How protective are you?

[DianeB]

I live in a housing track. There is no coyotes, racoons, squirrels etc., but we a very, very nasty cat that lives next door. I am pretty sure that she gave my Ethel a really big bruise on her backside. Also, he comes after me quite often.

For a few days, we tried to keep them outside at night in the patio. That cat kept me up all night banging on their door. Now, we put them inside in a really large dog crate. I know that sounds crazy. They are truly pets and I want to keep them safe.

 

[Namble]

I shot A dog in the butt once with a cb (half size of a .22 shell). It was after my chickens! It hasn't been back since!

 

[threehorses]

I wonder if using fox urine products would work against cats?

 

[Silkiefan]

I am one of those weird folks that have pet chickens living indoors. I live in town, so I can only keep a couple at a time. Having pet chickens versus farm chickens tips the "spoil-o-meter"! My girls have free access to the yard, and really appreciate not having to deal with 100 degree weather. They come in at night to sleep in cupboard type shelves in the basement. They get air conditioning, and have two big dogs as bodyguards in case the neighbor's cats look interested.

 

[blaundee]

Starters- I live on a ranch, in the woods. My hubby saw a bear crossing the highway, headed towards our house, so he hurried to get me so I could see it. As soon as he got there, my mother in law was there too, and the bear ran right behind our house.. my first thought was "Oh, cool" and then I thought- "ACK!!! MY CHICKENS!!!!!"

Not too many years ago a bear ate all of my moms chickens, they eat them whole, don't bother to chew!

So I grabbed my trashcan in the kitchen and ran barefoot out to my chicken pen (Mother in law was screaming at me to forget about the chickens and get back in the house lol). I grabbed all of my chickies and threw them all into the trashcan and ran back into the house. LOL They spent the night and next day in the bathroom, in the bathtub with the shower curtain drawn so they couldn't mess the bathroom.

We chased the bear off the property that day, and I waited until I was sure it was gone to return my chickens to their pen. MIL thought I was crazy, but I didn't care!!!

I laugh looking back, but I was so worried the bear would eat my chickens!!!

 

[blaundee]

For those who are thinking about getting a gun, I must say something- BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET BEFORE YOU SHOOT!!!!

Also, something to think about- A shot gun's load will not go very far, and is therefore safer for your neighbors. If you miss what you are shooting at with a .22 or other regular bullet, the bullet will continue to travel for a mile or more until it hits something. This is why it is a felony to shoot into the air- too many people get killed this way each year, hit by stray bullets.

Also, with a shotgun, there is a mistaken belief that you just point and shoot and will hit it no matter what- you still have to AIM. If you do not aim and are not within range, you won't do anything but make a big noise- which is effective at deterring predators of the animal or human kind.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE A GUN, PLEASE DO EVEYONE A FAVOR AND BE SMART ABOUT IT. GET EDUCATED ABOUT IT, AND DO NOT USE MORE POWER THAN YOU NEED. USING GUNS IMPROPERLY GIVES FUEL TO THE ANTI-GUN MOVEMENT.

A 20 GAUGE SHOTGUN WILL KILL COYOTES, FOXES, BURGLARS, AND SNAKES. PLUS IT WON'T KICK LIKE A 18 GAUGE. It'll still blow your ears out and wake the neighbors, though!!! LOL

 

[blaundee]

My grandpa had over 150 chickens free range. A bobcat started coming and ate most of them before he was finally shot. He would knock them out of the tree they were roosting in and eat them on the ground, the only noise you'd hear is a litle confused chirping by the bird, then it was all over. He'd eat 5 or more a night. Dad would try to get him, but to no avail. He finally found his path, and sat on a chair on the path for 3 nights before finally shooting the rascal. There were only about 20 chickens left by then!!!

We've also had to deal with hawks and owls getting chickens. When I was a kid, a hen started screaming so Dad ran through the house in his undies with a shotgun, opened the front door and the hen came running in, with the owl right behind her!!! WOW!!! lol

One morning I woke up to the sound of one of my hens screaming, so I ran out the door unarmed and saw her trying to dig herself under the edge of hubby's work shed, with a hawn pulling feathers out of her! I yelled and ran at them, the hawk flew away, and I grabbed the hen (who wasn't supposed to be out, brat!)- she was scared to death but unhurt besides a couple of slight scratches.

Now my mother in law's blue heeler is scheming on my chicken pen- not cool. I don't know what to do about that...

 

[rileysgranny]

Electric fence.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
I completely agree with all of this. Also I've found something long-barreled (a rifle, a shotgun) aims a little more true than a hand-held pistol. They also have less kick (relatively) to the strength of the ammo. (For example, a .22LR rifle will kick less than a .22 pistol).

Also please take a class if you're new to it. They'll teach you how to hold the gun right when you're walking (for example - with your finger away from the trigger), the basic safety rules, and get someone to teach you how to clean the gun and take it apart and put it together. There's NOTHING more annoying than having your chicken-killing enemy in your sites and having your rifle jam and watching them scurry away!

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
Make that "a lot". There is a reason snipers don't use pistols.