Hi all,
A chicken newbie here. I've had 5 guineas and 20 chickens since May and am now having a predator problem that I feel is on the verge of getting out of hand.
The first day I let my guineas range I lost one. She wouldn't stay with the flock, insisted on flying off into a thick hedgerow and would not rejoin the group. I couldn't get her out to secure her in the coop and she did not live through the night (Houdini, RIP). No feathers or carcass to be found but its very thick brush where she was, so who knows. A few weeks later, another guinea got picked off while they ranged in heavy brush in the middle of the day while we were not at home (Home Slice, RIP). Again, no feathers or carcass, but who knows.
The whole gang ranges all day everyday, whether we are at home or not and all was quiet until this weekend. At dusk the crew automatically jumps in the coop, I round up and stragglers, do a head count and lock them in tight for the evening. This weekend I had to be somewhere to be and could not get the kids in the coop before I had to leave. I figured they'd be fine and I'd shut the door when I got home. Big mistake. I lost a buff and silver cochin and based on where I found feathers I believe everyone had piled in for the night as usual and something came INTO the coop and dragged them out (Zombie Chicken and Fancy Pants, RIP). Terrible. I could barely get the rest to go into the coop last night as they all must be traumatized. Anyway, no carcasses but feathers at the coop door, a larger pile about 20 yards away where they must have been dispatched and then a trail off down a trail to a field. I live in an area where pretty much any predator is a possibility and I know I have possum, coyotes, hawks, fisher (or at least a hearty weasel), fox, and very possibly a bob cat.
So my question is: What do you think is the best way to approach this? I fear that the coop has now been identified as a buffet and some critter has plans to clean me out. Farmer friends of mine had a fox problem earlier this year and were losing chickens every night and even in broad daylight before a neighbor "took care" of it. What do you think would be the single most effective FIRST approach to take.
Should I immediately begin the search for an appropriate dog?
Should I first concentrate on fencing (not sure I can afford the set up I think my problem requires)?
Should I attempt to trap and relocate said varmints?
Should I get guard geese or peacocks or some such?
There's a ton of great info here on the forum that I have poured through. I'd just like to know what some of you more experienced folks think is best for a guy in my predicament. Thanks!
A chicken newbie here. I've had 5 guineas and 20 chickens since May and am now having a predator problem that I feel is on the verge of getting out of hand.
The first day I let my guineas range I lost one. She wouldn't stay with the flock, insisted on flying off into a thick hedgerow and would not rejoin the group. I couldn't get her out to secure her in the coop and she did not live through the night (Houdini, RIP). No feathers or carcass to be found but its very thick brush where she was, so who knows. A few weeks later, another guinea got picked off while they ranged in heavy brush in the middle of the day while we were not at home (Home Slice, RIP). Again, no feathers or carcass, but who knows.
The whole gang ranges all day everyday, whether we are at home or not and all was quiet until this weekend. At dusk the crew automatically jumps in the coop, I round up and stragglers, do a head count and lock them in tight for the evening. This weekend I had to be somewhere to be and could not get the kids in the coop before I had to leave. I figured they'd be fine and I'd shut the door when I got home. Big mistake. I lost a buff and silver cochin and based on where I found feathers I believe everyone had piled in for the night as usual and something came INTO the coop and dragged them out (Zombie Chicken and Fancy Pants, RIP). Terrible. I could barely get the rest to go into the coop last night as they all must be traumatized. Anyway, no carcasses but feathers at the coop door, a larger pile about 20 yards away where they must have been dispatched and then a trail off down a trail to a field. I live in an area where pretty much any predator is a possibility and I know I have possum, coyotes, hawks, fisher (or at least a hearty weasel), fox, and very possibly a bob cat.
So my question is: What do you think is the best way to approach this? I fear that the coop has now been identified as a buffet and some critter has plans to clean me out. Farmer friends of mine had a fox problem earlier this year and were losing chickens every night and even in broad daylight before a neighbor "took care" of it. What do you think would be the single most effective FIRST approach to take.
Should I immediately begin the search for an appropriate dog?
Should I first concentrate on fencing (not sure I can afford the set up I think my problem requires)?
Should I attempt to trap and relocate said varmints?
Should I get guard geese or peacocks or some such?
There's a ton of great info here on the forum that I have poured through. I'd just like to know what some of you more experienced folks think is best for a guy in my predicament. Thanks!
