Keeping your flock safe from predators

[mautri]

I recently lost 2 of my 5 Rhode island reds. The first disappeared without any sign the second just the other night and clearly was dragged over my 5' wire fence and taken away.
I feel now that even though I went to great lengths to provide shelter and what I thought was a secure fenced chicken yard, chickens are not safe unless completely locked up in the hen house at night.
Without a way to run and fly away from the "Raccoon" they are literally sitting ducks. So now I have to got out and lock my girls up in the coop every night.
Hard lesson learned....one of my 3 surviving chickens looks like she was also attacked by the way she is behaving. No signs of wounds that I can see so Im thinking she may have been bitten under her feathers or injured herself fighting back. She walks slowly, barely eating or drinking...it's sad. Im not sure what to do for her at this time? She's my biggest, toughest girl...always looking out for the flock. Any suggestions?

 

[cuckoo4chickenz]

So about your chickens, I dont have any ideas about what to do for her. its a good idea to lock them up at night-- I usually dont shut the coop door but we should!! maybe set a trap and catch that heathen and off with it!! Makes me mad thinking about it!!

I have been lucky not to loose one in the 3 months that i have had chickens but I know it will happen and I am not excited about it. Good luck with the rest of your flock!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! So sorry about the birds you have lost. You might want to check out the Predator forum for suggestions on how to fortify your coop/run against the predators you are dealing with https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/13/predators-and-pests
With your sick girl, you might try posting in the Emergencies forum about her https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures give her a really good hands on all over exam to see if you can find anything off with her, is she laying eggs, how is her body condition?

 

[mautri]

Oh I was super mad yesterday! And I did put out a raccoon trap last night but nothing so far but I will keep trying. Ive had my girls for over 3 years now this is the first year Ive lost any of them. The first year I had a netting over the entire pen but after awhile it collected leaves and became a mess so I took it down. I live kinda out in the woods my entire property is surrounded by tall tree's so between raccoons. possums, eagles and coyotes I continually have to keep my flock safe from air and ground attack. Don't wait until you loose one like you said start now especially now...all the critters are raising young and looking for food for them. But again no time of year is safe.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC!

SO HAPPY YOU'VE JOINED US!!

Please make yourself at home and we are here to help. I'm so sorry to hear of your losses!

Kelsie2290^ has given you a link about predators and pests. Be SURE to check that out. Below is another helpful link.

http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2012/01/weasels-and-foxes-and-hawksoh-my.html

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

I am so sorry for your losses. Predators can be brutal. But in much of the world, it is a fact that we all have to lock up our birds at night to keep them safe. And some of us have to keep the in a run during the day as well to keep them safe. I can't let my birds out to free range at all due to all the predators.

As for the bird that looks injured, give her an overall exam and look for injuries. If she does have any, you will probably want to get her on antibiotics to prevent infection that can kill her. Sulfadimethoxine or Doxycycline. She will most likely feel traumatized for a long time since this attack. I have heard of birds taking 2 months to fully mentally recover. So don't rush her into coming out of the coop or laying.

As for trapping predators, it does no good. Every time you catch one, it opens the door to another moving in. So work in keeping your flock in a secure coop and run and let the predators be. You can't eliminate all of them.

Welcome to our flock!

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! I would reinforce your coop/run with 1/4 inch hardware cloth (very strong mesh wire) to keep the raccoons out. You may need to install special latches that can't be opened easily by them also. Best of luck to you!

 

[mautri]

Ok, I just checked her head to toe and see nothing. She's walking around the yard slowly not keeping up with the other chicks and not eating although I did see her drink some water. Maybe she's just sore from fighting? Maybe strained something? She's very mellow and slow and not really eating. I think I will give her a few days maybe she's just in shock. Should I try making some warm water with feed and yogurt to feed her or should I just wait another day and not worry?

 

[Kelsie2290]

If the weather is on the cold side where you are you might consider bringing her inside where it is warm. If you can make up something warm she will eat I think i would do it, at least help keep her hydrated if she isn't eating /drinking well, shouldn't hurt and may help. She may have injured herself if she was flying around in a panic and hit something. Hope she recovers

 

[gander007]

Yes chickens do need to be locked up .......

Sounds like a cat, raccoon, opossum, skunk, as there are a lot of predators who go over fences and through little holes in fences to get at your chickens and your hurt chicken needs to be looked over under the feathers for any wounds and also separated and allowed to relax and recover ...