PREDATORS ABOUND

[N.E.@heart]

We are completely new to living here in the northeast, specifically Putnam county, N.Y. We live in an area with lots of tree's, across the street from a bog/nature preserve. We really want to have chickens here, but there was just a black bear down the street the other day. We have seen red fox and lots of turkey vultures as well. I just don't want to go through chicken deaths! Is it possible to live in a high predator area and still be able to enjoy having backyard chickens? Thank you

 

[The Phantom]

You could shoot them

 

[CntryBoy777]

Welcome from NW Mississippi!!....
The answer to your question is yes....there are a few things that can assist ya in doing so, and it is actually a bit easier if ya have some acreage. A good sturdy boundary wire fence, some Hot wire with a good charger, and an LGD....large guardian dog....or dogs, depending on the numbers of animals to be gaurded against a long list of predators....also, secure housing for added night protection. At the very least ya will need a woven wire fence....not welded wire. A good rifle with available ammo is also a much needed tool, but be sure to comply with all local, state, and federal law in this endeavor. Be sure you read them with your own eyes, so that you Know that you Know....and not just something ya heard or saw somewhere. This will get ya as close ya anyone can be to a uneventful time of keeping animals. There isn't anything that is 100% and when dealing with any animals there are losses of one sort or another....

 

[Trish1974]

I honestly don't think you can free range and never experience a loss, but if you plan on a secure coop and run its definitely possible. I live in an extremely high predator area and, knock on wood, I have not had a loss to a predator yet. Had some close calls though. My coop and run looks like a maximum security prison yard. People often joke with me about when I'm going to add the guard tower! My neighbor free ranges his chickens, and has to replace his flock yearly because of that. So my best advice to you is keep them in a secure, covered run by day (with buried hardware cloth and electric fence) and solid coop with secured locks and no openings bigger than a half inch and you should be fine. I emphasize should because I've never had to deal with bears. If I ever saw a bear I would probably pack up and move!!!

 

[Howard E]

What Trish said X2. Solution is a tight, sturdy coop that nothing can get at night. Then a zone of protection........either run or yard that nothing gets in during the day. Surround it all by an electric fence and it should be safe enough.

Even bears can be deterred by a properly designed, built and maintained electric fence.

 

[Zoomie]

Welcome to BYC! Great to have you here!

I live in an area like that too - every kind of predator and wildlife you can imagine (although, no elephants or tigers, LOL!) and I use a secure coop and covered run. My neighbors make fun of me, too, but I don't mind. I sleep well at night and when I get up in the morning the whole crew is still there.

Put a little thought into building your coop. Mine has a cement floor. NOTHING is going to dig in through that. Build well and strong. The other benefit is you won't have to constantly be fixing it. Build a large run, secure it well and cover it with netting. That way, instead of posting a thread about how there are hawks in you area and what should you do, you can simply get out your bird books and enjoy them.

There are those who free-range and it works for them, although most will admit you must accept some losses. I'm trying to breed certain chickens, so for me, it's really hard to lose even one. For me, free-ranging simply does not work. Every body has a different situation so you need to evaluate your goals and your area, and then come up with a plan that is best for you in your unique situation. And remember to have fun along the way!

 

[Hensndoes]

We are completely new to living here in the northeast, specifically Putnam county, N.Y. We live in an area with lots of tree's, across the street from a bog/nature preserve. We really want to have chickens here, but there was just a black bear down the street the other day. We have seen red fox and lots of turkey vultures as well. I just don't want to go through chicken deaths! Is it possible to live in a high predator area and still be able to enjoy having backyard chickens? Thank you

Yes. But it's expensive. We built our coop and run. It's completely lined with hardware cloth and skirted. Even the roof of the run. It's going to take a bear to get in. Dogs keep the wildlife at bay. They freerange almost daily and the dogs are left out with them. About $3K for a coop large enough for 12. Now we are adding the addition cuz we missed the post about building bigger than your initial planned flock size. Yes you will want more birds.

Edit to add: and a good roo.

 

[Hensndoes]

Welcome to BYC! Great to have you here!

I live in an area like that too - every kind of predator and wildlife you can imagine (although, no elephants or tigers, LOL!) and I use a secure coop and covered run. My neighbors make fun of me, too, but I don't mind. I sleep well at night and when I get up in the morning the whole crew is still there.

Put a little thought into building your coop. Mine has a cement floor. NOTHING is going to dig in through that. Build well and strong. The other benefit is you won't have to constantly be fixing it. Build a large run, secure it well and cover it with netting. That way, instead of posting a thread about how there are hawks in you area and what should you do, you can simply get out your bird books and enjoy them.

There are those who free-range and it works for them, although most will admit you must accept some losses. I'm trying to breed certain chickens, so for me, it's really hard to lose even one. For me, free-ranging simply does not work. Every body has a different situation so you need to evaluate your goals and your area, and then come up with a plan that is best for you in your unique situation. And remember to have fun along the way!

X2 about building. Except for the netting part. Our critters are a bit different than NM. You need hardware cloth. Weasels, possums, racoons, foxes, Fischer, bobcats, and coyotes will get right through netting.

 

[Morrigan]

We have the same situation -- bears, bobcats, weasels, hawks, you name it. We wanted very much to do free range, but decided is was impossible. What we did instead is build a very large, fenced chicken yard, run double strands of electric fence (solar powered, so it's easy to maintain), and netting over the whole thing. Even so, we still have occasional losses. Last winter, the electric fence went down after a rainstorm washed debris over a section and, in the space of an hour, a weasel got in and killed a bird. But, it works pretty well on the main. It's a large enough space to support fairly large bushes and greens up nicely every spring, so the birds can enjoy some foraging. Here's a picture of part of their yard.

 

[StinkyAcres]

There are some good suggestions here. I don't have any to add, but I wanted to say....
You don't have to worry about the Turkey Vultures killing your chickens; they eat carrion.
Where I live I'm pretty sure we can't shoot a bear because we think it might kill our chickens; it has to be killing our chickens, and even then I think the state wants us to call them before we shoot it.
If you own chickens you have to expect to go through chicken deaths. It's just the way it is.