My Girls are gone...

[cruisnmoma]

Thanks for some of the ideas. I have to be careful with the electric. We have cats, and I do not want them to get hurt. At least with the group that is now gone, the cats and chickies got along and would sun and hang out together. One of my cats even likes to sit in the hen house. Since we are keeping the remaining one inside right now, my big kitty has been staying in the bathroom with her most of the day. Not bothering her, but just sleeping in there like he is keeping her company. The bathroom is not one of his hang out places.He has been acting really weird since this happen. I suspect he saw some of what happen and it has upset him a lot.

I have a few months before I really have to worrie about what I am going to do. Right now we are trying to find her a compainion that we can keep them together in a small part of the yard that would be safe. I really need something in place before we set up the run so i can cost it out.

 

[JackE]

I have two cats. Both have learned not to mess with the fence. The chickens themselves had to learn. The fence shocks, but it's not like it scorches the animal that gets into like a super high voltage electrical supply line. They get shocked, it hurts, they usually don't do it again. I myself got careless around it, ONCE, didn't like it, but it didn't blow my fingers off. It's safe, and it keeps the birds safe.

 

[Chickensx5]

I am so sorry I also lost two of my hens on Monday and they were in there coop!! My black copper maran that just started laying and also my Welsummer!! I've been so sick about it!! My husband is now building a better coop we think it was a coyote? We also now have our other 2 in the garage with us we had 4 so sorry for your loss it's so hard you never think you'd get attached to chickens but you do!! I love my hens!!!

 

[The Lazy L]

I ran 1/2" hardware cloth 18" out from the run's walls. I've seen dog and coon tracks circling the run and coop. I have lost zero chickens to any predators

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

We've lost chickens to dogs. Neighborhood dogs. We did try the electric fencing option. All it took was plugging it in for a week or two...till the dogs got the idea. Then, we could turn it off. Now, the neighbors have puppies from the dogs that got our earlier flocks. Time to plug it in again. Seriously.....the dog makes contact with the charged wire....it gets the message really quick.

 

[Sofi]

I lost 16 birds in two daytime attacks, to foxes. Not to mention a day raid by a neighbor's dog(He won't get to make that mistake again) So I've been there, done that, and didn't like it. You say you want to build a run. Look into some electrified poultry net, from Premier. I have 600' of it protecting my birds going on two years now. You can surround a much bigger area for less than what it would cost to wood frame and hardware cloth an area less than half the size. The fox, along with all other kind of ground predators are still around, but the birds are safely inside their 7000V protected courtyard.

I agree on the electric fence. I love mine, and this morning it saved my girls from a raccoon.

 

[bobbi-j]

Electric is your best friend when trying to keep dogs, coons, and other assorted critters out of your chicken coop and run. Your cats will be fine. It does hurt a bit, but it's more the startle factor that will keep them away. (Believe me when I tell you how I know what it feels like...) Your cats may get zapped once, but that's all it will take for them to learn. Unless they're really stupid cats... My dog walked under the electric fence once and got his tail zapped. He still walked under the fence, but from then on, kept his tail out of the way!

 

[cruisnmoma]

Just an update on the lone survior. She is looking like she will have an almost full recovery.
After I brought her home from the vet, she could not stand or walk. her legs were stuck out stiff in front of her. She did have a big wound on her back, so I thought it might have been from that. We took her back to the vet a few days later and they said most likely she had a stroke, and would need to be put down. I just did not feel right with that. She lived through 2 dogs hurting her, and she just was not acting like she was done. We brought her home and worked with her, and now she is back up and walking again! She can get off ballance a bit, but she is good to go. she eats everything. Today is the first day i am letting her out side in the yard for the whole day. she has been staying in the house up to now. I just can not put her out side alone. At night she even hops up on the couch with us and the cats. she does not like being alone.

We picked up 6 new chicks a few days ago. I hope intrudcing them will go well when the time comes.