Predators everywhere!

[jthornton]

I keep them predator population thinned out around my house... a live trap makes the job easier.

JT

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I keep them predator population thinned out around my house... a live trap makes the job easier.

JT

I'm thinking about getting one but fear I'll just catch barn cats.

 

[BirdGal]

Cats usually are smart enough to only be caught once. After that usually will ignore the trap if they have an alternate food source. Occasionally one is a pest and just likes the treats .But safe for any animals you might have as long as you take the time to check trap a few times daily.

 

[aart]

That's bad, 30! I really hope to lose none. Just stepped outside, hoping last night was an anomaly. Tonight 2 racoons an opossum and possibly a Fisher by the creek. Something's got to give.

Well, the 30 might be an overestimate on their part, they really don't count their birds precisely(if at all), it's a pretty loose operation....but at least 10-20. After 10 the corpses are hard to count. But they did actually see a fox take one in broad daylight and a raccoon chased a 12wo pullet right up onto their deck to the slider at dusk. Their birds are now confined to runs that may or may not be 'secure'.

So far so good, but when I step outside and see eye shine from every direction those walls feel flimsy!

I'll bet! Trapping and killing some may help, hot wire is probably a very good idea.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Well, the 30 might be an overestimate on their part, they really don't count their birds precisely(if at all), it's a pretty loose operation....but at least 10-20. After 10 the corpses are hard to count. But they did actually see a fox take one in broad daylight and a raccoon chased a 12wo pullet right up onto their deck to the slider at dusk. Their birds are now confined to runs that may or may not be 'secure'.

I'll bet! Trapping and killing some may help, hot wire is probably a very good idea.

I have one low hot wire all around, runs, coop, and duck yard. I'm sure that's a deterrent, just feels like not enough. Considering a multi line fence around the entire area but that's rather inconvenient being part of the route to the horse pastures.

 

[aart]

I have one low hot wire all around, runs, coop, and duck yard. I'm sure that's a deterrent, just feels like not enough. Considering a multi line fence around the entire area but that's rather inconvenient being part of the route to the horse pastures.

Might consider more than one there.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Might consider more than one there.

Good idea, anything that gets me sleep! 2 nights of 3 hours...

Just need more insulators, seems I never have enough. The question is go up or go out?

 

[Howard E]

In the short run, bait the wires you have. Try a piece of raw chicken skin (buy a package of thighs and legs) drape it over the wire and hold it in place with a clothes pin. Setup a game camera, make a film loop out of and you may win an award for best picture!

But still leaves the predators.....that close. They need to be moved out to the perimeter and to do that, you need multiple strands of hot wire. Nothing gets over, under or through without getting it.

To reduce the cost of these large runs, I'm using step in posts. With tight wires, you can use spacing of 20 to 25 feet if the ground is fairly level.

I'm sure you have seen how I do this, but if not........they look like this.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

In the short run, bait the wires you have. Try a piece of raw chicken skin (buy a package of thighs and legs) drape it over the wire and hold it in place with a clothes pin. Setup a game camera, make a film loop out of and you may win an award for best picture!

But still leaves the predators.....that close. They need to be moved out to the perimeter and to do that, you need multiple strands of hot wire. Nothing gets over, under or through without getting it.

To reduce the cost of these large runs, I'm using step in posts. With tight wires, you can use spacing of 20 to 25 feet if the ground is fairly level.

I'm sure you have seen how I do this, but if not........they look like this.

View attachment 1427853

Agreed they get too close. The coop complex is enclosed on 1 side by the barn and has electric horse fence on 2 more sides. Maybe I should add lower lines to the horse fence then I'll have to add a wide gate and fence the open side. Minor inconvenience when turning out but would back the beasties up.

 

[BirdGal]

I also live next to a creek and have predator issues. So my plan is to eventually electrify the perimeter . So far livestock guard dogs have been my best help, besides acute lead poisoning.Even any obnoxious loud dog will help,depending on how close you have neighbors. But you have to be careful with bringing in New dogs,as often dogs have not been trained to get along with other species. LGD's have been bred for the job for centuries so instinctive even if the dog has lived in a city and then moved out to rural location.. If you get lucky,sometimes you can find these dogs in rescues or shelters waiting for a home with more room. Do not adopt an adult LGD that has been bred for personal protection as this is wrong bloodline and no different than turning loose a hungry wolf..An adult LGD might not bond to a specific species,but will bond to you and will protect anything that the dog learns is yours. My best dogs have been GT Pyrenees.