It's 1 am & something just tried to get into my coop

[Rainekitty]

It's 1 a.m. here and something just tried to get into the my chicken run. The coop is in the side yard, not too far from my bedroom window. We have a large outdoor chain-link kennel we use as a run and I heard something pulling at the gate or fencing- it was making that 'ching-ching-ching' noise that happens when you pull on the fencing and then let go. By the time I got to the door and turned the lights on, it was gone. I let the dogs out just to be sure, but other than sniffing around a bit, they didn't seem too concerned. I'm in MD and predators include raccoon, fox, possum, weasel, coyote (although I've never seen one around me). We also have stray farm cats.

We just set up the run and it's not completely secure yet. The fencing isn't yet securely attached to the bottom frame, and there's some space around the date where a small predator could slip in.

I've only had my chickens two months and am still learning. What kind of predator would pull on the fencing like that to try and get in? A raccoon? It's raining pretty good tonight; I thought that would help to keep predators away.

 

[Scatterknit]

If you hadn't said you live in MD, I'd be convinced you live at my house. SAME THING HERE, location of your coop - even down to the type of fencing.

Unfortunately this is 2 nights in a row and last night (in the pouring rain) something killed one of my girls. It ran off and I didn't see it - I think it's a raccoon. I've turned all the outside lights on but not much else I can do in the middle of the night. UGH!!!!

 

[subhanalah]

I would think the rain would mask any sounds or scents left y a predator.

Do you have a game camera or a gun? Can you leave your dogs to pratrol until you get things more secure?

(This question is for OP and the pervious poster).

 

[Rainekitty]

I would think the rain would mask any sounds or scents left y a predator.

Do you have a game camera or a gun? Can you leave your dogs to pratrol until you get things more secure?

(This question is for OP and the pervious poster).

The run is pretty close to our bedroom, I had the window open and the sound carries well. The clanging of the fence was loud enough to wake me up. I walked around the run looking for footprints or other signs, but between the dark and the rain & mud, didn't see anything obvious.

I don't have a camera but we were talking about getting one. The coop/run is within our fenced "dog yard" and our two dogs are out there a lot, as well as our cats. I was hoping that would help to deter predators. We have two beagles, who are good at picking up scents, if not that actually that helpful with predator defense. They're older now and there's not an outdoor doghouse; I can't leave them outside in the rain unless I want them howling all night. I turned ALL the outside lights on and will finish securing the run on Saturday. I'll leave the dogs outside as long as possible tomorrow night.

Being woken up by the clanging fence noise was particularly creepy and my heart is still racing. I have some neighbors down the street with chickens, and they told me they've had run ins with hawks (took a chick right in front of them), a raccoon and a weasel. The area is country/rural and my property back up to several acres of woods.

 

[Rainekitty]

If you hadn't said you live in MD, I'd be convinced you live at my house. SAME THING HERE, location of your coop - even down to the type of fencing.

Unfortunately this is 2 nights in a row and last night (in the pouring rain) something killed one of my girls. It ran off and I didn't see it - I think it's a raccoon. I've turned all the outside lights on but not much else I can do in the middle of the night. UGH!!!!

So sorry to hear that, Scatterknit. I've been having nightmares since I got the chickens about them being killed by predators. My chickens are pets more than anything else and I would be crushed if something got to them.

 

[kelp]

Sorry to hear. I lost 5 hens last night to what I believe were fox. My dogs got out at them, but it was to late. They left 2 behind and I couldn't find the other 3. My 6 young chicks(4 months old) were not harmed. Whatever it was got into the hen house. Tonight I will be out waiting to see what returns.

 

[Scatterknit]

Sorry to hear. I lost 5 hens last night to what I believe were fox. My dogs got out at them, but it was to late. They left 2 behind and I couldn't find the other 3. My 6 young chicks(4 months old) were not harmed. Whatever it was got into the hen house. Tonight I will be out waiting to see what returns.

Oh that's terrible! I'm so sorry! I hope you have a good night tonight and I hope you get the varmint! My son wants to do the same but he's in the middle of exams and needs his sleep and he's mad I won't let him stand guard with his .22. My dogs usually sleep in the garage but they're sleeping in the run tonight with the girls. I told them that they have an important job to keep the raccoon away but they're looking at me like

Electric fence going up tomorrow.

 

[subhanalah]

  Oh that's terrible!  I'm so sorry!  I hope you have a good night tonight and I hope you get the varmint!  My son wants to do the same but he's in the middle of exams and needs his sleep and he's mad I won't let him stand guard with his .22.   My dogs usually sleep in the garage but they're sleeping in the run tonight with the girls.  I told them that they have an important job to keep the raccoon away but they're looking at me like 

Electric fence going up tomorrow.

hahaha, when we first put our chicks outside, I was scared to death something was going to come get them. I put my little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel out there and told her "okay, Lacey, stay out here and protect the chickens." She looked up at me, turned her head to the side as if to say "okay, mommy, not sure what you want me to do out here, but I'll stay out here if you want me to"

 

[kelp]

-1 coyote.

 

[Rainekitty]

-1 coyote.

Kelp, where do you live? I know there are coyote's in this area, but I've never seen one.