Help! 16 chickens killed within a week

[hayley3]

I would say the turkeys are not safe.

 

[aart]

I never would have believed it could climb up that way. I got out soon enough to save my chicken and lock them up but I still have my turkeys out. Think they are big enough to be safe?

Oh, yeah, they can climb like squirrels.
Any roosting(at night in the dark) bird is at risk.
The turkeys size will make it harder but they could try.

 

[Folly's place]

Only hardware cloth will keep weasels and rats at bay!!!
I hope your birds survived the night.
Mary

 

[Alexander2000]

Got it buttoned up pretty tight yesterday. Nothing bigger than 1/2”. But I can still tell something was digging around by the gate. Thanks for all the advice. Hopefully I’ve got them sealed up at this point.

Put your chickens in lock down.

 

[Howard E]

OP, if you would, please post a photograph of the run you constructed that you thought was safe, but clearly wasn't. A lot of folks may see this and realize they did something similar and thus need to get ahead of the curve and make changes.

Chicken wire alone, isn't going to stop many predators. They are strong enough and determined enough to rip it apart. Hard to believe, but true. Chicken wire is strong enough to keep chickens in (thus it's name), but is not adequate to repel predators.

Welded wire as large as 2" x 4" leaves holes and gaps that many predators can slip through as easy as the wind.

So the best wire is at the most, 1" wide, and 1/2" is better. So that leaves 1" x 2" welded wire (usually 14 gauge and very strong), but even with that, some predators and rodents like rats and weasels can slip through 1" wire.

So that leaves something smaller......in the 1/2" range. Hardware cloth is 1/2" square, but is generally made up of 19 gauge wire. Fairly light, but strong enough to keep most predators out. Another alternative in this range, and what I use, is 1/2" x 1" 16 gauge welded wire, sold as cage wire in some stores. It is the strongest option available and will repel everything short of a bear, yet with only 1/2" opening will filter out the little pukes too.