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

[silkiechicken]

I free range knowing the risks of not having any fencing...

1. Coons are the worst! Have had them dig under grow out pens. Put metal skirts on grow out pens.
2. Coons are crafty! They can tear chicken wire off grow out pens! Use hardware cloth, the welded wire stuff, not chicken wire.
3. Coons are like children. They have shimmied up to the coop door and OPENED the latch! Put a lock on the door at night.
4. Hawks... They like to eat the crested birds. I don't raise crested birds anymore or keep head feathers trimmed.
5. Pet dogs.... nothing you can do about those while free running birds other than sending those back with a dead bird on them or their dog covered in blood. Well and having lots of dense underbrush for birds to escape into if required.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Bottom line is if dogs can get to your chickens so can most other predators. If you reach a agreement with your neighbors and they keep their dogs away who is going to keep away the foxes, coyote's, and raccoons? Make the choice to free range or to keep your flock in a protected run. If you free range understand and accept that there will be loses. That goes with it. If you get "attached" to your chickens and consider them pets, even extended family as some suggest, then no way should you free range chickens. Build a (Ft. Knox) coop and run and keep them protected day and night. I have said before its easier to build a predator proof chicken coop and run and not worry about predators instead of trying to catch or kill every predator in the state you live in. (by the way predators will cross state lines) Don't kid yourself thinking there are no predators because you never see them. They are out there. Most are nocturnal.
That being said shouldn't you yourself bear some responsibility making your animals safe just as you ask your neighbors to do. If you ask your neighbor to control his dog shouldn't you take steps to control the foxes, coyotes, and raccoons? What if you kill or cripple all of the dogs in the neighborhood and lose your chickens a week later to a raccoon because you didn't do your part. Are you OK with that? Just a thought. Animals will be animals. They don't think or reason like we do.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Sounds about right, if dogs can get in so can alot of other stuff. My neighbors dog killed the rooster I gave him, well the hen went too close and the roo jumped in. My neighbor shot his dog. It is the second time it's killed a chicken, and the dog was tied up in the usual spot. The chickens didn't see the dog as a predator. I gave him another roo, one that knows not to trust dogs. I have used chicks to train the dogs but realized those chickens don't see the dog as a threat, so I now allow the dogs to scatter the flock a bit by running them through (not at) the flock. My chickens don't like dogs now and sound the alarm when one gets close.

 

[PolloBoracho]

We lost one Buff Orphington to a weasel or skunk because we didn't have a door on our coop, we thought they were safe inside their fence. Well, the holes were too big in the fence and something slipped through and beheaded one chicken and brutally scarred another. We've secured our coop now at night with a door and lock and we've made a new day run. Also, recently, we lost one chicken to possibly the heat, it was over 100 that day. Even though we had misters and they were under a tree, we found her dead inside the coop in her nesting position. Our others we fine, maybe she had something else going on. I just wanted some pet chickens for eggs and bug control... also because they're so awesomely terrific. Now I'm having to deal with deaths and I'm not very happy!! (

 

[CountryAgain]

So far, I have not lost any chickens. Mine are in 2 pens that are inside the dog pen with a large dog that likes to chase intruding animals but doesn't care about chickens. When I let mine out to free-range, I am usually outside in the yard along with 2 large dogs. I don't stay around them unless I hear a hawk nearby. I know that I will eventually lose some to a predator, but the predator will have to take out 2 80 lb dogs first.

 

[colburg]

try these: http://www.schmittent.com/dog_proof_coon (I've been told the Duke one is the best)

I've heard they're excellent. Safe around dogs but when something with a hand reaches in, it springs the trap. I just received 4 of them on the advice of several people on the boards. Bait them with sardines, corn or marshmallows just make sure you get the bait below the trigger so they have to grab under it and spring it.

I'll be setting mine as soon as I have a chance.

Actually, hang on, are you looking to relocate them or get rid of them? Relocate is a terrible idea. Coons are smart - the reason they're getting out of your traps is they've been in one once and some kind hearted but misguided person relocated them instead of dispatched them. So now they know what those traps are and how to defeat them. If you have a coon problem, especially (but not limited to) a smart coon problem, best to just get rid of them

Have you caught a skunk in you Duke traps? How do handle them? I know I'll trap 5 skunks before I get a coon every time. I prefer the havahart traps just because that's the least smelly way to get rid of skunks. An alternative would be great.

 

[colburg]

To all who have had coons get through chicken wire. Have the coons actually ripped and chewed through the wire, or do they simply get it to unravel since chicken wire is not truly woven? Pics of failures to learn from would be great as I am building my new tractor now.

 

[SistaChick]

To all who have had coons get through chicken wire. Have the coons actually ripped and chewed through the wire, or do they simply get it to unravel since chicken wire is not truly woven? Pics of failures to learn from would be great as I am building my new tractor now.

I believe the only safe way to keep your chickens in a tractor is by using hardware cloth, preferably the 1/2" by 1/2" or no bigger than the 1/2" by 1".

Take it from me, I lost 8 eight week old's to a predator because chicken wire is not sufficient to keep anything out. All it does is keep the chickens in and therefore makes the tractor a death trap.

I had to rebuild my tractor and make it as predator proof as I could before I allowed myself to do this again. It is hard going out into the backyard and finding all your chickens dead.

 

[cheeka]

PolloBaracho, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss,
a chicken home needs to be Fort Knox, and even still... might be penetrated... I inspect all the area around my enclosure for signs of tracks, digging... there's not much area left that's open with the maple tree trunk lining the edges over the HW cloth skirt, but I've noticed that the gang are creating new bath spots and are actually creating hollows under the curve of the skin to skirt...requiring trips to the spare rock wall... it's all lined in the front with rock, inside and out.
My new 3 have no trust in me yet... they've only been here 2 full weeks... but "playing" "ring around the lilac" is getting OLD!
My original gang, now 21 weeks, are so good, hand raised since day 2... shake the seed container, et Voila! they follow me anywhere.

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

My last issue before wrapping my whole run in chicken wire was hawks. i had fence wire strung every 12 inches over the run, it didnt stop them a bit. even caught one eating a chick before i got the chicken wire secured together. that one didnt get away.