Stressed chickenmama

[hispoptart]

As far as i can tell many of us have had the same worries and fears. Some of us have even crept out in the night with a flashlight to see how they are doing. It is a major hurdle to peace of mind.

I was one of those. For the first 3-4 nights after I put them in the coop I went out several times a night to check of them. I was pretty tiered that week.

 

[Willowspirit]

That thought crossed my mind for sure last night! Had a hard time sleeping. Thanks

We have a game camera and all we've seen so far is our barn cat passing by. The predators exist out there but they haven't made it to my chickens yet.

 

[Trux]

We are one it! Thanks. They made it through with no signs of predators.

Don't fall into being complacent though.

 

[moniquem]

I bought one of these: https://overezchickencoop.com/product/medium-over-ez-chicken-coop/

All the openings have a turn lock and a key lock-pop door, man door and nest box. I do open the window but have hardware cloth stapled up on the inside and the outside. I feel very secure when they are locked in there however.....

The other night I pulled into my driveway around 11pm and there was a raccoon in my front yard! It ran up the driveway and jumped over my neighbors fence . Needless to say I worry....

 

[Willowspirit]

I bought one of these: https://overezchickencoop.com/product/medium-over-ez-chicken-coop/

All the openings have a turn lock and a key lock-pop door, man door and nest box. I do open the window but have hardware cloth stapled up on the inside and the outside. I feel very secure when they are locked in there however.....

The other night I pulled into my driveway around 11pm and there was a raccoon in my front yard! It ran up the driveway and jumped over my neighbors fence . Needless to say I worry....

As long as they are in the coop at night I worry less. Our coops have looks and hasps and look like something houdini would wear in the pool!
I also fear the raccoon!

 

[Folly's place]

Having a safe coop and run prevents most predator attacks; free ranging during the day is their most 'at risk' time.
Mary

 

[cmom]

I have several game cameras. I also have electric wire around my pens and coops, concrete under the pen gates, and heavy duty netting covering the pens all because of loses due to predators in the past. I did loose a bird recently to a fox when she was out free ranging during the middle of the day. Most every night I see at least one predator on one of the cameras.
A coyote

A fox

Another Coyote

 

[llombardo]

(Sigh) so I guess no matter how much we predator proof, there will always be that worry in the back of my mind. Thanks. I feel my worry is at least valid!

Oh I forgot to add that I also leave one flood light on in the yard and my main protector(male GSD) has access to come in and out all night. He is by far the most reliable thing I got, but I also don't want him to get into a fight with anywildlife, especially a raccoon--they can be vicious. He served as a deterrant for them coming in the yard. This is evident by his paw prints on the white vinyl fence. They try coming down the trees and he makes them go right back up.

I also forgot to mention that i have a family of raccoons and oppossums living within feet of the coop. My neighbor across the way has lost a hen and a rooster within tve last 6 months. The hen was killed by an oppossum, not sure about the rooster. The neighbor has killed 2 oppossum and one raccoon. Last night I heard about 15 shots, so someone was shooting something.

 

[cmom]

I have night lights on in all of my coops.

 

[littlebarngirl]

My chicks spent their second night outback last night. Totally normal to overthink, imagine and worry some more about how it's all going outback. We woke up this morning to find the chicks huddled in a little burrow next to the cinder block. They came to life once they heard their good morning song. When my husband and I first woke up, we said..wonder how they're all doing? a few seconds passed, and we jumped out of bed with coffee to go check first thing!