Predators eating my chickens and can I raise anything with them...

[deb1]

Quote:
Just not a tiny dog. I had a friend whose Chihuahua was taken by a hawk!


When we lived in Iowa we saw hawks everyday flying over our coop. My husband put regular chicken wire on top of our coop and we didn't have any problem.

 

[LoveMyChicklets]

After talking with hubby last night I think we'll go with the netting on the top of the pen. The pen itself is rather large and could get costly but I hate risking my chickens. Now we'll just have to figure out a way to make sure the possums stay out!

 

[Orpingtonman]

Coons will also grab a chicken and pop the head off. First and foremost, take the advice you are being given on here. All of it's sound adivice. I went through this about a month ago and took everything in that was said. Secondly, re wrap you're coop again, going over every square inch of it. If there is any hole bigger than 3", cover it. Coons can get in, along with everything else. Thirdly, My advise is to get an infared camera and put it close to you're chickens so it'll take pics of whatevers trying to get in. That way you have an idea of what you're dealing with. They are pretty inexpensive and will not spook at night. Mine was invaluable and it helped me erradicate the coons and possums i had getting in. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[LoveMyChicklets]

I will take the advice. It is definitely greatly appreciated!

 

[lovemychix]

Quote:
Me too. I skip the chicken wire and go right for the welded wire to make my runs. I have never had a break in. I also bury mine into the ground about 4 inches. It is a lot of work but it works. My runs are all made from lumber and I use a 2x4's all along the bottom to keep it down securely.

 

[Orpingtonman]

I forgot to mention, Those infared cameras cost anywhere from 50-75 dollars. They are very reliable and any sporting goods store will have them.

 

[lovemychix]

You can buy welded wire that is 1 inch by 2 inches. That is what I use.

 

[gkeesling]

I've had a problem with coons getting into my feed in the barn. I just started with the chickens so I haven't had much problem there yet. One of the things I do, though, is to put a live animal trap out with some catfood in it. I've caught lots of coons, 'possums, stray cats, and even a skunk in my live animal trap. If I ever see any signs of critters around my coop then my live animal trap will go out there. Some of the critters I relocated, if I had the time to take them at least 10 miles away. Others I had to dispatch. If you catch them live, and don't relocate them far enough away then they will come back.

 

[mdfishinggirl]

After talking with hubby last night I think we'll go with the netting on the top of the pen. The pen itself is rather large and could get costly but I hate risking my chickens. Now we'll just have to figure out a way to make sure the possums stay out!

We are building our coop now in our fenced in paddock-turned-garden, and plan to let the chickens have a 30' x 55' area. We have hawks and eagles out there every day, fox dens in the fields and who knows what else. Welded wire 5' up the sides of the old paddock fencing and 12" underground. The aviary netting is the way to go if you have a large area to cover. If you look around online, you can find it fairly cheap (OK, not super cheap...just reasonable). Just do a search and even check ebay. We are going that route after loads of research. Hawks will do whatever it takes in broad daylight, they aren't even afraid of our dog! The netting should work, however. I am new to all of this, but my neighbors with chickens have helped us figure the predation thing out. A SECURE coop and SECURE run is about all you can do. Then, just keep your fingers crossed!

Sorry about your losses. I really hope we don't have to go through that. Good luck!​

 

[Jena]

I know we don't have the problems here with the same predators you have there. But both my sister and I are worried about hawks and also foxes that can be so determined.

We have also been concerned about cost, and I only have 4 birds, so it is easier for me, but I got around it my making my run longer and thinner, my sister has done the same but longer again for her girls. I will try to post a pic later, but basically it is a long thin run with sheets of Ply for a roof.

This meant I could put a top on it from Plywood, and also I can cover it over with a tarp in winter to help keep it protected from the worst of the weather but my girls still get to come outside undercover from the worst of the weather and safe from predators.

I have a string attached to their pop door and feed it up through the run so I only have to go out and release the string and the door closes for them to be inside safe at night, and in the mornings I just pull up the string again and they can come out into their run. It means that even if I have to go out during the day they are safe, and if the weather is mucky I can just close the door without going into the run myself.

I have also put the run along the side of a hedge, so it has extra protection from the prevailing weather. It was trial and error but has worked for us this year. I know you have a lot more birds but maybe something similar would be easy enough to make out of your large pen so you can roof it. I have also followed advice and buried the wire along the sides to stop any foxes burrowing under to get into the run.

I am sure it is such a worry when you have lost so many to predators.

bets wishes,

Jena.