I really had a lot of problems with hawks until I got my guineas. We also has a young possum get into the coop but he just sat there while the guineas screamed at him. The guineas are really noisy at times but they do protect the group.
INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!
- Thread starter Chaneys Ranch
- Start date
slutter
Songster
@Mother2Hens thanks for the advice! I've got them on non medicated chick starter already and I'm loving the mother and her babies they're so cute!
Don't bother with 23 gauge 1/4 inch hardware cloth!! That stuff will NOT keep out a determined raccoon, trust me! The heavier gauge stuff costs more, but that extra money is worth it for the protection that it provides! According to most sources, the kind you need for predator protection is 19 gauge (or lower; as M2H said, the lower the number, the larger the wire) and 1/2 inch openings or smaller to prevent reach-throughs. I have 19 gauge, 1/2 inch hardware cloth in all of the windows of my coops attached with screws and washers, and it has kept everything out so far for 3 years--AND I've been seeing coon prints all over the place around the big coop lately!
I believe this is what we used: https://www.amazon.com/Mat-Midwest-...uge+1/2+inch+wire&refinements=p_85:2470955011 I don't know if that's the best price on Amazon anymore, but it was at the time.
So sorry to everyone that has had predator losses and other problems lately.
It breaks my heart to read about.Edited to clarify something
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HARDWARE CLOTH continued & COOP LOCKS ~ Feel free to let us know about your experiences!
@pipdzipdnreadytogo ~ Thanks for your input! I'm not sure what gauge is on my coops because I had two carpenter brothers build it four years ago. I just looked at the plans which didn't specify gauge, but said to use 1/2". The carpenters had grown up on a farm and suggested using 1/4" because of snakes (as I recall). Surprisingly I had never seen a snake on our property until about a month ago when we spotted a small snake at the top of the crab apple tree (right next to the coop) eating baby birds from their nest! I was freaking out! We had enjoyed watching the babies hatch and the mother feeding them.
Anyway, I wonder what gauge Rural King keeps in stock at their stores because whenever I've needed some for my bantam coop, etc., I've just picked up a roll there. I'm not in the perilous situation that many of our members are since my coops are next to the house and away from the wooded areas. We've seen an occasional opossum or raccoon, but I think my waving used car lot pennants must be a deterrent. At night they can make some random spooky flapping sounds.
If some members currently have a thinner gauge hardware cloth installed, chicken wire could be put over the hardware cloth. The more difficult/time-consuming that it takes a predator to try to break through, the better chances that they might give up. Maybe not clever raccoons, though. I remember having conversations on our thread about those carabiner locks that many people use to lock their coops. Other people on the BYC thread have had raccoons open them. Some carabiner locks are more lockable than others. At that time, I switch to locks with keys and I just put the key on a small hook nearby. I wouldn't doubt it if a raccoon could use a key—I wouldn't leave a key in the lock, that's for sure!
@pipdzipdnreadytogo ~ Thanks for your input! I'm not sure what gauge is on my coops because I had two carpenter brothers build it four years ago. I just looked at the plans which didn't specify gauge, but said to use 1/2". The carpenters had grown up on a farm and suggested using 1/4" because of snakes (as I recall). Surprisingly I had never seen a snake on our property until about a month ago when we spotted a small snake at the top of the crab apple tree (right next to the coop) eating baby birds from their nest! I was freaking out! We had enjoyed watching the babies hatch and the mother feeding them.
Anyway, I wonder what gauge Rural King keeps in stock at their stores because whenever I've needed some for my bantam coop, etc., I've just picked up a roll there. I'm not in the perilous situation that many of our members are since my coops are next to the house and away from the wooded areas. We've seen an occasional opossum or raccoon, but I think my waving used car lot pennants must be a deterrent. At night they can make some random spooky flapping sounds.
If some members currently have a thinner gauge hardware cloth installed, chicken wire could be put over the hardware cloth. The more difficult/time-consuming that it takes a predator to try to break through, the better chances that they might give up. Maybe not clever raccoons, though. I remember having conversations on our thread about those carabiner locks that many people use to lock their coops. Other people on the BYC thread have had raccoons open them. Some carabiner locks are more lockable than others. At that time, I switch to locks with keys and I just put the key on a small hook nearby. I wouldn't doubt it if a raccoon could use a key—I wouldn't leave a key in the lock, that's for sure!
Quote:
@Mother2Hens
Funny, but sounds about right.
The 1/2" hardware cloth sold at TSC and Rural King is 19 gauge. Most of the stores have 19 gauge standard.
I don't know what gauge the 1/4" is.
@Mother2Hens
Funny, but sounds about right.
The 1/2" hardware cloth sold at TSC and Rural King is 19 gauge. Most of the stores have 19 gauge standard.
I don't know what gauge the 1/4" is.
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We've surprisingly never had problems with snakes, but then the only ones we see in our woods here are garters. I imagine any snake small enough to fit through 1/2 inch gaps in wire would be too small to do much more than be a light snack for the chickens. 
Mine have made short work of garters before, anyway! 
Anyway, just wanted to post these pics here. Hope everyone has had a safe 4th of July! Good night!
Edited to add the picture I forgot!
Mine have made short work of garters before, anyway! Anyway, just wanted to post these pics here. Hope everyone has had a safe 4th of July! Good night!
Edited to add the picture I forgot!
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@pipdzipdnreadytogo Nice fireworks photos! I especially like that they're silent! Hahaha I used to love the 4th, but since Mitch Daniels changed the laws, our neighborhood sounds like a war zone. I'm talking about professional grade fireworks set off in our subdivision. It's ridiculous...but don't get me started! Anyway, since I only have three chickens for the time being, a few days ago DH and I decided to move them into the basement at night because of fireworks. We put an XL dog kennel (for BFFs SLW and EE) next to a S dog kennel for my Silkie. Then I draped a blanket over the back and sides of both kennels. It's a walk-out basement, so in the morning, they just walk out to their fenced-in yard. My EE, Roadrunner, tends to be a whiner, but she settles down when I dim the lights. They have old blankets covered with paper towels to sleep on and have a slice of watermelon with some seeds if they need a midnight or morning snack.
@Leahs Mom ~ I'm glad to know about those footstools —both for portable chicken hiding spots and for a resting spot for me! I'm not very good about taking breaks when I'm working outside. I've looked for a bench to put in the "nature preserve" where my hens like to visit for their field trips. lol I haven't found one that will blend in with nature and is also reasonably priced. That type of portable footstool would be handy to use anywhere. Thanks!
@Leahs Mom ~ I'm glad to know about those footstools —both for portable chicken hiding spots and for a resting spot for me! I'm not very good about taking breaks when I'm working outside. I've looked for a bench to put in the "nature preserve" where my hens like to visit for their field trips. lol I haven't found one that will blend in with nature and is also reasonably priced. That type of portable footstool would be handy to use anywhere. Thanks!
@slutter ~ I wasn't sure what specific New Mother of Mama Hen advice you needed, but ask as many questions as you like. We have many members who've had experience. It's so fun to watch the mom teach the babies! You are lucky.
I am so relieved to have the 13 week olds running freely outside in the reduced area!
Next to work on combining them into the main roosts then getting the Buckeyes ready for the process in a few weeks
Next to work on combining them into the main roosts then getting the Buckeyes ready for the process in a few weeks
Laws don't mean much. Fireworks are illegal in IL, but our neighborhood probably sounded like yours. I usually don't mind, but the big booms didn't stop until 11:30pm on Sat and 12am on Sunday. Last night was another loud, late night, but at least we expect it on the 4th. Each night it sounded like they were shooting them into our backyard, but when I went out to look, it was actually 3 houses over in the alley. Our village puts on a spectacular show, so we just go to the park to watch. From the hill we can see multiple towns' fireworks.@pipdzipdnreadytogo Nice fireworks photos! I especially like that they're silent! Hahaha I used to love the 4th, but since Mitch Daniels changed the laws, our neighborhood sounds like a war zone. I'm talking about professional grade fireworks set off in our subdivision. It's ridiculous...but don't get me started! Anyway, since I only have three chickens for the time being, a few days ago DH and I decided to move them into the basement at night because of fireworks. We put an XL dog kennel (for BFFs SLW and EE) next to a S dog kennel for my Silkie. Then I draped a blanket over the back and sides of both kennels. It's a walk-out basement, so in the morning, they just walk out to their fenced-in yard. My EE, Roadrunner, tends to be a whiner, but she settles down when I dim the lights. They have old blankets covered with paper towels to sleep on and have a slice of watermelon with some seeds if they need a midnight or morning snack.
For our dogs, July 4th is a special kind of He%*. Neither one will step outside after 4pm. They spent the past few nights cowering in the closet under the stairs.
Had a mystery happen this weekend. Our one broody hen disappeared. A black, bantam Orpington, named Peanut. Gone. Vanished.
Our coopyard is chainlink fence buried a foot into the ground and chainlink on top. Automatic door. Hardware cloth over the windows. Nothing bigger than a chainlink square can get in or out.
No feathers, no blood, no fur, no clawmarks, nothing.
It's like she opened the gate and went on a walkabout.
Maybe Aliens took her.
If you see Peanut walking around the West side of Indy, please send her home!
Our coopyard is chainlink fence buried a foot into the ground and chainlink on top. Automatic door. Hardware cloth over the windows. Nothing bigger than a chainlink square can get in or out.
No feathers, no blood, no fur, no clawmarks, nothing.
It's like she opened the gate and went on a walkabout.
Maybe Aliens took her.
If you see Peanut walking around the West side of Indy, please send her home!
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