My chickens are frightened and I don't know why

[dawnk]

So, it goes on. Last evening before dark, I went out the coup to move my chickens (who haven't started laying yet) from the run into their coop. I found them in the coup all huddled together on top of the nesting box (the highest point in the coup). I could see that they were frightened. I checked the run and found no signs of forced entry and attempts at forced entry and checked the coup to make sure that there were no hidden intruders. I left the light on for them last night and they seemed to relax - about 3 am this morning I turned the light off - when daylight came, I went out to the coup and saw that they were again all huddled together in a corner of the coup.

My analysis is that someone is trying to get to them and hasn't succeeded, my husband thinks I'm nuts - but I believe that I should listen to what y chickens are trying to tell me.

The coup is completely secure, its completely encased with chicken wire - I don't believe that there is any way in. However, that is not the case with the run - a predator could dig underneath it at this point.

I was planning on encasing the floor of the run with chicken wire this weekend - which is a shame as they won't be able to dig and scratch, but that's better than dead chickens.

Any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Judy]

It does sound like something is getting in there, perhaps something like a rat or snake that didn't tear the chicken wire.

You can lay an "apron" around the outside of the run, rather than inside. Secure it to the bottom of the sides to prevent something slipping in between.

However, if you are talking about standard chicken wire, it is not secure -- although of course the chickens don't know that. Also, it would be easy to overlook a small tear in that kind of wire. It takes something the strength of hardware cloth to stop a strong, dexterous predaror like a dog or raccoon.

 

[dawnk]

Thanks for your reply - do you think that I should redo my coup and run with hardware cloth vs. chicken wire?

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Chicken wire won't keep anything out, just keeps chicken in. I'd go with hardware cloth

 

[spikennipper]

Can we see a pic of your set up please?

 

[dawnk]

I take pics this afternoon and post them tomorrow.