Predator fears

[Apryllynn]

Me and my family are moving up to ma to live in our new house we just purchased. We have a good size property and plan to get a few chickens. I am still doing my research. Only thing that turns me away from wanting them is the predators. I have a 2 year old and a 1 year old and would hate to go out to the coop to see dead chickens ripped up. Does this happen to everyone? Also I fear that having chickens will make predators come into the yard and fear that if my kids and dogs are running around. Maybe being a chicken mommy is not right for me? Any advice would be great. I am still looking threw a lot of the posts im new to the site.

 

[brahmabreeder]

Does the area you are moving to have hawks? If so then you will need nets over the run. Be sure to leave no gaps and make sure the birds can't get out. For night predators be sure to put up the birds at night so they can't get out and nothing can get in. Racoons will probably be the worst night predator. Those thing can open locks on doors. NO simple locks racoons will open them. Leave no gaps open cover them in either quarter inch or half inch wire. Racoons will also reach through big enough wire and just pull chunks of the chickens out so make sure one can't reach through the wire. It is really not as complicated as I made it seem.