Ultrasonic Protection for Chickens

[Kung Fu Chicken]

Had a bad attack last week and lost 8 hens to what appeared to be a feral cat. Clear Cat tracks in snow around coop and entry point.

It chewed the backs of their heads on most birds.

Was looking for an ultrasonic protection from all but birds. The area is netted and now 1/2" wire cloth is put up in the point of entry...Grrrr !!!!


Any luck with ultrasonic stuff ??

 

[PD-Riverman]

Had a bad attack last week and lost 8 hens to what appeared to be a feral cat. Clear Cat tracks in snow around coop and entry point.

It chewed the backs of their heads on most birds.

Was looking for an ultrasonic protection from all but birds. The area is netted and now 1/2" wire cloth is put up in the point of entry...Grrrr !!!!


Any luck with ultrasonic stuff ??

A feral cat would not normanly kill several chickens, A Bobcat will for sure. You need to make their coop like Fort Knox or you will lose some more, maybe all. I would set a Large live catch tray that had a bait compartment to use a live chicken as bait(it can not get to the chicken). I have caught several bobcats doing this Thanked the live chickens and put them back with the rests before doing "something" with the Bobcat . Good Luck

Never tried a ultrasonic devise.

 

[boskelli1571]

Had a bad attack last week and lost 8 hens to what appeared to be a feral cat. Clear Cat tracks in snow around coop and entry point.

It chewed the backs of their heads on most birds.

Was looking for an ultrasonic protection from all but birds. The area is netted and now 1/2" wire cloth is put up in the point of entry...Grrrr !!!!


Any luck with ultrasonic stuff ??

Wow! Sorry for your loss...I have used ultrasonic for rodent protection and it has worked well. We also use the ultrasonic thingys' in the house - our cats' don't seem to notice them so not sure if they will work for you. A simple thing to try may be 'predator pee'. You can buy it in farm/seed stores. Use liberally around your coop and see what happens. Motion detector lights, electric fence are all worth trying. Now the cat knows where dinner is, it will be back..

 

[Kung Fu Chicken]

Whatever it was, squeezed through a 2" opening on the roof of coop, currently 8' tall. Got chicken wire stuffed into gaps and 1/2" wire cloth screwed to walls over it.

What's the brand name of the sonic repeller?

 

[boskelli1571]

Y'know the manner of injury/death you describe sounds more like a mink/weasel.... The brand we use is Victor. You can buy them at Home Depot/Lowes'. Around $20 for a 2 pack. Good luck....

 

[PD-Riverman]

Whatever it was, squeezed through a 2" opening on the roof of coop, currently 8' tall. Got chicken wire stuffed into gaps and 1/2" wire cloth screwed to walls over it.

What's the brand name of the sonic repeller?

I can almost bet you the sonic repeller will not work in your case. Put your money in fixing up your coop area---where NOTHING can enter. And/Or buy a big live catch trap(tractor Supply--$130) and catch the predator. Good Luck

 

[Kung Fu Chicken]

Funny the prints in snow matched a spot on domestic cat.
I've got a small possum trap 9"x9"x18" with peanut butter bait.
Also put out a few trays of green stuff to drink in barn.

 

[Kung Fu Chicken]

Would a rooster help and what kind works ??

 

[Zoomie]

@Kung Fu Chicken no, a rooster would no help... they are not like, a Roc, or something, they are in the end just a chicken. A rooster will be killed just as easily as a hen.

Sure, roosters give alarms to help the hens find shelter, and will also sometimes bravely try to intervene between a predator and a hen. But in the end, a rooster is a chicken, not a secret ninja warrior with death-defying powers.

It sounds to me like a mink or weasel as well. Hate to be alarmist, but said mink or weasel my be *living in the coop*.

The tracks outside might very well be a house cat. But, "correlation does not equal causation", as they say. Seeing house cat tracks does not necessarily mean the culprit is a house cat. (Although of course it *could* be - it just does not sound like the MO of a house cat.)

Other BYCers have had a weasel living under or in the coop. Is this possible for your coop? For one of mine, it's up in the air about 2' and nothing can live under it without me knowing. The other has a cement floor. Nothing can dig under or through that 4" of cement. Do you have a space under the coop where something could be living? Maybe there is some tiny space you have not noticed, more on the floor level?

So very sorry about your losses... I really hope you can find a solution soon!

 

[Kung Fu Chicken]

Flooring is gravel/wire cloth covered.
Insulated ceiling and some drywall. 2x8 framework and or metal outside/roof.
It's a bomb shelter and would hear things moving around when pounding on ceiling.
Seen no other evidence of any kind of critter staying.