predator proofing??

[cheecharrones]

hi guys!! we’re getting ready to move our birds out to the coop in the coming weeks and i want to hear any predator proofing tips! our coop is a 10x10 shed that we’ve added a window to. it has a concrete slab floor. it’s a little older so there’s some gaps and little spaces for unwelcome guests to slither in, but we’ll be dealing all those up. i’m wondering if i need to be concerned about anything digging underneath the coop since it’s a concrete base? also, i planned on letting my girls feee range for most of the day, but then i remembered that we have INSANE hawks. i mean guys seriously i see hawks weekly. they love to chill in my pine trees and they really love to eat all the lizards that run around here. so now i’m thinking of building an unnecessarily large run for them to spend time in, and then letting them free range when i’m outdoors (so at least once a day). i’m in south florida so the critters abound out here! raccoons love my property (much to my chagrin) and have ran into my dogs a few times with NO physical altercation. again, the coop is an actual CBS building, so there’s no way a raccoon could enter, right? i mean they can’t open doorknobs?! other than being outside with the girls (and a gun in my boot) how can i protect them from hawks? also, are there any predators that strike during daylight (other than hawks)? the ladies will be locked in their coop at night and DH and i will be making sure it is ft. knox before they move in there. i just want all my bases covered. this is my very first flock and i don’t want anyone hurting them!!!! sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for your insight!!!!

 

[CluckerFamily]

During the day hawks, eagles, snakes, fox, dogs, cats, possibly bear, cougars, bobcats, etc.
Depending on the doorknob, raccoons can open latches and find their way into a coop.
A run is a good idea for when a predator is around and you need to keep the entire flock locked up for weeks.

 

[azygous]

Glad to hear you're being proactive about predators. I do need to correct a few incorrect notions you appear to have.

Hawks will attempt to pick off a chicken even if the chicken is standing right at your feet. This has happened to me a few times. Other times hawks have attempted treachery while I was outside in the general area. Same goes for bears and bobcats. They seem not to see the human, their focus is on the "meat" wandering around.

Raccoons can open door knobs easily. The only latch that will foil them is a carabiner or something similar that "locks" the latch. They have very dexterous digits and a smart problem solving brain to go with them. You would do well to consider them nearly human.

Uncontrolled neighbor dogs are the worst predator. Be prepared for them.

A covered run with electric hot wire around it is the surest way to thwart predators.

 

[cheecharrones]

During the day hawks, eagles, snakes, fox, dogs, cats, possibly bear, cougars, bobcats, etc.
Depending on the doorknob, raccoons can open latches and find their way into a coop.
A run is a good idea for when a predator is around and you need to keep the entire flock locked up for weeks.

thank you! definitely no bears or cougars in my area. dogs generally stay on their own property. cats abound so i’ll surely keep an eye out. i’ve seen foxes before but only late at night or in the weeeee hours of the morning (like possum& coon hours). garter snakes and black racers LOVE my property, i know snakes enjoy snatching eggs, but would a snake of that size go after an adult hen? (mine are still quite young but i’m thinking for the future).

 

[cheecharrones]

Glad to hear you're being proactive about predators. I do need to correct a few incorrect notions you appear to have.

Hawks will attempt to pick off a chicken even if the chicken is standing right at your feet. This has happened to me a few times. Other times hawks have attempted treachery while I was outside in the general area. Same goes for bears and bobcats. They seem not to see the human, their focus is on the "meat" wandering around.

Raccoons can open door knobs easily. The only latch that will foil them is a carabiner or something similar that "locks" the latch. They have very dexterous digits and a smart problem solving brain to go with them. You would do well to consider them nearly human.

Uncontrolled neighbor dogs are the worst predator. Be prepared for them.

A covered run with electric hot wire around it is the surest way to thwart predators.

thank you very much!!!! i really appreciate the info!! the hawks are really concerning me and your post has only intensified my concern. i have very small dogs (like a couple of them are smaller than an regular size adult hen) that spend most of the day outdoors and i’ve never had any trouble with hawks (or any other animals for that matter) messing with them....does that bode well for my chooks or do predators (specifically hawks) get more bold when it comes to poultry? forgive me if i sound silly, as previously stated i am BRAND new to chicken keeping. i’ve heard the electric wire tip from other folk and i believe i will go in that direction, can’t be too safe!

 

[CluckerFamily]

thank you! definitely no bears or cougars in my area. dogs generally stay on their own property. cats abound so i’ll surely keep an eye out. i’ve seen foxes before but only late at night or in the weeeee hours of the morning (like possum& coon hours). garter snakes and black racers LOVE my property, i know snakes enjoy snatching eggs, but would a snake of that size go after an adult hen? (mine are still quite young but i’m thinking for the future).

The issue with having chickens is that the predators you don't normally see and the ones you normally see at certain times realized that there is a new food source in the area and they start investigating and attempting to breach the barriers to get the chickens.

 

[neo71665]

The dog that "stays on it's property" or "would never harm a fly" will be the first one that takes an entire flock down. Also the ones you don't have any of because you have never seen any around will be the one you have a yard full of one night.

I'd suggest for starters filling out your profile location so we can better help you. We don't need your mailing address but something as simple as the state or country you are in helps narrow things down. Also you might want to stop by your state or country thread and find out what people local to you are dealing with as threats.

 

[azygous]

As @CluckerFamily has pointed out, predators take their time in noticing a change in the presence of chickens in their territory. This includes hawks, raccoons, foxes, bobcats, etc. People can go a couple of years after they get chickens before the first predator shows up to start causing grief. But you can take it to the bank, they will notice eventually. That's why I'm so happy to see you are aware that they are out there waiting for the grand opening of your neighborhood "meat market."

Installing a hot wire and baiting it with peanut butter at intervals will take care of canines, bears, foxes, raccoons, any animal that can get suckered by the smell of peanut butter to come take a whiff (wet nose) or a taste (wet tongue) and the "message" it sends will stick in their brains forever.

Occasionally, I will see a new bear that has moved into the territory come up to my hot wire and taste the peanut butter, do a swift 180 and race off as if their ass was on fire.

A bobcat that came around a few years ago to kill one of my chickens wasn't a fan of peanut butter. To finally rid myself of this cat, I opened a can of mackerel. I placed a fish inside a "burrito" of chicken wire and I wired it to the hot wire. You can fill in the rest of the story. That cat hasn't been back.

 

[cheecharrones]

As @CluckerFamily has pointed out, predators take their time in noticing a change in the presence of chickens in their territory. This includes hawks, raccoons, foxes, bobcats, etc. People can go a couple of years after they get chickens before the first predator shows up to start causing grief. But you can take it to the bank, they will notice eventually. That's why I'm so happy to see you are aware that they are out there waiting for the grand opening of your neighborhood "meat market."

Installing a hot wire and baiting it with peanut butter at intervals will take care of canines, bears, foxes, raccoons, any animal that can get suckered by the smell of peanut butter to come take a whiff (wet nose) or a taste (wet tongue) and the "message" it sends will stick in their brains forever.

Occasionally, I will see a new bear that has moved into the territory come up to my hot wire and taste the peanut butter, do a swift 180 and race off as if their ass was on fire.

A bobcat that came around a few years ago to kill one of my chickens wasn't a fan of peanut butter. To finally rid myself of this cat, I opened a can of mackerel. I placed a fish inside a "burrito" of chicken wire and I wired it to the hot wire. You can fill in the rest of the story. That cat hasn't been back.

grateful for your insight! i will definitely be adding some hot wire to my run!!

 

[CluckerFamily]

As @CluckerFamily has pointed out, predators take their time in noticing a change in the presence of chickens in their territory. This includes hawks, raccoons, foxes, bobcats, etc. People can go a couple of years after they get chickens before the first predator shows up to start causing grief. But you can take it to the bank, they will notice eventually. That's why I'm so happy to see you are aware that they are out there waiting for the grand opening of your neighborhood "meat market."

Installing a hot wire and baiting it with peanut butter at intervals will take care of canines, bears, foxes, raccoons, any animal that can get suckered by the smell of peanut butter to come take a whiff (wet nose) or a taste (wet tongue) and the "message" it sends will stick in their brains forever.

Occasionally, I will see a new bear that has moved into the territory come up to my hot wire and taste the peanut butter, do a swift 180 and race off as if their ass was on fire.

A bobcat that came around a few years ago to kill one of my chickens wasn't a fan of peanut butter. To finally rid myself of this cat, I opened a can of mackerel. I placed a fish inside a "burrito" of chicken wire and I wired it to the hot wire. You can fill in the rest of the story. That cat hasn't been back.

By chance are you smiling while you make these meals for the predators to train them not to mess with your coop?!?! I can picture this all... the food preparation, the baiting, the trail cameras all set or a recliner positioned for the show, and the predators thinking they can breach your coop and they don't even know what hit them; all they know is they are not trying that again!
Great advice!