we woke up to a chicken massacre. ANy ideas?

[cluck-addict]

We ARE going to TSC today for more chicken wire and cement. oh and electric fencing. We left a radio on and the lights too.

Hubby must care, even though he pretends not to, he left his nasty t-shirt from yesterday hanging on the door to keep predators away.

HE doesn't think the framing and fencing is needed but I just don't want to lose the rest of these chickens. I'd like a little meat and after 2 months was looking forward to some eggs in a few more months. My youngest is so happy his favorite silkie wasn't taken in the attack.

I'll take photos to let you all know how it goes.

Thanks,

 

[FaereChicken]

Sadly, for those of us who are new at this, this is how we learn what will and will not work. We lost 2 and then another one due to insecure housing. Now the housing is secure, and becoming better.

The 3 remaining hens made it through another night last night. The number of times that the dog started barking wildly indicates that the coons were out there, but they didn't get in.

I'm sorry for your loss - it's an ugly thing to find.

 

[dixiechick]

I ran an electric fence around the bottom of my coop/run and have lost nothing in two years. DH put an switch on the fence so the we can turn it off easily to collect eggs, do cleaning, or allow them out under supervised free range. For about $100 you can insure your flock with a fence. It buys you peace of mind.

In fact, just talked to oldtimegator at a swap yesterday and she put one up after a predator got to her's and her place is quiet as a mouse.

 

[Davaroo]

Yeah I've been singing the praises of electric fencing for some time now.
I know it is sometimes tiresome to hear the same song, but the good ones never go out of fashion, you know?

 

[The Chicken Lady]

I don't know if you want to use chicken wire. Can you get some hardware cloth instead? A raccoon can tear apart chicken wire easily. It's designed more to keep the chickens in than to keep any predators out.

 

[BlackBart]

Quote:
I second that. Bet it was a mink or weasel.
I also second electric fencing.
Is your cat OK?

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Here's a great point. Fences serve two purposes:

To keep something in - and/or to keep something else, OUT.

Welded wire mesh is going to be a better choice all around.


PS And while were at it, heres one of my favorite epigrams:

"Never take down a fence, until you first learn why it was put up."

 

[cluck-addict]

Its goig to be a major chore to convince my husband that an electric fence is the right thing. Hardware cloth sounds like a great idea..... I've already priced it out.

Did you keep the fence at ground level and up or should it be buried a little.

The coop is about 150x50 its HUGE>

I want to put some walls up on the inside because we aren't using the whole thing for chickens.... only about a 20 x 15 area.

Any ideas for a stubborn husband?

 

[kcfuerst]

How about an electronic door opener/closer that will lock the girls inside the coop when they go to bed. That way, even if a predator manages to enter the run, they can't get inside the coop.

I agree with welded wire. Chicken wire won't keep out critters of any kind, even mice.

 

[BlackBart]

Quote:
Feed him good

You could run a couple of electric lines around the bottom, about four inches off the ground and another at about eight inches and one line around the top of the coop.
Its not very expensive. The fence charger is the most expensive item and it will last for years.
You can buy solar operated ones too.