I don't get it....NOTHING attacks my chickens!

[texasgal]

You've done it now ... just as soon as you post something like that .............................

 

[CMV]

You've been extremely lucky. I didn't lose any birds for the first 1.5 years of having them. In the last 6 months though, I have lost 2 birds to predation. I knew when I got them that predation was going to be my biggest challenge raising poultry. It just took a while for that to happen. I hope for your continued good luck.

 

[CMV]

Quote:
Seriously.

 

[gwennym]

As long as you're not lulled into a false sense of security (i.e., you know that there's "bad" critter out there), and do what you can to prevent loss, you're doing pretty well. I've lost my fair share of birds, but I try my darndest to keep it from happening.

A few days ago, I went to check the water and feed inside the coop and there was a very contented opossum --- curled up in the straw, having a "sleep-over" with the hens! I must not have seen him/her snuggled in there the night before. He obviously wasn't too hungry, or I may not have had many hens left.

Gwen

 

[Peeper7]

Quote:
OMG you're right..... yikes...

My husband had a terrible stroke in July, and I have been gone much of the time so I turned them all loose so they could at least forage if I didn't make it home to properly feed and water. I'm locking them up now as I catch them --- eggs EVERYWHERE. Free range, ya right. I pulled down a bale of hay the other day and dropped a dozen eggs on my head.

 

[Attack Chicken]

With winter setting in and food becoming scarce, preds with start look at your chickens as a nice tasty meal. Be careful

 

[Amethyste]

We have had chickens here for over 5 years.

The first 3 years we had no issues from predators. None. Nada. Zilch.

No coons, no possums, no hawks....life was good. We started leaving to door open on the warm summer nights so the birds could go out and get the early morning sun.

Then one day it happened and the coons discovered that we had chicken, and chicken was good

Boo fought hard for her life and to protect her flock, and saved her sisters by giving her life for them like the head hen she was. She was my favorite, and a right tough old BR. I miss her still....

Never again will we think we are totally predator proof, or think that we have no predators around. I cant take that chance again. I lost one of the best hens I ever had, and it still racks me with guilt that we both thought it wasnt a problem, and by doing that we set her up for a gruesome death by coon.

 

[Peeper7]

well thanks for the boost...I need the affirmation to keep building the fortress. I hatched about 100 eggs this year and never imagined they would all survive peep-hood and predators too!

 

[The Chicken People]

For you to keep them all safe forever!

 

[ernancy]

We were lucky for 8 years also. Nothing got to our chickens until 2 weeks ago. On Thanksgiving morning my daughter went out to let them out of the coop, (they free range all day) and one of them was torn to shreds. The only thing I could think of was a racoon. We could not figure out how it got in. Then 4 days later, the same thing. We boarded up everything so tight nothing can get in anymore. 2 nights ago my husband was outside covering plants due to frost and there were 2 raccoons sitting on top of the coop. The ripped the wire off but could not get to the chickens, they are now in a box closed up at night. We have had raccoons in the neighborhood for years and nothing ever. I always figured we just had a coop nothing could get into because everyone else around us tells their stories of coyotes etc. We live in the city, not in the country. My husband is now going to put up an electric fence and turn it on at night. You have just been lucky like we were. Once something finds them, they will come back.