos). They're about a month old now.

Would LOVE to get about a half dozen Black Minorca pullets and cross them next year with the Production Red roos! I've always loved the Minorcas!

We also have 6 Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys (still too young to put outside). They're 2 weeks old- won't put them out till at least 6-8 weeks.

Good to be back, friends. Wish us luck.

 

[BlessedCountry6]

Good luck! Will you be posting pics of your refortified fortress? Welcome back and I hope this time things go much better! I can imagine being discouraged after encountering so many predators! It sounds like your Fort of Poultry will be safe and squirrel-less. lol

 

[drumstick diva]

The cinder block may not deter diggers, some people lay a skirt of poultry fencing under the perimeter of the run and facing out about 18" and covering it with stones to keep it down or allowing grass to grow through it.

The best wire to reinforce runs/coops etc. is 1/2" hardware cloth. Raccoons cannot tear or bite through it.

If anything dares to poke through your run - run some electric fence strands at 3 different heights around the outside of the coop.

If your coop isn't very far from your house you could set up floodlights that you could turn on from the comfort of your home. Another good thing to have is a baby monitor in the coop and the other end at your house - if you hear a racket there, you know something is worrying your birds.

Wishing you success this time around. I can imagine how heartsick you were to lose so many. Short of a force field I cannot think of anything else.

 

[gander007]

Alright welcome back to BYC and the poultry way of life

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Yes, predators are very persistent. So you need to build everything like fort knox. You might want to post some pics of your set up in the Coop Construction section or even our Predators and Pest section for help with your build. You will be devastated it this happens again...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/9/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/13/predators-and-pests

Good luck with your build and keep your babies safe!

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your new flock! Not sure if you have seen your state thread, but you might want to post there if anyone knows of Minorca pullets available https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/160883/louisiana-la-yers-peeps

 

[JMarch]

thanks all- we buried the chicken wire down a good bit under the chainlink- really considering a hotwire, too! I like the idea of a baby monitor!