The alert!

[CGilbert]

I just heard one of my chickens give off an alert (9pm at night, pure dark). Fairly certain it was a coyote, but to be sure I put a game trail camera.Since I was so sure that coyotes wouldn't come into our yard, I left their coop door open (stupid me...).

Dogs are territorial and our black lab managed to keep coyotes and other predators off our property... and then I got chickens. We've seen a (single) coyote on our game trail since we got chickens (2 months ago). But I am almost positive that what I heard was a coyote. My husband is making fun of me, saying that I heard a deer and am blowing it out of proportion.

Either way, I set up a game trail camera (we're avid hunters) and hopefully will find out what it was within the next 2 days. Hopefully I don't lose any chickens in the process.

Fingers crossed.

 

[sunflour]

For one to sound an alarm, IMO, there was a real threat around. They should be quite used to deer and other sounds of the night.

Good luck with protecting the flock.

 

[CGilbert]

For one to sound an alarm, IMO, there was a real threat around. They should be quite used to deer and other sounds of the night.

Good luck with protecting the flock.

I completely agree. Thank you

 

[CGilbert]

Nothing came back in last night, but I'll definitely be keeping the game trail camera out there, just in case.

 

[Folly's place]

A predator proof coop for overnight is essential; better yet an attached safe run, but at least locking the birds in the coop needs to happen. Coyotes sing around here almost every night, but the worst chicken predators are the raccoons, then possums, and then foxes and skunks. Daytime it's hawks, but the worst can be dogs. Mary

 

[CGilbert]

A predator proof coop for overnight is essential; better yet an attached safe run, but at least locking the birds in the coop needs to happen. Coyotes sing around here almost every night, but the worst chicken predators are the raccoons, then possums, and then foxes and skunks. Daytime it's hawks, but the worst can be dogs. Mary

The coop is predator proof, the run is fenced around and above. All my runs are hawk and owl proof.
Most predators avoid our place because of our dog, but having chickens appears to be luring them in. Guess my chickies will have to be locked up nightly (which I was doing). I thought I'd let them stay out last night because they were roosting on their doorway and looked so comfy. Oh well, better safe than comfy