Protecting Your Flock From Predators

[KikiDeAnime]

Many of us know that keeping fowl brings predators to our property and they will kill a few or all of them. There are both daytime and nighttime predators so you will need to secure your yard enough that both can't kill your flock.

Many of our members will tell you how they protected their flock and give tips on what you can do for your flock to keep them safe!
So if you ever need advice or some tips on predator proofing your yard, make sure to ask them.

My family has had many losses throughout the years due to us not knowing how to secure our chicken yard. Our dogs help us with scaring off the daytime predators and we've even had one time where our dog, Ruby, scared off a raccoon during the night when it tried to get into the chicken coop!


In my opinion, I think Fresh Eggs Daily's blog post about predator proofing is the best:
https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2014/11/predator-proofing-101-how-to-keep-your.html
I also suggest buying her books!

 

[Banditbear]

Soon I will do some work on a write up dealing with different scenarios where depredation is an issue with chickens and other animals you may keep at your homes or acreage.

There's a balance and reason for most everything, and if recurring problems arrise, it's probably because something is out of balance.

I'll be sure and post that here in this forum.

Having dealt with all sorts of predators in different ways as a Wildlife Specialist, I can relate some ideas that could help a bit. (I hope)

 

[centrarchid]

Layers of protection using integrated pest management.

 

[Banditbear]

Layers of protection using integrated pest management.

Yes. In the pattern of a target.

With the bullseye being where the animals are kept day and night as the most attention, and then ranging out from there.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I've seen hawks circling above, spotted a silver/blue fox sometimes dashing across the field, often times hear coyotes at night not too far away...... the neighbor's damn dog sometimes wander through the backyard near the coop, though I'm not sure if he'll actually kill a chicken as he seem to be a scaredy cat more soo then a big dog that he is. So far, all is good..... and I plan to keep it that way.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

weasels, mink, coons and coyotes are the common ones where i live. but have had wolves, cougars, lynx/bobcats and foxes (have an enclosed roof so birds are not an issue)

i just trap the mink and weasels (during are fur season as am a trapper) and trap and shoot the coons. but have just got a LGD but he is still a pup right now.

 

[aart]

In my opinion, I think Fresh Eggs Daily's blog post about predator proofing is the best:
https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2014/11/predator-proofing-101-how-to-keep-your.html
I also suggest buying her books!

Ehhhh...many grains of salt needed with that site's info, IMO, I would not buy a book by her.

This topic needs more than one thread, there are many variables, that's why there is a whole sub-forum

 

[centrarchid]

Predators are the first and last thing I think about every day. Especially for the free-range birds. For me it is fun. I still do not like losing birds to them; I am a sore loser. To protect my birds, the approach is integrated where I have multiple layers of protection and I make adjustments as needed. Many forms of Kung Fu are used to protect my birds. My flock is closed so something obviously works.


Layers like strata, not hens producing eggs.

Pens (multiple) so eggs are not all in one basket. I have three groups of laying hens with representatives of all lines in each. I could have a complete loss of two pens and still not be complete out. The key pens are very high end dog kennels so that even a large dog cannot beat one.

Many of the smaller pens are movable. This helps with parasite (intestinal) management and can make life tougher for predators that like to be able to go all the way around pens. Most larger predators will not mess with a pen next to the hotwire perimeter or be able to scare a birds into a corner when pens are lined up close next to each other. Some pens are just moved vertically to keep predators small critters like weasels out.

Elevated roosts and nest are used ASAP because some predators do not climb well or they do not do so right away buying more time for dogs or me to get in a break up party.

Hotwire fencing provides a perimeter stopping most mammals, especially dogs that are not mine. A perimeter around poultry yard is always present. Seasonal interior perimeters for young of year chickens are used for smaller juvenile chickens that otherwise will not stay close to adults. Inner perimeters involve electrified poultry netting.

Managed vegetation to provide cover patches from elements and hawks as well as help keep birds from ranging too far. The cutting of grass short between hotwire and surrounding fields provides a signal to predators that they are entering a zone of high risk. My dogs use the same strips as runways when patrolling or trying to intercept a predator.

Roosters (most caged) intimidate hawks targeting free-range young of year and hens. Coopers hawks are big time snatch an grab experts on chicks and small juveniles. The free-range roosters can get to situation faster than anyone and juveniles know roosters are protectors. I also pen adult roosters with groups of immature chickens where they rooster is very effective at keeping hawks away.

Dogs acting as poultry guardians supplement other layers and actively adapt as well as communicate with me. Dogs will soon be expected to protect other livestock (sheep / goats). They are the most expensive and slowest component to implement. They require training far beyond simply not killing chickens.

Light in barn used so birds can see owl and call dogs / me in. Still working an lighting where birds can see but not stimulated to come into lay.

Traps are used when the perimeter fencing is leaky. Some predators can figure out fencing or I have a short like after a storm or when snow is deep. Chicken carcass is used mostly as bait.

Me, I am not an expert on anything chicken related, but I can learn and make adjustments. I check on birds in early morning every day and often at least a couple times a night using a flashlight. Doing yard work on weekends and holidays keeps out with birds. Most birds are penned at night and I check twice and can see at a glance contents of most pens from house using the flashlight. I have kids that help more every day. I check on things and sometimes chase bad guys myself. I catch Opossums, will go hand to hand with raccoon, and have had to extricate snakes, owls, and hawks from the other layers. Firearm usage is also part of job, but very seldom and is the last resort.

 

[Birdsonghill]

Predators are the first and last thing I think about every day. Especially for the free-range birds. For me it is fun. I still do not like losing birds to them; I am a sore loser. To protect my birds, the approach is integrated where I have multiple layers of protection and I make adjustments as needed. Many forms of Kung Fu are used to protect my birds. My flock is closed so something obviously works.


Layers like strata, not hens producing eggs.

Pens (multiple) so eggs are not all in one basket. I have three groups of laying hens with representatives of all lines in each. I could have a complete loss of two pens and still not be complete out. The key pens are very high end dog kennels so that even a large dog cannot beat one.

Many of the smaller pens are movable. This helps with parasite (intestinal) management and can make life tougher for predators that like to be able to go all the way around pens. Most larger predators will not mess with a pen next to the hotwire perimeter or be able to scare a birds into a corner when pens are lined up close next to each other. Some pens are just moved vertically to keep predators small critters like weasels out.

Elevated roosts and nest are used ASAP because some predators do not climb well or they do not do so right away buying more time for dogs or me to get in a break up party.

Hotwire fencing provides a perimeter stopping most mammals, especially dogs that are not mine. A perimeter around poultry yard is always present. Seasonal interior perimeters for young of year chickens are used for smaller juvenile chickens that otherwise will not stay close to adults. Inner perimeters involve electrified poultry netting.

Managed vegetation to provide cover patches from elements and hawks as well as help keep birds from ranging too far. The cutting of grass short between hotwire and surrounding fields provides a signal to predators that they are entering a zone of high risk. My dogs use the same strips as runways when patrolling or trying to intercept a predator.

Roosters (most caged) intimidate hawks targeting free-range young of year and hens. Coopers hawks are big time snatch an grab experts on chicks and small juveniles. The free-range roosters can get to situation faster than anyone and juveniles know roosters are protectors. I also pen adult roosters with groups of immature chickens where they rooster is very effective at keeping hawks away.

Dogs acting as poultry guardians supplement other layers and actively adapt as well as communicate with me. Dogs will soon be expected to protect other livestock (sheep / goats). They are the most expensive and slowest component to implement. They require training far beyond simply not killing chickens.

Light in barn used so birds can see owl and call dogs / me in. Still working an lighting where birds can see but not stimulated to come into lay.

Traps are used when the perimeter fencing is leaky. Some predators can figure out fencing or I have a short like after a storm or when snow is deep. Chicken carcass is used mostly as bait.

Me, I am not an expert on anything chicken related, but I can learn and make adjustments. I check on birds in early morning every day and often at least a couple times a night using a flashlight. Doing yard work on weekends and holidays keeps out with birds. Most birds are penned at night and I check twice and can see at a glance contents of most pens from house using the flashlight. I have kids that help more every day. I check on things and sometimes chase bad guys myself. I catch Opossums, will go hand to hand with raccoon, and have had to extricate snakes, owls, and hawks from the other layers. Firearm usage is also part of job, but very seldom and is the last resort.

If you go hand to hand with raccoons, you are one bad--- guy! I have been hunting coons with my dad and other old guys since the 1950's. I have gone to many dozens of field trials and hundreds of hunts. We hunted mountain lions, bears , wild Razorback hogs and Russian boars, as well. Spent a lot of cold nights listening to the dogs treeing a coon and following on a mule or jenny to kill the coon. I also worked at the Overton park zoo in Memphis as a young guy one year,(1972) being the night keeper. They had packs of 30 to 40 coons that marauded through at the time! Anyway, I have seen a coon kill a 100 plus pound Blue Tick hound that had fought with many coons, by drowning it! Other times dogs received very serious wounds. While , usually a large coon hound will kill a coon, the outcome is far from certain! A twenty five pound coon will have fangs close to a couple inches long and razor sharp claws! I killed one once with a hoe that was rabid and it had me cornered in a barn feed room, it scared the heck out of me! It almost got me! The battle was fast and furious and even though I severely injured it the first blow, it still came on and took a lot of scuffling and swinging/blows to stop! I felt lucky to have escaped with no injury! They are very fast and will leap at your face! Best to stay at least a gun barrel length from these cute looking little bandits! PS. I trapped them live and with leg traps for the nearby county health dept./county government and at home. I also rehabilitated, rescued baby coons for local Vets that got them from members of the public several times. Even when hand reared, they often are dangerous after reaching full adulthood. Of course, I was trying to not make them pets and looking back , figure most died eventually from lack of human fear, anyway! Well partner, my hat is off to you! Be careful with your next hand to hand with a wild coon! I hope to never be that close to a wild coon again!

 

[centrarchid]

If you go hand to hand with raccoons, you are one bad--- guy! I have been hunting coons with my dad and other old guys since the 1950's. I have gone to many dozens of field trials and hundreds of hunts. We hunted mountain lions, bears , wild Razorback hogs and Russian boars, as well. Spent a lot of cold nights listening to the dogs treeing a coon and following on a mule or jenny to kill the coon. I also worked at the Overton park zoo in Memphis as a young guy one year,(1972) being the night keeper. They had packs of 30 to 40 coons that marauded through at the time! Anyway, I have seen a coon kill a 100 plus pound Blue Tick hound that had fought with many coons, by drowning it! Other times dogs received very serious wounds. While , usually a large coon hound will kill a coon, the outcome is far from certain! A twenty five pound coon will have fangs close to a couple inches long and razor sharp claws! I killed one once with a hoe that was rabid and it had me cornered in a barn feed room, it scared the heck out of me! It almost got me! The battle was fast and furious and even though I severely injured it the first blow, it still came on and took a lot of scuffling and swinging/blows to stop! I felt lucky to have escaped with no injury! They are very fast and will leap at your face! Best to stay at least a gun barrel length from these cute looking little bandits! PS. I trapped them live and with leg traps for the nearby county health dept./county government and at home. I also rehabilitated, rescued baby coons for local Vets that got them from members of the public several times. Even when hand reared, they often are dangerous after reaching full adulthood. Of course, I was trying to not make them pets and looking back , figure most died eventually from lack of human fear, anyway! Well partner, my hat is off to you! Be careful with your next hand to hand with a wild coon! I hope to never be that close to a wild coon again!

I call fooey, and you are full big boy