I started converting my shed into a coop

[Rvl Rookie]

I reset the trap, hoping I can continue to catch any offending critters.

 

[ckack76]

After losing my entire flock(18 hens and a duck) earlier this year, I have trapped 5 raccoons, 5 groundhogs(they were digging all the dirt out from underneath the foundation on the garage), and 15 opossums! I also went around and cemented underneath the barn walls around the coop inside. I have had 3 ducks for about 3 months and 4 two month old frizzle chicks with no further killings. All the killings were inside the coop at night. First 2 was a coyote who dug under the barn wall and busted through an old rotted board at the base of the wall. I replaced the rotted board and some additional boards that were also found to be rotted. Then about a month later I found a small hole dug near the chicken door and when I walked into the coop all 17 remaining birds were laying scattered all over the coop. I was devastated! I believe it was a weasel but have yet to trap one. Hopefully with the additional wire fencing and cemented wall bottoms I have fixed the problem. I just received 13 new day old chicks today and they are in the brooder. Fingers crossed. Though I haven't trapped anything in about 3 weeks now I still make sure my 3 traps are baited and ready nightly.

 

[Rvl Rookie]

That must have been awful. I hope you've solved the problem, and it never happens again.

 

[ckack76]

It was awful, but I feel I learned from my mistakes. I may have come into raising chickens a bit cocky because we had raised them when I was a kid. Nature humbled me a bit. I've really enjoyed following your story though. I need to get around to learning my camera so that I can post some pics of my babies!

 

[Rvl Rookie]

Only one of my babies remains, and it appears to be a rooster. Once trouble starts with his dad, he'll have to go.




Squirrels have been getting into the chicken feed, and since I haven't seen any deer for a while I'm back to blasting the offending squirrels.

 

[Rvl Rookie]

A short video I took yesterday afternoon, of my chickens out in the snow;

 

[quickanimator1]

Hi, so are you saying that the chickens will do fine in Massachusetts winters and heat? I have a shed that I would like to convert to a coop. I am a newbie just reading for now.

Tom

 

[quickanimator1]

wow thank you for your note. would you recommend hardware cloth all over the inside of the coop, floor etc.?
Tom