What Attacked My Coop??

[Sakiza]

@Aji Dulce that’s the plan for today

 

[Aji Dulce]

@Aji Dulce that’s the plan for today

Luckily we have not had any mishaps yet but just in case, we have a trail cam pointed at our coop. A homesteader on YouTube whom I follow, really advocates for a trap as a normal course of keeping chickens. He said “if you are homesteading you need to work with traps”. His premise is that the predators are smart and they have a good memory and they will return. Makes a lot of sense to me. Last time I was at tractor supply they only had the very small humane traps and I know that now they have the larger ones so I have been meaning to do that.

 

[Howard E]

You might also want to install either hardware cloth or even sturdier wire over the vent. My preference is 1/2" x 1" 16 gauge cage wire.......not much larger than hardware cloth and about 2X as strong. No poultry netting staples. Either heavy fence staples or else screws and washers on the corners. They will be tugging at the edges........more like ripping hard at the edges.

And I also suspect coon......somebody wanted in really bad. Give them a few more nights like that and they may do it!

 

[Howard E]

I have found TSC to be a bit PC and timid when it comes to stocking and selling traps. Somebody high up in management probably decided they would be better off to forego a few sales than to offend anyone who might be offended by traps.

Better places to get traps than TSC.

 

[Sakiza]

We got our traps online. Tomahawk I think.

Leaving in a few to get some marshmallows at the store I hope we can catch him tonight.

 

[Alaskan]

Hi there. New here. I live in Minnesota near international falls. We bought a 100 acre farm that is in need of desperate help lol.. anyways I have a barn that needs to be weasel proofed.. we have 4 chicks now and and more in the incubator. I guess I’m wondering what to do to prevent predators... any tips? And your pic shows small claw marks.. I agree raccoon. Thank you!

for weasel proof you need to build a hardware cloth box. holes no bigger than 1/4 inch.

 

[MyChicksRAwesome]

for weasel proof you need to build a hardware cloth box. holes no bigger than 1/4 inch.

Thank you! That is what I was going to do

 

[Alaskan]

Thank you! That is what I was going to do

luckily they USUALLY only massacre at night. ... So you can make a large wonderful run that connects to the smaller fort Knox run and coop.

 

[Folly's place]

In would also cover those vents with hardware cloth, very well secured.
Set live traps and shoot any varmits you catch! Don't trap if you won't kill the predators.
Electric fencing is your friend! Howard E on this site has good advice, and Premier1supplies.com also has good advice, and products.
Keep your birds on lockdown until the current predator(s) are dealt with.
I've found that only feeding the birds in their coop and run, rather than scattering stuff around, helps to keep predators away. Having a very secure coop, and maybe run, is essential.
Most losses will be at night, when the birds are helpless.
Good luck!
Mary

 

[Barry42001]

First off cover all louvers and windows with hardware cloth, no raccoon or possum or mountain lion coming through that. Set up a few hav-a-heart traps bait with peanut butter on bait pan. Might be quite surprised what's out there stalking your birds. I have a particularly dispose feral cats who will eat you out of house and chickens.