Vigilant

[2hotchicks]

As a new chicken momma & reading all of the predator horror stories, I am very vigilant in keeping Mildred & Louise safe. So, when I saw scat I didn't recognize just a few feet from their run, I went into detective mode, taking photos of & breaking up the scat with a stick looking for clues. Long story short, Barney the beagle had been eating wild bird food & left the unusul looking deposit. What a relief. Why does everyone like to eat chicken?!?

 

[azygous]

Because they're finger-licking good is why!

You're wise to keep on the alert. It sometimes takes a while for predators to wander by and notice the meat market in their neighborhood. I suggest you find out what predators live in your area and try to think how they might try to get at your chickens and be preemptive with the appropriate barriers. If bobcat and fox are prominent, you might even look into running a hot wire around the coop and run. A game cam can also make it easy to identify the culprit if one does breach the fortress.

 

[2hotchicks]

Because they're finger-licking good is why!

You're wise to keep on the alert. It sometimes takes a while for predators to wander by and notice the meat market in their neighborhood. I suggest you find out what predators live in your area and try to think how they might try to get at your chickens and be preemptive with the appropriate barriers. If bobcat and fox are prominent, you might even look into running a hot wire around the coop and run. A game cam can also make it easy to identify the culprit if one does breach the fortress.

Thank you, I'm terrified the local predators will notice a potential meal. We live in outskirts of small town so we have the best/worst of both worlds. Predators in our area include the ususals, raccoons & opposums, plus fox, coyote, hawks & eagles.
My coop is about 5' from backdoor & about 4' from our dining room window (thanks to byc member advice). Our yard is enclosed by 4' chainlink fence. I have an apron along the perimeter to discourage digging. I have 3 dogs who will charge any invaders in the yard (unless the dogs are sleeping in the human bed lol). The dogs have learned I do not want hawks & aggressively chase them away.
I have a Wyze cam on my coop & it pings if there's any movement around the coop/run. That leaves a hot wire, which may be a good idea; the local predators get braver when food is in short supply. Thank you so much for your advice. I'm still shocked by how attached I've grown to these fluffy butts young ladies!

 

[Aunt Angus]

You might check your state's thread in the "Where am I? Where are you?" Forum and ask about predators. I had a heck of a time trying to figure out what was in my area. BYC came through, though!

 

[2hotchicks]

You might check your state's thread in the "Where am I? Where are you?" Forum and ask about predators. I had a heck of a time trying to figure out what was in my area. BYC came through, though!

Thank you, good point. It's probably the unknown predators

You might check your state's thread in the "Where am I? Where are you?" Forum and ask about predators. I had a heck of a time trying to figure out what was in my area. BYC came through, though!

Thank you, good advice! I'm sure the "hidden" predators are the most deadly.

 

[azygous]

Don't forget that both foxes and bobcats are expert fence climbers. A two strand hot wire around your exterior boundary fence, one at the top and another at two feet, baited with a species specific attractant, will get the word out that coveting your chickens involves pain.

 

[2hotchicks]

Don't forget that both foxes and bobcats are expert fence climbers. A two strand hot wire around your exterior boundary fence, one at the top and another at two feet, baited with a species specific attractant, will get the word out that coveting your chickens involves pain.

What about hot wire around the coop/run? Although we are on the last street, with a field behind us & woods & river half a mile away, we are in a city neighborhood so I cannot hot wire my fence. We have neighbors with children & pets. Sometimes we feel we have the best of both worlds, sometimes the worst!

 

[azygous]

Hot wire around the perimeter would sure educate the neighborhood kids. But running it around the coop and run will work. That's how mine is set up.

 

[2hotchicks]

Hot wire around the perimeter would sure educate the neighborhood kids. But running it around the coop and run will work. That's how mine is set up.

Lol, we cannot forget the 2-legged predators. My gates are locked. All coop & run openings have small padlocks. Wyze camera notification of
movement if I'm gone or sleeping. Maybe I can hire armed guards? No one warned me I would fall in love with 2 chickens and be almost obsessed with their safety.

 

[azygous]

Wait until you get chicken math so bad you fall in love with twenty.