The operative word is YET.
If you build it, they will come.
If you build it, they will come.
Using your flock for other than meat and eggs
- Thread starter jopheso
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jopheso
Songster
- Feb 13, 2015
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I dont doubt you. If/when it happens we will adjust as best we can
A lot of people do it like that. But in the interim, you could lose all your birds in one night and in the morning find their bodies torn to shreds. I'm speaking from experience.
I've had my share of raccoon, mink, fox and coyote attacks. I started trapping and have become a proficient trapper.
The night after I trapped a raccoon, raccoons broke into my basement where my incubator and brooder were. They killed all the chicks and left shredded innards and other body parts outside my back door just like a cat does when it brings its kill home.
I think they did it out of spite because they had to go into the basement, grab chicks over and over and bring them to the back door to shred them.
All my birds were safely locked into 7 coops at night. Until one night raccoons tore the siding off of one building. They killed most of the birds and then the mink came. Each night, mink found a way into a building until I only had 3 flocks left. I was determined not to lose any more. I ran 2X12s across all the doors bolted down. In the morning I opened up and all the chickens were dead. Nothing eaten, just dead. That was when I knew it was mink cause they were the only thing that could get into a 1" opening.
I got a baby monitor and put it in one of two remaining buildings with chickens. That night, I was awakened to thrashing. I ran out to the buildings to find a mink after it had killed half the birds. I tried to kill it as it ran by but the little bugger escaped. There was a small, nearly imperceptible gap under the door which I repaired the next day.
One night I didn't get home to lock up till after dusk. Raccoons killed about half the birds and the others escaped into the woods.
Following that, that flock refused to sleep in the coop and slept in a tree. Each night I had to use a ladder to retrieve them and put them up. This went on for weeks. Sometimes they went too high for me to reach. A couple weeks later, I lost one. Within another week, they were all taken by predators.
I've had my share of raccoon, mink, fox and coyote attacks. I started trapping and have become a proficient trapper.
The night after I trapped a raccoon, raccoons broke into my basement where my incubator and brooder were. They killed all the chicks and left shredded innards and other body parts outside my back door just like a cat does when it brings its kill home.
I think they did it out of spite because they had to go into the basement, grab chicks over and over and bring them to the back door to shred them.
All my birds were safely locked into 7 coops at night. Until one night raccoons tore the siding off of one building. They killed most of the birds and then the mink came. Each night, mink found a way into a building until I only had 3 flocks left. I was determined not to lose any more. I ran 2X12s across all the doors bolted down. In the morning I opened up and all the chickens were dead. Nothing eaten, just dead. That was when I knew it was mink cause they were the only thing that could get into a 1" opening.
I got a baby monitor and put it in one of two remaining buildings with chickens. That night, I was awakened to thrashing. I ran out to the buildings to find a mink after it had killed half the birds. I tried to kill it as it ran by but the little bugger escaped. There was a small, nearly imperceptible gap under the door which I repaired the next day.
One night I didn't get home to lock up till after dusk. Raccoons killed about half the birds and the others escaped into the woods.
Following that, that flock refused to sleep in the coop and slept in a tree. Each night I had to use a ladder to retrieve them and put them up. This went on for weeks. Sometimes they went too high for me to reach. A couple weeks later, I lost one. Within another week, they were all taken by predators.
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I'm curious where you live if you think your only potential poultry predators are owls and skunks.I hear owls sometimes and I know we have skunks, but we havent lost a chicken to predators in those trees yet and they have been up there close to year I think. If we ever lost any to predation we would start putting them the coop at night, even if they prefer the trees
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jopheso
Songster
- Feb 13, 2015
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That may be the WORST chicken keeping story I have ever heard Canoe!
That was the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
More importantly is that I don't live in a wilderness area. I live in populous suburbs of a large metropolitan area.
About the only omnivorous and carnivorous animals that are potential poultry predators that are found around me that I haven't dealt with yet are black bear, bobcats, mountain lions and wolverines.
I have several owl species but they haven't been a problem.
I lost birds to hawks in the past but not since I have had a Black Penedesenca rooster ranging with each flock.
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jopheso
Songster
- Feb 13, 2015
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I dont think owls and skunks are our only potential poultry predators. We have coyotes, lots of snakes, hawks, falcons, opossum, raccoons etc...
I think one of the things that has helped us so far avoid predation has been the turkeys and we have 2 large (city provided) security lights that I believe to be a deterrent.
So far our system of letting our birds roost in trees has been successful. When it isnt successful we will change.
Snakes have never been a problem for me even though we have lots. The snakes are in more danger from the chickens than vice versa.
Lights haven't been a huge deterrent. The only advantage I see is that it allows the chickens to see the threat. But chickens need a dark period at night.
Lights haven't been a huge deterrent. The only advantage I see is that it allows the chickens to see the threat. But chickens need a dark period at night.
We also live in a warm climate, in South Spain. I let my chickens onto the compost anytime they like. They love it, and I've noticed I don't have to give them so much feed since they've had access to the pile. Once every 10 days or so I give the compost a turn with a pitch fork. My chickens are a great help. I used to turn the pile every 3 days before I got chooks. They are also great in the orchard. Our infestation of codling moth is pretty much down to zero since my chickens have been helping out in the garden and orchard.
Wow! Some experience!
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