Just lost half our flock to predators

[wannabe2362]

We went away for a few days to come back to 2 roosters gone, half our Rhode Island Reds gone and a Guinea gone. Our hens would no longer go in the hen house and some started getting up on the house roof and into the trees. Others opted to roost on the fense near our llamas, some rooster around the hen house outside. Well to make a long story short, we are down to one guinea, (had 6 two weeks ago),one rooster and 7 RIR hens. We've trapped a coon and a possum. We are hopping that was it. We need to redo our "accommadations"
Is it best to keep guineas separate from other hens when confined?...we free range. We used to lock them up in the hen house each night and never had a problem, after a brood hen hatch two clutches, she roosted them in different places, mostly by the llamas, so we started leaving the pen open so they could join the flock....we didn't have a problem for a year,,,this has been tramatic....Thanks for any input.

 

[patyrdz]

from North Carolina!

I would keep the guinea separate, because they get a little mean when they get close to breeding age!
If they were locked up and there is no sign of forced entry, I would say it was a coon or something small enough to fit through a small hole. You might have to keep watch for a few nights to get the animal that is doing this! They will keep going back for the free food if you don't catch it! I'm sorry for your losses, and good luck on the "hunt"!

 

[b.hromada]

So sorry you lost your chickens and quinea's.

I think you're in the right place, making stronger accomodations for the babies. Best of luck to you.
Oh,

from S. Florida. Glad you joined us all.

 

[citrusdreams]

Quote:
I've always kept my guineas with my chickens. I've never separated them. They free range together and they stay in the henhouse/pen from dusk till dawn together. Sometimes the guineas are mean to the chickens, but they usually leave them alone. And when the weather is really nice, the guineas tend to roost in a big tree at night

Though I love to free range, and I do it all the time, I still lock them up in the henhouse with access to the pen, from dusk till dawn. I'm sure that you being out of town for a few weeks had something to do with the attack. But for the most part, I'd say it was just something waiting to happen. Most predators attack at night and without protection your chickens and guineas will fall prey to them. I'm glad you were able to dispose of a few of them. That might calm things down for a bit.

As to them not going back into the henhouse, are you sure you looked really well to see if something's not still in there? Look in every nook and cranny and corner. Look in the feeder, or anywhere a small predator can fit. Also, if they were attacked in the henhouse while you were gone, they may be afraid to go back in just because of that.

Try keeping your layer mash only in the henhouse. Don't give them access to food you give them anywhere else. Since you have other animals, I'm sure the chickens are getting their water from places other than what you have set out specifically for them. But I'd still only keep their water in the pen or henhouse (I don't keep it in the henhose myself, but some do). And try to get them to come back in at dusk with some food, they should all follow you in. After a few days, they will probably feel safe in their home again.

Just make sure you have Fowl Fort Knox over there. Because after an attack, something will be bound to come back again. Since you were gone for two weeks, you don't know if the predators you caught were the only ones. So I'd do a few checks on them as well after dark.

Also, if there's any doubt in your mind that your pen is Fort Knox, then don't give them access to it at night either. Just lock them up tight in the henhouse until you can fortify your pen.

Good luck

And

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Glad to have you here!

(Wow, citrusdreams, great post!)

 

[citrusdreams]

Aww, thanks