Unknown hen killer?!?

[bobbi-j]

Please do not trap and relocate. Not only is it illegal in many states, you're probably dumping your problem animal on someone else. You do need to build a better, more secure coop. Enclose the top. Reinforce your cattle panels with hardware cloth. Even if you trap whatever your current predator is, you will have more. As previously stated, everything likes chicken.

 

[Triple Willow]

Here is another idea for a not so expensive secure coop:

 

[gigiok]

Hi Arianna. I'm so sorry about your losses. I had the same thing happen when I first got chickens and quickly found out that it was a raccoon(s). They are everywhere and trapping one doesn't mean you've solved the problem. I so agree with Triple Willow. You've got to make a predator proof coop. It's actually not hard to do - you've got to think like a predator - a very hungry predator. First, chicken wire is like tissue paper. It only keeps chickens in but does nothing to keep predators out. They can rip through it as easily as you or I ripping up cardboard. Use hardware cloth, the 1/2inch squares, nailed to posts and buried about 18 inches deep around the perimeter of your pen. I go up 5 feet because I want to walk in there and I don't want chickens flying out. Then I have aviary netting (you can find it on Amazon) over the top to keep out owls. Finally, and most importantly, have a coop 'pop' door that you close and lock as soon as the chickens go in at sunset. I have mine on a motor (Add-a-motor on Amazon) hooked to a timer so it opens and closes automatically depending on the time it is set on. You don't have to do that but often we go out in the evening or I want to sleep in a bit in the morning and this way I don't have to worry about the chickens either getting out in the morning or being safe at night. I also don't let mine free range as I have a very large pen. We have tons of hawks, owls, coyotes, etc - even immature eagles have perched on the trees looking for free lunches, so I opted for keeping my chicks safe with lots of fun stuff to do inside their run rather than free ranging. I know this all sounds like a lot to do but we haven't lost a chicken since I predator-proofed my run. Good luck!

 

[Ariana Martinez]

I've gotten the house predator proof, and a built in chicken door with a lock on it ( kind of like a dog kennel door) with a clip on it to make sure it stays closed. My hen house is made out of extra materials made up of wood, sheet metal, and other things that were found around my farm. My first chicken was a hen my step dad came home with after the hen jumped out of a shipping truck that was dropping boxes off at his work. I made up my own hen house and we soon got more chickens, horses, goats, sheep. Etc. I'm 15 and am a animal freak, I built my horses pasture fence, my sheep and goats pen a house, and my own chicken coop. My parents buy the supplies and I build whatever I need built. So I've gotten the house secure and had other people look at it for there opinions. Now I'm just working on the run! And my mom promised me more chickens after I get everything ready for more. At the moment I have 4 Roos and only 2 hens

( I get attached to all my chickens so I can't get rid of any) I lost 3 hens to the predator. The last attack happened last Saturday and 3 chickens were missing, 1 Roo and 2hens (bothe hens were tiny and one I raised in my bedroom and hasn't even started laying) after I went back in the house I looked out the window and Nugget my hen showed up from under an old truck that was by the coop and my youngest Roo who I also raised in my bedroom showed up with his butt feathers ripped out. Since then I haven't lost any and the we have a trap set up with a chicken carcass in it. Hoping to get the problem over with, and have my chickens safe again!

 

[Triple Willow]

Great! Sounds like you are on the ball. You sound a whole lot like me when I was your age. I would build all kinds of things. It's fun isn't it? Good luck to you. I hope you don't have any more losses.

 

[Ariana Martinez]

It's very fun

I train my own animals and broke bothe my horses to ride and am now currently training my new horse to run barrels!

 

[Triple Willow]

It's very fun

I train my own animals and broke bothe my horses to ride and am now currently training my new horse to run barrels!

Cool Ariana. You would have made a neat neighbor when I was your age. All I had around was boys. lol

 

[Ariana Martinez]

It's been good I have not lost any chickens! Lol, I have 1 sister that lives with me and 6 brothers! I live on a farm with 9 dogs, 2 horses, 6 chickens, 2 kitties, 1 sheep, 4 rats, 1 hamster, 1 rabbit and will be adding more chickens in the spring!

 

[Triple Willow]

It's been good I have not lost any chickens! Lol, I have 1 sister that lives with me and 6 brothers! I live on a farm with 9 dogs, 2 horses, 6 chickens, 2 kitties, 1 sheep, 4 rats, 1 hamster, 1 rabbit and will be adding more chickens in the spring!

I'm glad to hear you haven't lost any more of your chickens! Sounds like a busy and wonderful place where you live. Did you guys have any trouble with the cold weather that passed through last week? Hope not!

 

[Ariana Martinez]

No not at all! The chickens had a tarp wrapped over there house and some straw, hay and shavings along with a heating lamp and one another to keep warm!