sandraeric
Hatching
- Nov 4, 2019
- 2
- 2
- 6
Chickens, even in the city, can be predated by many types of animals. It’s up to you to keep your coop safe and make sure that you provide barriers to prevent would-be-predators from taking your chickens like a snack from the colonel.
Common Predators of Backyard Chicken Houses
Snakes - Many types of snakes will kill and eat a small chicken, chicks, as well as eggs. If you aren’t finding eggs or you have a chicken or chicks disappear, then it is very likely that you’ve got a snake issue. Make sure that your coop is airtight and you should also use snake deterrents around the coop. Some people recommend using mothballs or spraying a product called Snake Away for keeping snakes at bay.
Coyotes - These guys can be dangerous and will decimate an entire flock of chickens at once. Sometimes they will kill one or two and come back a few days later. They will dig under a fence, climb, break poorly put together fences or coops. Many people resort to guardian dogs, such as the Great Pyrenees or Anatolian Shepherd to guard homesteads against coyotes. It should also be noted that coyotes are found everywhere, even in suburbs and in cities. They’ve been sighted at inner-city parks in places like Denver and even in New York City.
Raccoons - They are very smart and while they will kill a chicken if they are very hungry, they love the eggs even more. If they can catch a chick, some fresh eggs, or a chicken, a hungry raccoon can definitely be a common predator in the city or in the country. They are very smart too.
Foxes - “A fox in the hen house…” is a common expression. That is because they are often predators of chickens. Foxes love a good, fresh chicken and if your coop has any weak spots, a fox will find it. They are cunning and especially so when they are hungry. Foxes can climb, open door mechanisms that do not securely lock, and they will also dig under a fence.
Domesticated dogs - More often than not, the domesticated dog is responsible for the slaughter of chickens. Many people come to find out that the neighbor’s roaming dog is the party responsible for the missing chickens. Sometimes you can follow the trail of feathers straight back home.
Big cats - This includes bobcats and mountain lions, depending upon where you live. There are many people who complain of bobcats getting their chickens in states across the midwest. Bobcats leave large, round paw prints without claw marks. This is how to tell a cat print from a canine species.
Domesticated cats - A feral cat that has been left to its own devices can turn into a chicken killer. They will sometimes kill for fun, often just leaving dead chickens, chewed and with the heads removed. They will have paw prints like the above, only smaller, usually not much larger than your thumb width.
Devices such as electric fences around your chicken house at nighttime are excellent deterrents and you may wish to have a guardian dog keeping watch as well.
Common Predators of Backyard Chicken Houses
Snakes - Many types of snakes will kill and eat a small chicken, chicks, as well as eggs. If you aren’t finding eggs or you have a chicken or chicks disappear, then it is very likely that you’ve got a snake issue. Make sure that your coop is airtight and you should also use snake deterrents around the coop. Some people recommend using mothballs or spraying a product called Snake Away for keeping snakes at bay.
Coyotes - These guys can be dangerous and will decimate an entire flock of chickens at once. Sometimes they will kill one or two and come back a few days later. They will dig under a fence, climb, break poorly put together fences or coops. Many people resort to guardian dogs, such as the Great Pyrenees or Anatolian Shepherd to guard homesteads against coyotes. It should also be noted that coyotes are found everywhere, even in suburbs and in cities. They’ve been sighted at inner-city parks in places like Denver and even in New York City.
Raccoons - They are very smart and while they will kill a chicken if they are very hungry, they love the eggs even more. If they can catch a chick, some fresh eggs, or a chicken, a hungry raccoon can definitely be a common predator in the city or in the country. They are very smart too.
Foxes - “A fox in the hen house…” is a common expression. That is because they are often predators of chickens. Foxes love a good, fresh chicken and if your coop has any weak spots, a fox will find it. They are cunning and especially so when they are hungry. Foxes can climb, open door mechanisms that do not securely lock, and they will also dig under a fence.
Domesticated dogs - More often than not, the domesticated dog is responsible for the slaughter of chickens. Many people come to find out that the neighbor’s roaming dog is the party responsible for the missing chickens. Sometimes you can follow the trail of feathers straight back home.
Big cats - This includes bobcats and mountain lions, depending upon where you live. There are many people who complain of bobcats getting their chickens in states across the midwest. Bobcats leave large, round paw prints without claw marks. This is how to tell a cat print from a canine species.
Domesticated cats - A feral cat that has been left to its own devices can turn into a chicken killer. They will sometimes kill for fun, often just leaving dead chickens, chewed and with the heads removed. They will have paw prints like the above, only smaller, usually not much larger than your thumb width.
Devices such as electric fences around your chicken house at nighttime are excellent deterrents and you may wish to have a guardian dog keeping watch as well.
