Tell How Predators Got Your Chickens. Save Somebody Else From The Bad Experience

[EeyoreD]

Wow, a bunch of interesting posts. I think, even though we have done a lot of proofing, we are probably still vulnerable. The strange thing is you can go for several years with no problems and then a predator decides to get in and you have to deter them or give up. I think making your coop as predator proof as possible is the best course because once they know there is easy, high quality food there it is hard to deter them. I am thinking of an electric wire to deter them, preferably solar powered. Any good recommendations?

Like okallthis said, go to Tractor Supply. I got a solar charger jobby thing and asked the folks there for help. I explained what I needed and they essentially walked me through everything, picked out everything I needed and gave me a few ideas of how I'd want to set it up.

 

[cuisinista]

thanks!

 

[cuisinista]

Thanks!

 

[okallthis4eggs]

We had a hook and eye latch on our egg-hatch door. (enough said, right?) We lost all but one hen to raccoons that night.

Nothing is too insignificate. Even small things like that are important and probably someone just getting started wouldn't think of that. Thanks for sharing that and somebody somewhere will be replacing the hook and eye on their egg hatch door. Sorry about the lost hens but you have helped others because of it.

 

[EeyoreD]

Nothing is too insignificate. Even small things like that are important and probably someone just getting started wouldn't think of that. Thanks for sharing that and somebody somewhere will be replacing the hook and eye on their egg hatch door. Sorry about the lost hens but you have helped others because of it.

Indeed. If you have no experience on how clever predators (especially coons) can be you have no idea that that's not enough. I was trying to find what I use but I can't. I use one of those slide latches that slide into a hoop on the frame and flop down over something I can put a padlock on. Obviously a padlock is annoying so I slip a spring lock/carabiner through it. I have one of those on the top and the bottom of the door in my coopp.

 

[SkylaSilkie]

I was about to look for my lost chick lucky(my brothers fault) and my dad said 2 words and i got the message Silkie Dead.

But one thing worked out, we found lucky in a tree! We still have 0 ideas for what killed my baby silkie, but now the hen is driving me crazy with, CHEEPING. But we are soon to get her a new friend.

 

[Navywife99]

I am not sure what it was but I have three adult Silky chickens that were here one day and then gone the next. No feathers to show what happen or anything. Then this morning I found my baby turkey, three baby silky and 5 baby bramah dead, something had got them out of the dog kennel (the turkey was too big to get out) not sure how they did this since the holes were too small to get out, feathers and body parts still laying there. we had chicken wire wrapped around the kennel and they have not been bothered before. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Feral cat. Depending on your location, could be a weasel or mink....my money is on cat.
Is the top of the run enclosed?

 

[RawrOsaur200]

I was about to look for my lost chick lucky(my brothers fault) and my dad said 2 words and i got the message Silkie Dead.

But one thing worked out, we found lucky in a tree! We still have 0 ideas for what killed my baby silkie, but now the hen is driving me crazy with, CHEEPING. But we are soon to get her a new friend.

Same here.Two dogs got mine and I felt so bad for my survivor becuase he couldnt wait to go outside and start looking for his buddies......He sat in his tore up coop peeping forever....until he finnaly gave up and went to sit by me.

 

[cuisinista]

I would bet skunk or weasel