Hi, and sorry we didn't post here sooner.

[50-45-1]

Take a look at this list if preditors in your area.
It shows the tracks also

https://articles.extension.org/pages/71204/predator-management-for-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks

 

[50-45-1]

Whats not getting thru your chain link fence: fox coyote dog (they could dig under it though)
What can climb over your chain link: racoon, opossum
What can go thru your chainlink: rat, weasel snake
If there is a football size hole in your barn an owl can and will get in at night.
I had a friend with a donkey and it was DEADLY on canines, even there own dog had to stay out of the pasture. Most however are useless against most of the other stuff on the list and wont see it as a threat.
Chicken wire is made to keep chickens in, not preditors out.
Hardware cloth is the very best barrier for chicken keeping.
My best guardian dog was an australien shepherd.

 

[CLovesDucks]

The laying hens stay in the barn, the breeding hens stay in the tractors, surprisingly the tractors are never attacked, just the main area/barn.
View attachment 1748430 View attachment 1748431 View attachment 1748433 View attachment 1748434 View attachment 1748435
View attachment 1748435

Those don’t *appear* to be raccoon prints, like I had suspected, but it’s hard to tell for sure! How did your babies fare last night?

 

[Little Farm Girl]

Whats not getting thru your chain link fence: fox coyote dog (they could dig under it though)
What can climb over your chain link: racoon, opossum
What can go thru your chainlink: rat, weasel snake
If there is a football size hole in your barn an owl can and will get in at night.
I had a friend with a donkey and it was DEADLY on canines, even there own dog had to stay out of the pasture. Most however are useless against most of the other stuff on the list and wont see it as a threat.
Chicken wire is made to keep chickens in, not preditors out.
Hardware cloth is the very best barrier for chicken keeping.
My best guardian dog was an australien shepherd.

My daughter really wants an Aussie, or collie, or something along those line, but everyone says they'll heard the chickens to death, and not "protect" them...what do you think? Did you get yours as a pup? Did you have a perimeter fence, we don't, and are worried that a dog might wander...

 

[7acres]

My daughter really wants an Aussie, or collie, or something along those line, but everyone says they'll heard the chickens to death, and not "protect" them...what do you think? Did you get yours as a pup? Did you have a perimeter fence, we don't, and are worried that a dog might wander...

I have an Australian Shepherd. Have had them for over 30 years. Have had many kinds over my lifetime but will stick with them. If you get one get one that you can see and observe the parents and observe them if possible. They are high energy. Great kid dogs Loyal and possessive. I have 7 acres. All three were trained to observe my property lines and not cross. They will stop and wait for me if I do. They all were waiting at home when I leave. They are good protection. Mine only barked if they saw something. I only got weaned pups as I wanted to teach behavior not unteach. My chickens do not free range as they would be somethings dinner within a couple of days. Not every dogs personality is the same. They will give you what you expect. They can be strong willed but will respond to you if you demand it. I would think a pup would’ve more adaptable to fowl if raised with them and you let it know what behavior is acceptable. My dog is free during the day but confined to the pen surrounding the coop at night so predators know that is not a good place. I am not a trainer but have been able to get the results I expected from them. Others might have different opinions and experiences and be willing to share before you make a decision. I don’t have a fence around my property and it fronts a busy highway.

 

[Little Farm Girl]

Awesome, thank you!

 

[archeryrob]

2" wide? with no claws that is a Bobcat and with claws a coyote. Neither are going through that fence, both can dig under it and a bobcat will climb over it.

You can get 2x4 with in 2' heights and run it on the ground around your base (apron) and hog ring it tot he bottom of the fence. Put dirt on it to help it sink into the ground and they will give up digging.

If you got a bobcat you might need to worry about top of the fence also.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Coyotes have also been known to climb chain link fences. If it were me looking for advice I would post photos of the area you're keeping the birds in to give us a better picture of what is actually happening. You haven't really given people much to work with in the way of information.

I grew up in East Texas on 113 acres and there are a variety of predators that could be preying on your flock; coyotes, foxes, bobcats, wild dogs, snakes, rats, hawks, owls, raccoons, and even wild hogs can all prey on them.

You need to look at keeping the birds safe at night. Fifteen years ago when I lived in Palestine and worked for a hobby farm between myself and them I looked after nearly 2000 birds. All the fencing was five foot welded wire held by t-posts. Breeding pens were placed strategically so that fencing was shared between pens. Houses were built like the one seen here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nearly-done.1292803/

I modified it slightly, but the point is that the birds were locked up in those houses over night and let out in the morning to be in their runs during the day. In the evening various breed pens were turned out to enjoy free-ranging for a couple of hours before bed.

I had three dogs at my home growing up but still occasionally lost birds. My father didn't support my hobby enough to ensure that the birds had the best housing/caging. At least losses were small though. The hobby farm didn't have a dog roaming the property and their losses were practically non existent. There were occasional problems with snakes eating eggs. And a large boar raccoon once killed multiple turkey poults before we determined where he was living and eliminated him.

But my point is you need to streamline everything. Don't have pens scattered about and avoid placing them under fruiting trees such as persimmons, which raccoons and coyotes both enjoy. Build them all in a row, or two rows back to back to utilize the same wire and build the pens less expensively. I will see if I can find some more photos of the older set-ups to give you a better idea of what can be done.

Ultimately providing housing for the birds that they can sleep safely in overnight, like the one linked above is going to be one of the best things you can do. If you can't provide a safe home for the remaining birds you have you'll find yourself out of the chicken business altogether.

 

[Little Farm Girl]

We found an Anatolian/Pyrenees/border collie mix puppy at 9 weeks old for sale, what do y'all think about that mix?