I'm new to this forum and the main reason I joined is because I don't want to lose my new flock of chicks the way I lost my small flock last year.
I had three Rhode Island Reds in a chain link dog kennel, 12 x 8 feet, 6 feet tall, with chicken wire on top. One tree grew up from the middle of the kennel and the chicken wire was affixed to the trunk of the tree. The first night I had the kennel, something killed one of the chickens - took only the head. I spent the entire day "predator proofing it. I put chicken wire all around the bottom perimeter of the kennel and the chicken wire on top and around the tree. That did the trick for a couple of weeks. Then I came out one morning and discovered my other two chickens dead - both heads were gone. That's it. I discovered that the culprit had come down the tree and meticulously pulled the chicken wire apart until it made a hole through which it could fit. It came down the tree and got into their house - which was not secured - killed them, ate all their food, and left me two large piles of scat. The only clue I have is a grey hair left behind in the hole it made in the wire by the tree.
I waited until this spring to get new chicks and have just put them outside. They are now in an elevevated hen house, secured with hardware cloth. I cut the tree down and replaces all the chicken wire on top and under the perimeter with hardware cloth. I have a motion light and have had a radio playing softly.
Has anyone had success - or failure - with motion lights in detering predators? I suspect this thing was a raccoon or oppossum.
Thanks!
I had three Rhode Island Reds in a chain link dog kennel, 12 x 8 feet, 6 feet tall, with chicken wire on top. One tree grew up from the middle of the kennel and the chicken wire was affixed to the trunk of the tree. The first night I had the kennel, something killed one of the chickens - took only the head. I spent the entire day "predator proofing it. I put chicken wire all around the bottom perimeter of the kennel and the chicken wire on top and around the tree. That did the trick for a couple of weeks. Then I came out one morning and discovered my other two chickens dead - both heads were gone. That's it. I discovered that the culprit had come down the tree and meticulously pulled the chicken wire apart until it made a hole through which it could fit. It came down the tree and got into their house - which was not secured - killed them, ate all their food, and left me two large piles of scat. The only clue I have is a grey hair left behind in the hole it made in the wire by the tree.
I waited until this spring to get new chicks and have just put them outside. They are now in an elevevated hen house, secured with hardware cloth. I cut the tree down and replaces all the chicken wire on top and under the perimeter with hardware cloth. I have a motion light and have had a radio playing softly.
Has anyone had success - or failure - with motion lights in detering predators? I suspect this thing was a raccoon or oppossum.
Thanks!
