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

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Never mentioned anyone's name at all. I don't have a problem shooting something that's become dangerous. I do believe you can build a coop that won't allow predators in it. Just saying, if something got in once killing it wouldn't solve the long term problem. I also free range, so occasionally I'll loose a few, what's left is smarter and faster....I also have dogs...big dogs. Not all methods work for everyone's situation but I am willing to share my solutions.

 

[cuisinista]

I hear you. Our situation is that we have lived in this place 20 years and never encountered such a wily predator. We think the coop is safe but the predator continues to find ways to break in. As I said, it knows if it is tenacious enough it will find a way in. We are continuing our efforts at a Fort Knox but there are costs and benefits....

 

[okallthis4eggs]

I hear you. Our situation is that we have lived in this place 20 years and never encountered such a wily predator. We think the coop is safe but the predator continues to find ways to break in. As I said, it knows if it is tenacious enough it will find a way in. We are continuing our efforts at a Fort Knox but there are costs and benefits....

If you fix the coop your problem will be solved. If you kill the predator another one will take its place and kill more of your chickens. I would work on Ft Knox and stop worrying about the predator

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Or you could hire Achickenwrangler to come up there and get things in order for you.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Or, you could just post some photos and I'll tell you the easiest cheepest way to do it for free!

 

[cuisinista]

I am looking into electric but I am continuing to add aviary wire to any part of the coop that looks vulnerable. I am going with the fort knox strategy for the moment. I haven't had a murder for ~ 10 days, so I am hoping....

 

[growyourbrew]

We have a totally closed enclosure - except for part of the roof fencing that wasn't quite totally nailed shut - a racoon got in and nailed off 6 chickens before we heard a lone chicken cry in the middle of the night. It was such an odd sound so DH went to investigate. If not for that cry, we might have lost the whole coop. That loose part has of course since been nailed shut.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

We have a totally closed enclosure - except for part of the roof fencing that wasn't quite totally nailed shut - a racoon got in and nailed off 6 chickens before we heard a lone chicken cry in the middle of the night. It was such an odd sound so DH went to investigate. If not for that cry, we might have lost the whole coop. That loose part has of course since been nailed shut.

Sorry about the loss. Amazing how they can find the weakest part of a structure and exploit it to gain entry. Survival makes them see things we can't imagine

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

My neighbor said something attacked his dog and sliced her up, looks like a big cat....I haven't had any losses lately, not since I let all the dogs out at once, and they took off into the woods. I think most predators will move on when faced with a bigger threat, after all, there's no vets in the woods, well, not animal vets anyway. We were talking with an old timey guy round here and he laughs and says. " heh heh, sure, why erybody know theys a panther in coffman holler." Well, as long as he restricts his diet to rabbits he can stay.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

My neighbor said something attacked his dog and sliced her up, looks like a big cat....I haven't had any losses lately, not since I let all the dogs out at once, and they took off into the woods. I think most predators will move on when faced with a bigger threat, after all, there's no vets in the woods, well, not animal vets anyway. We were talking with an old timey guy round here and he laughs and says. " heh heh, sure, why erybody know theys a panther in coffman holler." Well, as long as he restricts his diet to rabbits he can stay.

We got Bobcats round here but no panthers. You really do live in the jungle. No wonder you come out of the house shootin when you hear something.