South Georgia??

[Hessk]

Anyone in Southern Ga? Specifically Valdosta/Thomasville area? I’m wanting to know what sort of predators are ones to “proof” for. I know the basics like cats, dogs, snakes and hawks. Do we have weasels here? Will the copperheads really only eat the eggs and not my hens? We do have a raccoon problem in the neighbor hood but there’s no way they’re getting into my coop or run. The only thing that COULD get in are snakes and weasels (if we have them).

 

[Hessk]

Ok... maybe I’m not raccoon proof.. I didn’t know that they could reach their grimy little paws and grab a chicken. Shoot.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ok... maybe I’m not raccoon proof.. I didn’t know that they could reach their grimy little paws and grab a chicken. Shoot.

You may want to connect with people in GA here's your state thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/yo-georgians.121387/page-4819

I would say you have Weasels. I don't know if Copperheads will only eat eggs, I'm sure they are most snake and if the opportunity arises, they will eat chicks.
Uggh...I can't imagine a Copperhead in a nesting box - I'm not sure how high you would need to run it, but I would put hardware cloth around the run if that's possible.

If you have photos of your coop/run that may help. Raccoons can reach in. Is your coop secure?

 

[Hessk]

You may want to connect with people in GA here's your state thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/yo-georgians.121387/page-4819

I would say you have Weasels. I don't know if Copperheads will only eat eggs, I'm sure they are most snake and if the opportunity arises, they will eat chicks.
Uggh...I can't imagine a Copperhead in a nesting box - I'm not sure how high you would need to run it, but I would put hardware cloth around the run if that's possible.

If you have photos of your coop/run that may help. Raccoons can reach in. Is your coop secure?

I didn’t know there was a page for Georgians! Thank you!

 

[gunslinger33]

Hessk

I live in middle Ga but has some familiarity with the State predators.

Copperheads won’t eat eggs. Copperheads are pit vipers who eat warm blooded animals. Your hens could get bit if they step on a copperhead. You also have Timber , pigmy and eastern diamond backs in your area. Colubrids are the egg eaters: rat snakes and racers.

Air predators would be hawks , kites and owls

Ground predators
Dogs , coyotes, foxes, skunks, bobcats, weasels, opossums, raccoons possibly mink.

 

[gunslinger33]

A little clarity on my post from last night

Eastern Diamondbacks are the largest poisonous snake in North America. They typically eat rabbits but they are large enough to eat a small to medium sized adult chicken. Due to their girth relative to length you would need some pretty big openings for them to get into a coop. Free ranging would be a different opportunity for them. Most of the venomous and large non-venomous snakes in your area will be able to eat medium to small sized chicks. The largest non-venomous snake in North America is the indigo very rare but these are large enough to eat a small to medium sided adult chicken too.

If you have water in your specific area Alligators will eat any sized adult chicken.

I would also be wary of hog signs. Wild and feral hogs probably would not be able to catch and eat a healthy chicken but they will destroy any nests and eggs that are available to them. Of course if your chicken are in an enclosed structurally sound coop I wouldn't be too concerned.

Copperheads and other mid sized venomous snakes are large enough to eat chicks but not large enough to eat adult chickens. A large Timber (Canebrake) rattlesnake is big enough to eat chicks in the 12 week range. Again they will be very thick snakes that need a fair sized opening to get through. I would think that they could get through both welded wire and chain-link openings.

I think you will find relative to your specific area the ground preds are the most common and most abundant to protect from. I think domestic dogs are probably the most difficult because they are less cautious and kill to kill not for the food. Coyotes and Foxes along with others kill for food and will continue to return until you are able to prevent them from feeding. They are very cautious and survey the site multiple times before they get the courage up to "make a move".

If possible I would put up a couple of game cameras to see if you have any predators lurking around. I would look for tracks or any other sign that you have had visitors. Your birds will also tell you if something is off. They will be very skittish and "on alert" for days after something has scared them.

I hope this helps
C