Predator help.

[Dottypotty]

UPDATE -
Hey guys a massive update on the current build and situtaion.

Pen is all now winter proofed with tarp, electric fence has been extended also. 3 more cameras have been put up, and sensor lights have been put around the permiter of the pen and the whole property, 11 to be exact lol.

My 4 new girls arrived last night, and put them in the coop when it was dark at 5pm with the recovered hen(I thought this was the best way since her awful ordeal). They had a good night, got them up and out at 9am this morning to 5 fresh eggs, was in total shock. Wasnt expecting any eggs due to a different coop and environment etc.

Anyway quick question, I have a hen who's made the hen who survived the previous attack bleed on her head quite badly, I bathed her head with cotton wool and hotish water, I split them up and took her out, but I put her back in for the night with the other 4 girls just an hour ago.

They are a different breed mind, but I've forgotten the names( I've been so flat out in work today,heads in a pickle). There black with white on the heads, and a slight greenish on the back.

I'll post some pictures in the morning since its dark. But it's a positive start, all my coop proofing and pen proofing has paid off like a charm. I put hay and straw down for the bedding, and put special calcium powder in there food over night which thinking about it now wasn't the greatest of ideas. I also buillt them a sand/gravel bath for them also and they seem to be having a blast appart from the poor old hen who they don't seem to be taking to.

But I must admit she did start being horrible this morning to the new flock, stating she was boss, and I don't think she expected them to react back. Any sort of tips are appreciated. I split them up straight way in the day time, but I'm not sure . It was going so well this morning for 30 minutes, then heny decided to kick off at the new flock and it's gone sour ever since.

 

[aart]

You might need to separate, putting them in at night rarely works.
Can you split off part of the coop to segregate a bird or 2?
Might have to juggle them, mix and match who is with whom, until they all get used to the new situation.
Looking forward to seeing pics of the 'new' coop.

Oh, and....Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there(cause I'll forget)!

 

[Dottypotty]

You might need to separate, putting them in at night rarely works.
Can you split off part of the coop to segregate a bird or 2?
Might have to juggle them, mix and match who is with whom, until they all get used to the new situation.
Looking forward to seeing pics of the 'new' coop.

Oh, and....Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there(cause I'll forget)!
View attachment 1966590

I'll try they seem to be fine at night, but i really do hope they take to her. I'll post pictures as soon as possible.

Sure I'll do my location now thanks for the help!

Edit, done my location and avatar thanks for the info, never realised you could do this.

 

[Dottypotty]

Update- well after a few days the new chickens have finally taken to the brown layer hoorah. Ive constantly had 5 eggs a day, free ranging under supervision its amazing to see the other 4 follow heny around like shes the rooster of the flock ...

Here's pictures below this frosty morning, -5 degress. The electric fence has done a grand job so far the shock is leathel tho, its currently throwing out 15k volts , I had it left on when they free ranged inside the run of the fence and they all got the shock of there lives so i switched the fence off in the day for now.. Plus i got the shock of my life forget to switch it off, I tell ya I couldn't let go haha

Enjoy the pictures, I think im near the end of the build of course advise is welcome!!.

 

[aart]

The electric fence has done a grand job so far the shock is leathel tho, its currently throwing out 15k volts

The orange netting is the electric?
Should not be actually lethal, because it pulses rather than a steady charge, right?

 

[Folly's place]

If it was actually lethal, you wouldn't be reporting on it!
There's more of a problem with your chickens if you have it on only intermittently, because they won't respect it, neither will predators, and at least someone will get tangled in it. Keep it on all the time, unless you are working on it!
Have a switch right out there so you can easily turn it off when you are there.
And, better a little strong, rather than too weak.
Don't hit your head on it, or especially small children...
Mary

 

[itsasmallfarm]

just a word of warning. not to be that guy but.

the inside fence looks like chicken wire to me. but the holes look big enough for a weasel to sneak in. but i should ask you guys have weasels in the UK?

only thing worse then a raccoon is the weasel family if you ask me. all of them are pretty nasty. they all seem to kill for fun. and weasels can get in very small holes.

 

[aart]

but i should ask you guys have weasels in the UK?

Oh yeah, they do...or very similar cousin....think they are often called stoats.

 

[Folly's place]

Rats too. Hardware cloth (whatever it's called there) rather than chicken wire always.
Mary

 

[Dottypotty]

Thanks for all the replies guys, there very welcome

Hardware cloth is on the chicken coop itself and underneath the pen. I put more time into keeping them safe there first. The nesting box underneath has been hardware clothed(Sides, front, and the door)., Under the pen and coop has been clothed to, where the tray comes out to clean thats been hardware clothed(double layered to), basically every part on the coop is clothed when there shut in for the night.

My question how would I put hardware cloth around the pen? Would hardware cloth panels be better? Remember the pen is galvanised steel, so im thinking to wrap it around the chicken wire and wire tie it?. Unless I power drill into the steel poles? And bolt them in top to bottom and side to side? My plan is to put the cloth on soon but was to embarrassed to ask you guys here.

Also the fence I decided to leave on in the end, the girls respected it alot more, they got confused with it, getting shocked constantly. It is strong but i must admint i over exagerated a bit, the shock I got wasn't pleasent from my end if im honest..

Unrelated and advice is 100% needed here. So at night when they should go up there ramp into the coop to roost, well the 4 black chickens dont seem to know how to do it which is concerning me as I have to put them in manually each night, as they cuddle up on the coops roof and sleep there????? The brown layer goes to roost fine, but these girls aren't? should I give them time? They seem to have lived I reckon in a barn or shed because they've no idea what to do at sundown which is really odd ..