How to deter foxes, chickens, cyotes, etc

[Ldensmore]

Hi. I have 6 ISA brown chickens. I have a large 40 foot run in my backyard for them. I was sitting on my couch tonight and there was a fox that crossed from my yard to the cornfield across the road. I haven't been closing the coop door at night, but I just went out and did that. Also, a couple of nights ago a raccoon was in my pole barn that is close to the coop. I need to know how to keep them away. Are there any sprays or machines that actually work to keep them away?

 

[GitaBooks]

There are a variety of methods that may or may not work. Locking them up each night and having a secure run are great ways to prevent your birds being taken. Here are some of the methods for deterring predators:

Electrical wiring (poultry netting or just a strand of electrical wiring)
Special flashing lights and sounds to scare them away
Supposedly the strong scent of a large predator like a bear or mountain lion (not sure if this works or not)
Dogs (we have six)

I hope this helps. Best of luck!

 

[copper2]

I have a raccoon problem too, it killed a bunch of my birds. There very smart once you block one area they look for another and will keep trying to get in.I suggest live traps, hope this helps!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

They're always going to be around. If you trap an relocate more move in. The only deterrent would be a dog. I'm not a barking all night kind of person so rely on a coop that is shut every night. I've a moderately secure grow out run and waiting on electric poultry netting with hotgate now that they're older for day protection.

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

When it comes to predators the two that I've seen cause the most trouble are also the two that are the most persistent, foxes and Raccoons. The only good thing about a fox is that they will at least eat what they kill, coons seem to be butchers, killing every chook they can get their hands on and leaving them.

The methods I consider the best are
1). Electric wires, place on near ground level and one at the top of the run. Even better two wires about 6" apart at the bottom and the same at the top.

2). Double fencing, 12 gauge 2 x 4 wire and heavy gauge 1/2"hardwarecloth. Even better would be 1/2" rabbit cage wire but that is costly

3). I have also used Wolf Urine but it takes a lot of it since you need it all the way around the run and have to reapply after a rain. Put it on the posts, that is where a wolf would mark territory.

4). Dogs work very well, ours have convinced most of the coons not to come onto our land even
though they are in a fenced in yard. I take the male out every few days for a walk, he marks the run since it is his territory and this seems to be more effective than wolf urine.

5). Traps are ok but you then have to relocate the critter far from your place, coons can carry some diseases and that can be troublesome if you should get bitten.

If the measures I've listed don't work then it is time to dispatch the critter, I use a scoped Ruger 10-22. This method is final and by the way, raccoon BBQ is very good tasting.

When we bought Buzzard's Roost we had a fox that came around every day, once our dogs marked over his markings, he has not been back.

 

[ConPollos]

When it comes to predators the two that I've seen cause the most trouble are also the two that are the most persistent, foxes and Raccoons.  The only good thing about a fox is that they will at least eat what they kill, coons seem to be butchers, killing every chook they can get their hands on and leaving them.

The methods I consider the best are 1). Electric wires, place on near ground level and one at the top of the run.
                                                                Even better two wires about 6" apart at the bottom and the same at the top.

                                                           2). Double fencing, 12 gauge 2 x 4 wire and heavy gauge 1/2" hardware cloth
                                                                Even better would be 1/2" rabbit cage wire but that is costly.

                                                           3). I have also used Wolf Urine but it takes a lot of it since you need it all the
                                                                 way around the run and have to reapply after a rain. Put it on the posts, that is where a wolf
                                                                 would mark territory.

                                                           4). Dogs work very well, ours have convinced most of the coons not to come onto our land even
                                                                  though they are in a fenced in yard. I take the male out every few days for a walk,
                                                                  he marks the run since it is his territory and this seems to be more effective than wolf urine.

                                                           5). Traps are ok but you then have to relocate the critter far from your place, coons can carry
                                                                   some diseases and that can be troublesome if you should get bitten.

If the measures I've listed don't work then it is time to dispatch the critter, I use a scoped Ruger 10-22. This method is final and by the way, raccoon BBQ is very good tasting.

When we bought Buzzard's Roost we had a fox that came around every day, once our dogs marked over his markings, he has not been back.

That's a great list! All I can add is if you're a guy mark your territory by peeing on everything around your coop. If you're a gal, save those Big Gulp cups from your gas station sodas, pee in those, slosh it everywhere a dog would mark. I don't know if the female pee is as effective, but hopefully the coyotes think, "That lady is nuts! Stear clear!"

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

That does work too. We have a pack of coyotes in our area but so far they have not ventured onto Buzzard's Roost. If they should, and I'm sure they most likely will one evening, I will be dispatching them immediately. The pack sounds off every evening about dusk, then they go on the hunt. So far they seem to be staying to the cattle ranch that is to the north of our place. But when we have our place fully functioning with the goats, pig(s), rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese and guineas, I'm sure they will follow the scents to see what might be easy pickings. Their biggest problem will be me and my sniper rifle.