varmits

[arstraycat]

i am a wanna be backyard poultry person. we have had turkeys, chickens and pheasants. of about 20 or more different chicks and etc one made it. we built what we thought was a fool proof chicken house, we took them in the house at night when babies, we made sure all were roosting in their safe house before we went to bed and something got them anyway. i live in the city across the street from the country club and on a very busy highway. i know for sure we had a fox but believe also the racoons, opossoms, mink and chicken hawks helped clean us out. at first we bought more but when we couldn't stop the killing we gave up. i couldn't take it. any suggestions on how to raie chickens in the city?

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Can you show us pictures of your coop & run and maybe we'll be able to help you better!

 

[wegotchickens]

Did you use chicken wire or hardware cloth for your coop & run?

I live in a rural subdivision. We only used hardware cloth for the run, and buried about 12" of it around the edges. There are no holes or seams any bigger than a square in the 1/2" hardware cloth. Even the coop windows have harware cloth covering the openings.

My birds only free-range when someone is outside with them, and ther are lots of areas they can hide quickly if a hawk is spotted.

I have padlocks on the gates to each run, to protect against human predators, too.

If you want to post descriptions and photos of your coop & run, maybe some of the experts on BYC could help you pinpoint solutions to some of your issues. I am NOT an expert, but I know what has worked for us...

Good luck!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome tot he forum!

Glad you are here!

Build a coop that is predator-proof. Tight-fitting doors. Solid walls and a roof. Firmly attached hardware cloth over any ventilation openings. Leave no holes anywhere more than 1" wide. Smaller is better. Put an apron of wire around it so critters cannot dig in. Lock them up at night when most predators are most active.

For daytime, build a run that is as predator-proof as you can. Runs are harder. I'd suggest 2"x 4" welded wire all around the sides with hardware cloth around the bottom 18" to 24" so the chickens cannot stick their heads out going after grass so a predator can take their heads off. Put a top on it. Either a solid top that will keep the run drier and provide shade or use the welded wire. Do not leave a space between the top of the sides and the top where a critter can climb through. Again, put an apron of wire all around the run.

Assume your run is not predator proof. Lock them up at night in the coop. Do not let them free range during the day unless you are around them. That may mean you only let them out after supper and you stay with them until dark.

Across from the golf course like that you do have a lot of risks. I live out in the country and am not as restrictive as this, but my coop is very predator-proof and I do lock them up very tightly at night.

Good luck!!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio

 

[Cindiloohoo]

 

[Soaring Chicks]

from WV

 

[b.hromada]

and

from S. Florida! Glad you joined us!

 

[SillyChicken]

from MI

You could also set live traps if you're not allowed (or don't want) to shoot the bad critters. Re locate them or dispose of them. This will at least help reduce the numbers.

Also keep all food in a sealed container, in an unaccessable location! Don't over feed or leave feed out for the bad critters to either eat or be attracted to!

 

[Ga.chickenman]

from Ga.