The worst kind of predator

[toletiquesbysam]

Certainly isn't going to hurt to get padlocks on them especially if it was the bad neighbor!!! Then everyone is safe!!
Hope Matilda gets better!!!

 

[CocoNUT]

because of our neighbors kids who feel everyone's yard is THEIR yard (including their dogs)...we've already got padlocks on both the access door and the run doors themselves for our little set up. i'm not taking ANY chances those children are REMOTELY supervised...they all poke around my garden and i have to politely/sternly tell them to 'get out'! Lord knows how they're torture the poor girls once they're outside full time!!! (even MY child knows not to be poking around in other people's yards!) I wanted to get ELECTRIC fencing...by my hubby won't go for it cause of the kids....softie!
Forgot to add...maybe you should put in a 'fake' video surveillance system....like put "cameras" up...just to see if it's a good preventative measure! you could also turn it on on Thursdays..."just in case"!
Either way...GOOD LUCK!

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
It's not likely that the latch was loose. The run is one of those dog kennels witht the gravity latch. It's either latched or it isn't.

 

[Attack Chicken]

I hope your baby gets better and I hope you catch whatever opened your gate. I'd be watching your neighbors very closely. I'm still scared around here that someone might attempt to steal my birds.

 

[gardencricket]

This is one of my fears, as when I was a kid, dad had a few stolen. We did find out who had done it and no charges were pressed. (the family had no food, and that can happen to anyone). My dad set them up with a few layers and a new rooster that was gonna be sunday dinner if not rehomed as our rooster hated the new one. I honestly have to say this part of the forum has me scared stiff to have chickens again, but when I am able to, my fear won't stop me.

Hope everything turns out ok on your end Jody.

 

[jjthink]

Hoping Matilda is doing okay today.

JJ

 

[columbiacritter]

We had to padlock all of our gates because of the neighbor kids. That worked for the dogs and chickens but then I found out they were bugging my bee hives!!

Durn kids were daring each other to go up and slap or kick my hives. Talking to the parents was useless.

The solution was to stop weed whacking the stinging nettle plants that love growing on my lower property. A few encounters with the nettles finally got them to stay away.

Thnakfully the worst family with 6 out of control kids moved away!!!

 

[PitterPaws]

One thing you can look for if it was a human and your rooster is as mean as you say, look for the evidence, someone walking around with scratches all over them or Bandages all up and down them!

I'm sorry your pullet is sore, but look on the bright side it could have been worse, especialy if it was your Trouble making neighbors who come out on Thursdays.
Hope the little one is better soon.

 

[BlackBart]

I put my latch up high but a smaller human could use something to stand on to reach it.
Paddlock is a good idea.

I think it would be like somebody letting your dogs out or like what happened to my friend.
Some kids were petting her horses. They were seen by several people in the paddock and the next thing you know the horses were running down the middle of the road and one was struck by a car. Had to be euthanized.
The gate latch was secured with a snap, so nothing but a human could have opened it.
Still trying to find the kids but you have to PROVE they left the gate open.

As for putting up a No Trespassing sign, they are for people who respect what a sign says.
A sign doesn't stop most people.

 

[horsejody]

Update on Matilda. Friday night she seemed fine and was put back in the general population. We went camping for the weekend, but my great neighbor was babysitting. She was fine Saturday morning and Saturday night. Sunday morning she relapsed and was put back in the hospital cage. She seemed fine this morning, but she is going to stay in there for a few days to be sure she is completely recovered. I think she may have reinjured herself jumping off a roost or something. The hospital cage is an old parrot cage in the back of the coop. She can see and hear everybody, but nobody can bother her.