How do I protect my chickens from human predators?

[MissJames]

Quote:
How about a pellet gun? Or Paintball gun so he can be identified?

 

[Padre]

I would be happy to loan you Isaac and Rebecca for a couple of days, there is just something about a Rott that makes punks like these a little nervous. File that Police report and if they say anything to you at all let them know that the local news will be by to get their statement on the matter. I also like the shotgun sugestion. some well packed rock salt would sting I would guess.

 

[morelcabin]

Do you have children of your own? This guy is definitely a predator of some sort and not to be fooled with. Showing a gun will not scare him off, people like that don't have it together enough to care. I would definitely keep a paper trail by filing a complaint with the police. Guys like that are not predictable. Perhaps if you get a chance you should talk to the kids that are hanging out with them and warn them that he is not the kind of person they want as a friend, and he is too old for them to begin with. They really need someone to protect them from him.

 

[newbie coops]

What a horrific event - and one that you need to report to the police asap. This is definitely not a situation you want to sit on or take a "wait and see" attitude - be proactive. You have every right to protect your life and property with firearms, and I wouldn't hesitate to use it if I felt either were threatened. Check your state's firearms laws, they're not all the same. First and foremost, protect your family - second, your property - and that includes your livestock. Don't let this situation go on until you lose something more valuable than a chicken - like a human life.

 

[lobb40118]

Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6

 

[peepsnbunnies]

It is VERY important that you file a Police report, even if the Police do not seem interested. I would then get a copy of that report to make sure they put down what you told them. You can also write a statement yourself, I would include names and the fact that I talked to the parents of the kids to no avail. Put the Police report case number on your statement and turn it in to the department as an attachment to the case. I would keep copies of every report filed as a paper trail. It can also be helpful to you if you have to go to another agency (prosecutors office, child protective services) for help if the police are not doing their job. Have you checked to see if this 20yr old is on probation? Call your nearest Probation/Parole office and see if he is on any kind of supervision. If he is (which is likely from the way he is described), let them know he is committing crimes and hanging around with and teaching young children how to committ crimes. This just might be enough to send him back to jail/prison.

Lisa

 

[crazy hen quartet]

I would absolutely follow the advice many people have given about cameras. I have something to add tho:

From experience, Swann makes a good small easily hidden day and night use (has night vision) video camera. It is inexpensive, hooks right up to your computer, is triggered by motion and will record (on your computer so no need for any other recording equipment and expenses) footage until the motion has stopped for a specific amount of time.

Yes, you will occasionally get video recordings of a moth that flew too close, but it would be irreplaceable and probably much more convincing to a police officer/judge/jury that this creep needs to be dealt with. A picture of a man in your yard has not nearly the effect of video footage of him entering your yard and beating a chicken while a bunch of kids watch.

http://www.pronto.com/mpm/Swann-Outdoor-Day-night-Camera-10301286384-CG

Call the police and file a report for EVERY LITTLE THING that is suspicious. If you have multiple reports on this guy they will come down a lot harder.

And i would also call CPS for the sake of the kids in the neighborhood as well as his sisters.

 

[BeckyLa]

Hey Olga!! How's things going? Did the dirty rats leave? Is everything ok at your place??

 

[mommyof4littles]

Its interesting how different each persons view on this is. I would personally keep them from coming in to begin with. I do not LIKE my neighbors dogs but they are very good at keeping people away and I do not run a risk of them injuring someone and being sued. Because of this I keep my coop 6-7 foot away from their pen. If they get really upset everyone is up within minutes and we turn our security lights on. They get loose if the person does not go away. When we build our next coop we are going to attach it to the house and have a trap door for feed, water and eggs inside our banquette but till I get that done I was very happy all summer with their behavior. We had a raccoon come visit and it got into the motorcycle part of our shed. The dogs had me up so quick I was able to get outside turn all lights on and remove the chickens from the outside pen before the raccoon figured out how to enter the coop area. I do have to use real fencing though for our run as they are hunting dogs but the two times neighborhood teens came visiting they were greeted and one time the dogs escaped their pen and went after them while they were fiddling with the lock. Turned out they were after the motorcycle the one time I caught them. Once I learned that I couldn't stop laughing. Brought them inside, called their parents and made them come pick up said 15 and 16 year old kids and did not have a problem after that. They wanted to go for a joyride lol. I did not wish to tick people off by calling the police but I also know parents around here are much more effective. But in your case you do need to call police and humane society. When I was a kid we had someone break into our garage to torture a dog they found in the middle of the night, I was only 13 so I just locked the padlock and calmly called the animal control about a rabid dog in my garage who was making all sorts of racket. He and his friend went to jail and the dog went home. Maybe next time you could lie in wait and as soon as he goes in lock it and call the cops? You would have to make sure the coop was secure enough. Our garage windows were smaller than casements and he and his friend could not escape. You could let the chicks out by a small door and then leave him in there for a few hours too before calling lol.

 

[eaganchickens]

pantball gun!