Predator help.

[Folly's place]

I'm appalled too, how awful!
It's great that these jerks have been found, very good work on your part!
Starting over, things will be much better, and the new birds will be wonderful, and help you all start to recover.
Electric fencing?
Mary

 

[Dottypotty]

I'm appalled too, how awful!
It's great that these jerks have been found, very good work on your part!
Starting over, things will be much better, and the new birds will be wonderful, and help you all start to recover.
Electric fencing?
Mary

Electric fencing has been ordered just waiting for the arrival. Thank you for your kind words, I hope yourself and everyone uderstands why I havent posted any updates. Ive been in over my head sorting this out and working flatout, im grateful the answers have been answered. I fought so hard to get a outcome, I adore all animals I couldnt let this go, i respect everyone who protects there babies. I wasnt going to drop this case, a few members of my family did tell me to drop it, stating i was being paranoid, but hey you know in your right mind when something is off.

Pictures will be posted of the new build, and any ideas what i can do will be appreciated by you all in making a safe place for my girls. Ive done quite a lot of the build but feedback never hurts from you wonderful members.

 

[aart]

The police did respond and took evidence, and to our surprise this has happened to multilpe of our neighbours, ducks and chickens. The outcome was that these were 3 people with dogs, Im grateful a neighbour which lives 6 miles down from me captured these sick individuals red handed on there cctv, there actions were sickening, one was a watch out, and the other 2 did what they had to do for fun. Also the evidence linked to the same people due to footprints and dna, thank gocdness they walked all over the silage wrapped bales etc. But the biggest mistake they did, they used the bridal paths, which runs through our property and down to surrounding neighbours.

That's Crazy!!
Sure explains thing tho...well the weird evidence, not the weird people.
Bunch of kids?

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Thanks for all the feedback guys, sorry I haven't dropped by with an update ive been helish busy with the whole situation.

And no this isn't a hoax or a sick prank this is genuine. I understand why a few people have led to this on the site, but honestly I havent had time to log in.

The hen that survived is still with us, after a long few weeks and extra bit of comfort she finally went back into lay. She laid her first on sunday and has laid ever since(6 eggs so far),. i was worried because i thought she wouldn't make it being eggbound for so long, she really was uncomfortable.

I was so commited in helping her, warm baths, poultry lay powder, etc etc. I even went to great lengths to build a little coop for her and let her recover in the locked barn. I even went to the lengths of just being with her in the day and night, and built this great trust between us. It got to a point where she only trusted in me, but now she's full of beans with the whole family. She's mortified of dogs though, but i'll get more into that down below., She completely adore's our farm cat though, they do everything with eachother.

Anyway long story short, i've broguht a new chicken coop, new pen, 6 motion sensor lights, animal predator repeller and last but not least new 8 cctv camera system around the whole property. We're getting her a new flock shortly, im waiting on some mesh to dig down under the new run and all the right measures need to be taken so this never happens again.

From the location side i should have posted that in the first place, i was so sickened with what happened i was beat, felt i let flock and family down. We're based in the United kingdom in west wales, around 26 miles out from the nearest town.

The police did respond and took evidence, and to our surprise this has happened to multilpe of our neighbours, ducks and chickens. The outcome was that these were 3 people with dogs, Im grateful a neighbour which lives 6 miles down from me captured these sick individuals red handed on there cctv, there actions were sickening, one was a watch out, and the other 2 did what they had to do for fun. Also the evidence linked to the same people due to footprints and dna, thank gocdness they walked all over the silage wrapped bales etc. But the biggest mistake they did, they used the bridal paths, which runs through our property and down to surrounding neighbours.

The police advised us to keep the chickens where they were found and put a bait camera up which i borrowed , low and behold the same people who did this came back at around 4am in the morning and took them, caught red handed. The SD card fitted in the camera i took out, plugged it into my laptop and it was all shown, im truly am lost for words, i dont understand these people. its make me violently sick.. There has been arrests but i cant go into great detail as you will all know but the low life people they caught have admitted the crime they commited. Update will follow but im keeping things under wraps for now, trying to come to terms with all of this, im grateful for the neighbour who spoke up atleast there are good souls around.

Pictures of my new setup will be up in the next few hours or days, still building away, but every area is covered with cctv, and im taking big measures since I can not trust a single human being again. Im more proud in a way i preserved all the evidence, with picture evidence, videos and covering up where it all happened, without that the evidence would have not been there. ALWAYS liten to your gut instinct, something didnt sit well about the whole situtation, im glad its over but my god I wont let these heartless thugs win. If anyone or anything comes near my flock, there gunna get a shock!!

Oh how utterly horrible! It really is people who are the worst predator. I’m so so sorry for you and your family, and the neighbors who suffered losses! I really hope these sick people are locked up for a long time. On a positive note, I’m so glad that your surviving hen has rebounded. She’s a lucky girl to have you helping her to regain her confidence!!!

 

[Jamited]

Thank you so much for your detailed update. I'm sickened that this should happen but even more sickened that it should occur in UK. I'm based in Kent by the sea. We have a few neighbours and like you say, the good ones are worth their weight in gold. The trouble is these thugs will probably wave the mental health card and get away with it. But if you live in a small community everyone will soon know who's done this and their families must be very proud! I'm very happy your survivor is laying again -what a little trooper she is. I don't know if you're interested in rescuing ex battery hens but if you are log into British hen welfare. They'll have details of the next consignment ready for your part of Wales. Congratulations on all your extra work saving your pets. These bastards just don't realise the rippling effect their cruel acts have. They should be made to pay or their families should depending on their age. Good luck for the future

 

[Dottypotty]

Thank you for all the responses, I was actually thinking about rescuing ex battery hens.

Here's the build so far, it isn't 100% complete, I've dug mesh into the ground, to prevent digging and secured the coop with mesh underneath, on top and the sides for extra protection. I've also meshed underneath the nesting box. The run is for extra protection at night, but also the girls will be free ranging under close watch.

Suggestions are welcome, the coop is a backup for now, I'm currently getting the other hen house on wheels into this new run once I can dig and lift it out with a pallet fork.

Also the run will be extended, and more predator mesh will be arriving. Also the electric fencing is yet to be delivered. The 3 other motion sensor light is to be put up.

Slow progress due to wind and rain, but im quite pleased so far. Any criticism is welcome to help imporve this, and to learn.

Also theres a wirless cctv camera inside the coop, also theres one inside the pen in the corner, and theres a camera overlooking the whole area, once anything passes it, an alarm will sound, and be prodcast to the tv, sent to my mobile etc.

 

[Jamited]

I've got a similar set up -my aviary is 12x6' and it's on paving stones all the way around. We laid a huge sheet of steel mesh. The kind they use for reinforcing concrete about 6" down then earth then turf (which has all been eaten!) That way a fox probably wouldn't bother trying to dig under the paving stones then he wouldn't be able to get through the mesh. I've covered the roof with corrugated plastic sheets and three sides of the aviary so that only one side -a 12'side is open to the elements as the chickens don't like getting wet and I don't want their food to get wet. They are sheltered from the strong winds we get here too. I suppose they are spoilt but they're only little bantams. One fits in my one hand. So cute. Did you say something about a co-op on wheels? I did consider that but I don't have space to move my aviary so it's permanent. I do hope they throw the book at the thugs. Are they out awaiting trial or whatever they call it? No wonder you're suspicious of people. I hope you learn to trust again and that you've found this message useful. Thanks for the pics.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm glad you are moving forward!
If you add plastic sheeting or tarps to at least the windward sides, and maybe three sides of the chainlink, the whole thing will act as a coop, at least during the day.
Here we have rats and weasels, so for total protection, hardware cloth would be necessary over all the chainlink.
Mary

 

[Dottypotty]

I'm glad you are moving forward!
If you add plastic sheeting or tarps to at least the windward sides, and maybe three sides of the chainlink, the whole thing will act as a coop, at least during the day.
Here we have rats and weasels, so for total protection, hardware cloth would be necessary over all the chainlink.
Mary

Fantastic idea, I have some plastic sheeting. mind you its bright blue...(Edit) Should i put the sheeting on the inside the pen or? Since the electric fence? sorry for all questions

Quick update, the electric fence box has arrived today, powers off mains also battery if we lose electric i got this type to protect my flock no matter what happens, it cost a bit but im so determined to protect my new girls when they arrive, it even came with a solar panel for the summer to save electric. It has a 5 year warranty to, which is fantastic.

Quick question though, you know the battery for the fencing in case the power is out where should I place the battery? Inside the run and cover the battery or??.. The battery has got a special cover hand to protect the elements, im just not sure. I know ive gotta put a ground steak in the ground and all but i was thinking inside the pen because anyone could undo the battery? Thinking logically...

Also I brought a secure lock for the door, and padlocks for the whole coop so nothing can open the doors, pretty much protected the whole thing in meshm thank god I had a staple tacker, may have to think of some roof tarp at some point, but the coop inside is dry as anything even though we had horrendous wind and rain. Im not to sure.

Our current chicken is fighting fit, woke up to 2 eggs this morning which ive never experinced before since she went to roost last night and her coop was empty. Shes in the barn for now still at night locked in, but she free ranges all day. im going to introduce her soon to the new coop and run but im so scared to, after the experincce.

Her flock will soon be with us, im hoping my investment into this new build wont go to waste fingers crossed.

 

[Folly's place]

The image I got of you burying 'ground steak in the ground'? Loved it, sorry!
I've never used a battery powered fence, so if there are directions with the battery, follow them. Our electric fencing carries a big charge, and is for the livestock fencing, and is plugged into the electricity. This year we spent $$ for a whole house generator, because out in the country here, filling gas into the portable thingie has gotten old...
Mary