AllisonM
Chirping
- Aug 26, 2016
- 12
- 10
- 59
We have a Buff Orpington hen, around 18 months old, who starts squawking around 6:30 in the morning and continues on/off for a handful of hours. Just two hens total at this point, we had 3 but one died about 5 weeks ago. I know what egg song sounds like and she's not doing that, just squawwk squawk squawk squawk squawk squawk squawk squawk squawk squawk, squawwwwkkk squawk squawk squawk squawk squawk squawk, and on and on. We have an automatic door that opens at sunrise that lets them from the run into a larger fenced section of the yard.
We're pretty sure a possum has been visiting the coop at night for the past couple nights, but no clue how it would be getting inside. We saw droppings that look like dog poo, but smaller, around 3" long and maybe 1/2" diameter. I also found two crushed/emptied egg shells yesterday morning. The coop and run are very secure, so we're pretty confused about how something as big as a possum could be getting inside. We considered that it could be a rat, but the droppings seem bigger than the description we found online. Anything else it could be? We're in suburban Bay Area of California -- the main wildlife critters are possums, mice/rats, occasional raccoons, hawks, etc.
Her squawking didn't just start, but it's definitely much worse in the past couple days, since the time we think the possum has started coming around. She's always been a noisy hen, aside from the blissful peaceful times when she's broody. We're in a neighborhood, so squawking at 6:30 in the morning is really not acceptable. We can't add a rooster due to restrictions.
Any recommendations are appreciated. We're rather desperate.
We're pretty sure a possum has been visiting the coop at night for the past couple nights, but no clue how it would be getting inside. We saw droppings that look like dog poo, but smaller, around 3" long and maybe 1/2" diameter. I also found two crushed/emptied egg shells yesterday morning. The coop and run are very secure, so we're pretty confused about how something as big as a possum could be getting inside. We considered that it could be a rat, but the droppings seem bigger than the description we found online. Anything else it could be? We're in suburban Bay Area of California -- the main wildlife critters are possums, mice/rats, occasional raccoons, hawks, etc.
Her squawking didn't just start, but it's definitely much worse in the past couple days, since the time we think the possum has started coming around. She's always been a noisy hen, aside from the blissful peaceful times when she's broody. We're in a neighborhood, so squawking at 6:30 in the morning is really not acceptable. We can't add a rooster due to restrictions.
Any recommendations are appreciated. We're rather desperate.