Snohomish Backyard

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EggHead in SnoCo

In the Brooder
Nov 14, 2023
6
52
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Hi,
New member located in Snohomish/Mill Creek (WA) area with small backyard flock for last three years. Started with six chicks. Lost one to a hawk about two years ago and one to a bacterial infection. So, down to four for now.

Mostly interested in locals who also have small backyard flocks and the issues they experience.

Hawks seem to be biggest issue for us. We have some nesting Bald Eagles across the street each year around Jan-Mar and lots of sightings of bears, bobcats, coyotes and occasional cougar in the neighborhood but so far only in the front and never captured on camera in the backyard.
 
Last edited:
Hi @EggHead in SnoCo :frow

I am not local to you, but we do have fox, skunk, possum, hawk, and turkey vultures to name a few.

When I built my chicken coop, I added a run with hardware cloth around it, which went about 8 inches below the soil. In addition to that, I bent the hardware cloth 90-degrees to go out horizontally about 8 in. Then covered it with soil and grass. I also placed bird netting on top of the main chicken run.

Animals have not been successful burrowing under the fence.

We have an extended area of the run that is not covered. When hawks or turkey buzzards are flying around, the rooster calls the hens inside the permanent chicken run fixture, where they are safe.

I have yet to lose a chicken when they are inside the coop run area.

You can get a glimpse of it in this video of our chicken coop.

Welcome!
 
Burnt Brass Homestead said:
Hi @EggHead in SnoCo :frow

I am not local to you, but we do have fox, skunk, possum, hawk, and turkey vultures to name a few.

When I built my chicken coop, I added a run with hardware cloth around it, which went about 8 inches below the soil. In addition to that, I bent the hardware cloth 90-degrees to go out horizontally about 8 in. Then covered it with soil and grass. I also placed bird netting on top of the main chicken run.

Animals have not been successful burrowing under the fence.

We have an extended area of the run that is not covered. When hawks or turkey buzzards are flying around, the rooster calls the hens inside the permanent chicken run fixture, where they are safe.

I have yet to lose a chicken when they are inside the coop run area.

You can get a glimpse of it in this video of our chicken coop.

Welcome!
Click to expand...
We actually have had no issues regarding the run, just when I let them free range the backyard doing weed patrol. Usually I’ll open the run during the day and no issues other than the one attack a couple years ago. That is until this summer and we had hawks all the time. Hoping they have migrated South but not sure.
 
TwoCrows said:
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow

I've heard the Eagles are desperate up there, causing trouble in chicken flocks. Stop by your state thread and do some chatting, maybe your neighbors can help with ideas.... https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/washingtonians-come-together-washington-peeps.717207/

Welcome to our community!
Click to expand...
Hi,
Yes - I started a post in the WA State section as well as I hadn’t seen any recent posts regarding current November Hawk activity in the area. My understanding from trying to hunt up info on the local hawks is they migrate South in October-November time frame but hoping someone more knowledgeable might chime in and confirm.
Thanks!
 

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