-peeping sound-

[cmom]

Many years ago I lost 14 birds in one night to a bobcat. The bobcat made the mistake of coming back for more. It didn't eat them, just killed them.

 

[ValerieJ]

too bad you can't use razor wire - Is there such a thing?

Yes, but then people and chickens would get Hurt.

 

[ValerieJ]

Oh lord, that’s a haunting image with the owl in there.. Terribly sorry to hear about your losses. Thank you so much for sharing, I’ll definitely make sure to get heavy duty netting. Do you recall what brand or specifications your good netting is?

Amazon has a lot of choices. I use a couple of these. I need the netting in their larger area because it is also an orchard, so it's not perfectly predator proof, but works great against Bald Eagles and that's who I'm trying to keep out.

 

[cmom]

This is the netting I bought recently. It looks just like the other netting I've had up now for over 10 years and it's still good.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XWL83TG/?tag=backy-20

 

[drumstick diva]

I thought razor wire (have never seen it) was something you put at the top of a high fence to prevent aerial predators from sitting there while they decide what to grab.

 

[cluckcluckhens]

Your flock sounds lovely! Thank you for the tidbit about squirrels, we have many a squirrel on the property and a handful of black squirrels as well (it may be skewed observation on my part, but I swear the jet black squirrels are far more bombastic compared to the grey squirrels...). Has the squirrel ever bothered your chickens or is it a simple glutton? Either way, what did you do to keep him away? Thank you for the fantastic reply!
((I’ll also keep a stern eye on my one rooster that will be arriving.))

Actually the chickens go after the squirrels. They will try to peck at them in the run. If I go into the run while squirrels are in there they leave. They found and made an entrance into the run. They can pull, bend wire for easy access. We watched them and sealed the area off again. Burrow lots of them here. Just warning you. They dug under our house so we put bricks and rocks all around the house.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We have a walnut tree, a hickory and oak trees everywhere (acorns), so Gracie is always barking at a squirrel up one tree or another. She kind of drives me nuts sometimes. But because she is always on duty, the squirrels don't get anywhere near the hen house, so I'll be grateful for her barking from now on. I didn't realize the squirrels could be a problem to the chickens!

 

[Avogadro]

Amazon has a lot of choices. I use a couple of these. I need the netting in their larger area because it is also an orchard, so it's not perfectly predator proof, but works great against Bald Eagles and that's who I'm trying to keep out.

Thanks so much! Bald Eagles are common around here, so that’s good to know the netting will work against them.

 

[Chullicken]

All seems to start with the simplest of intentions...then you wake up one morning and you have like 60 feathered raptors wanting treats~