Here chick chick chick...

[Dumb Kluck]

After nearly two years of planning, researching, thinking, collecting, and cobbling together a coop & run of reclaimed materials, we finally have hens! I picked up five 8-10 month old girls [2 Ameracauna (or EE?) & 3 Laced Wyandottes] and have been harvesting eggs since day one. Immediately I fell head over heels for these gals, and instead of being a chicken owner, I am owned. Besides a secure enclosure, we have strung blinking solar LED lights around the enclosure to ward of predators (hey it works to repel Lions in Africa so it should intimidate the skunk, possum, raccoon, & fox I see around here?!)! http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/kenyan-teen-invention-saves-lions-helps-farmers.html

 

[Alaskan]

Congrats! and welcome to BYC!

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

I have found that lights of any kind at night keep the predators at bay. They may still come prowling, but they don't mess with things because they are unsure of the lighting.

Great to have you aboard and enjoy your adventures!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC!

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[Duckopolis]

I hope you find everything that you need to know. Good luck with your chicken raising adventure!

 

[Chick Godmother]

I am also new to chicken raising! So HI! I have the same breeds as you (as well as Cochin).

I have not heard of this blinking light tatic... how is it working for you? Does it seem to distract your chickens or do they seem to ignore it?

 

[Dumb Kluck]

I am using solar lights on a sensor which only comes on from dusk till dawn, while the girls are locked in their coop for the night. The lights are strung low around the outside of the coop and run so it shouldn't disturb the girls beauty sleep. The birds are curious about the blinking lights on gloomy mornings when they stay on longer than normal. Using the flash setting makes the batteries last longer so even a cloudy days low charge is enough to keep the lights flashing all night. So far we have had no predators trying to break in

My thinking is that nocturnal critters have special eyes that allow them to see in the dark and are very sensitive to bright lights... the blinking LEDs would prevent them from being able to focus/adjust their eyes to the changing light patterns and possibly cause temporary strobe blindness. This should keep night critters far afield. Additionally, a small AM radio on a talk news station 24/7 repels rodents, and it might help fool the raccoon, skunk and fox into thinking there are people nearby? I haven't tried the radio method yet, figure I will add it on later if/as needed should the predators become accustomed to flashing lights.

Thinking of restringing the lights to spell "Eat at Joes"

 

[TwoCrows]

I am using solar lights on a sensor which only comes on from dusk till dawn, while the girls are locked in their coop for the night. The lights are strung low around the outside of the coop and run so it shouldn't disturb the girls beauty sleep. The birds are curious about the blinking lights on gloomy mornings when they stay on longer than normal. Using the flash setting makes the batteries last longer so even a cloudy days low charge is enough to keep the lights flashing all night. So far we have had no predators trying to break in

My thinking is that nocturnal critters have special eyes that allow them to see in the dark and are very sensitive to bright lights... the blinking LEDs would prevent them from being able to focus/adjust their eyes to the changing light patterns and possibly cause temporary strobe blindness. This should keep night critters far afield. Additionally, a small AM radio on a talk news station 24/7 repels rodents, and it might help fool the raccoon, skunk and fox into thinking there are people nearby? I haven't tried the radio method yet, figure I will add it on later if/as needed should the predators become accustomed to flashing lights.

Thinking of restringing the lights to spell "Eat at Joes"

(the Eat At Joes part)

 

[gander007]