Is it even worth it?

[careeka22]

Yesterday a stray dog attacked and killed our favorite hen. We started with 5 and now have 2. First one I guess a hawk got or who knows she was just gone. 2nd got attacked and both wings were taken off so we humanely had her euthanized and now the one from yesterday. It was extremely traumatic because they aren't just livestock they were our pets. We just got them a huge coop and were planning on adding more chicks this week. Now my husband doesn't want to and I don't really blame him. I wanted them to be able to free range our yard, being as natural as possible and eat up the bugs but how can we knowing any second they could have an agonizing death?

Sure we could build a big pen but that wasn't our initial plan for them. We are thinking of just throwing in the towel, we will keep the 2 we have. I guess I just wasn't expecting it to be like this. I mean we are rural but we are in a neighborhood. Just sucks, sorry for the vent. RIP Bertha.

 

[wleigh1021]

I agree that it's hard. I had a bear attack twice and lost 9 chickens. Some left behind and had to clean up. But after refortifying their area I still think it's worth it. They're still fun to have and I really enjoy knowing where my food comes from. If you don't want to do a permanent run then you can try electric netting instead to protect them in your yard and they still get to "free range"

 

[Kusanar]

Risk is a fact of life. Each one of us is in danger of dying in a painful way every time we get out of bed. It's just how it goes. Now, you can reduce the risks for your birds. To keep dogs out, I would put up a fence around the yard so they cannot get into the yard and even through the birds can go over it, they will be able to learn that they are "safe" inside the fence. For things like hawks taking them, if you provide a lot of stuff to hide under like bushes, tables, vehicles, etc, then the hens can run under something to safety when the hawks are out. Or, you can almost completely keep them safe by keeping them in an enclosed run, but, then you have to weigh their freedom with safety and monitor their quality of life while they are locked up since you are entirely responsible for them and their entertainment at that point.

 

[Morrigan]

I’m very sorry for your losses. You could try some electric poultry netting around an area of the yard and move it from time to time. That won’t help with hawks but it will keep dogs and other four legged predators out. Then, make sure there are covered areas for them to retreat to from the hawks, even if it is just a tarp strung up. It is difficult figuring out solutions to predators (and I’ve suffered some heartbreaking losses along the way) but in the end, I think it is worth it. Chickens have added so much joy to my life and that has outweighed the tough times for me.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's very hard, but it's happened here, and to everyone who's had chickens at one time or another.
We learn, and improve security, and move forward. Having a safe coop and run is the first thing, and then free ranging when possible. Electric fencing is great for keeping ground predators out, and hawk attacks are relatively infrequent. When a hawk turns up, it's time to have the flock in their safe coop and covered run, for a week to three weeks, until that hawk moves on.
I hope you move forward with more chicks this spring!
Mary

 

[careeka22]

Thank you all! The netting is a great solution. We actually do have a privacy fenced yard but our 3 dogs are back there and are not chicken friendly. (older rescue dogs that came before the chickens). I'm thinking of fencing around where the coop is and the netting would be a good way to do it. When weather is nice I can always let them range in site while my kids play. I just have to convince my husband. We have loved having them, my kids love them too and of course the eggs are a bonus. We got starting thinking of the eggs and it turned into them being so friendly and then to us having a great bond with them. We have been looking forward to more chicks all winter, my husband had JUST called an hr before it happened to see what day they would be in. I guess we just need time to regroup. I want to do everything to keep them safe.

 

[JedJackson]

That's sad. I'm sorry you lost Bertha. You will have to decide for yourself if you want to continue with chickens or just keep the two you have for their lifetimes. Free ranging is hazardous, unfortunately. I would prefer to do that, too, but now I only let them out when I am around to watch them. But my birds are still happy with a large run and I am happier not having to worry about them.

 

[dunnmom]

You still have some options, but I totally understand why you're discouraged. I had 3 barred rocks picked off, myself. My girls are penned 24-7 for now. I've also considered giving up, because I don't feel it's fair to them, even though they don't seem to mind. This spring we hope to be able to come up with a means for them to forage outside of their run safely, because we know they'd be happier with a little more freedom of movement.

 

[careeka22]

Here is the coop we got them, we lost the tan one. I can build a fence around the coop and in the area right in front of it.

 

[lazy gardener]

Being in a "neighborhood will not make your predator losses any less than being in a very rural area. Predators are everywhere, and not respectors of fences.

IMO, it's absolutely necessary to have a run that is secure from overhead attack. While it's best to make a run completely predator proof with welded wire, (1/2" required to keep out weasels) that is simply too cost prohibitive for many of us, based on our flock size and run size. So, we do risk assessment and do the best we can with what we have to work with.

I have a chicken wire run, buried skirt, one section with tarp and 2 x 4 welded roof, which is used by them during snow season. The remainder of the run is closed off to them during snow season. In the spring, I will put up bird netting so they can access the whole thing. Chicken wire is definitely not predator proof, but it will slow the predators down, and most predators come around during the night, when my flock is secured in their pred proof coop. At any time except for snow season, I can put up an electric fence around my chicken yard, or even enclose chicken pen and garden, but have not yet done so.

Only you can make the determination regarding how much risk you can accept, what you will do to reduce risk, and whether you are willing to shift your paradigm to continue keeping a flock. The mental image of the idyllic flock happily free ranging a neatly kept yard is more often than not a myth. Such tranquility looks great in the magazines, but predators, fences, chicken poop and dust baths are the harsh reality.