Will Be Testing Ways to Keep Predators Off Chickens

[centrarchid]

so is this thread about racoons eating crayfish and then getting eaten by crayfish or keeping predators away from your chickens so they don't kill your birds?

I will be testing some repellent systems on the market to see if the predators can be kept away from the crayfish. Presumably, the same approaches can be used to keep the same predators from getting into chickens in some situations. I keep chickens so interested in applying methods properly to them. Some items marketed out their may not work, like the the CD approach with hawks and radio approach with foxes.

 

[birdlover2]

I will be testing some repellent systems on the market to see if the predators can be kept away from the crayfish. Presumably, the same approaches can be used to keep the same predators from getting into chickens in some situations. I keep chickens so interested in applying methods properly to them. Some items marketed out their may not work, like the the CD approach with hawks and radio approach with foxes.

Right! Makes sense. I'll stay tuned then

 

[ColtHandorf]

Looks interesting. I'll keep an eye out for updates. I did feel a little bad for the raccoon when that trap fell in. I guess you'll be anchoring them in the future?

 

[centrarchid]

Looks interesting. I'll keep an eye out for updates. I did feel a little bad for the raccoon when that trap fell in. I guess you'll be anchoring them in the future?

No more traps. I was no the one to set it up because did not think would make a real difference. Videos more important now to quantify and characterize problem. I suspect there are more than 10 raccoons at any given time working raceway during night, and they have a rotation on top of that. Otters not likely to go into trap like that anyway. The birds may be an even bigger issue in raceways holding bait minnows. Cameras not trained on that issue, but feces makes me think problem bigger than 50 lbs of crayfish in a night.

My initial through was to block critters from approaching raceways. Challenge there is raceways accessed multiple times daily to stock and harvest. What ever is down also must not interfere with using nets and crowders in raceways. Raceways occupy about 1/10 acre that is rectagular in shape. If keeping critters away from raceway complex, then would be like defending a large chicken run. Tractors and trucks must not be obstructed either.

Farmer need not be investing too much time baiting, arming, and emptying traps. Farm has several hundred acres in ponds making so a lot of predators supported in immediate area. Several other farmers have similar issues. Most losses likely in ponds, but value of stock increases greatly when moved from ponds to raceways.

 

[centrarchid]

This will be tried first. I will be honest when reporting.
https://www.amazon.com/Nite-Guard-NG-001-Predator-Control/dp/B0014FGT8C

Reviews on internet do not inspire confidence. No scientific rigor.

 

[birdlover2]

This will be tried first. I will be honest when reporting.
https://www.amazon.com/Nite-Guard-NG-001-Predator-Control/dp/B0014FGT8C

Reviews on internet do not inspire confidence. No scientific rigor.

Looking forward to the results!

 

[Howard E]

On the coons and crawfish.....paybacks a bitch!

On the rest of the furry friends, I'd be inclined to establish an outside perimeter using 2' rolls of chicken wire hung on fiberglass posts and making the chicken wire hot (like poultry netting, but stronger). Season long barrier of glyphosate + to keep weeds down so fence can be lowered to the deck to prevent crawling under. Perhaps even some type of non-conductive apron to prevent crawling under. Bump gate to come and go if full coverage is needed during the day. That should help with the fur, won't help with feathers (herons).

Would think somebody would have solved the bird problem a long time ago. Shotgun might do it, but I suspect MDC takes a dim view of that.

 

[centrarchid]

On the coons and crawfish.....paybacks a bitch!

On the rest of the furry friends, I'd be inclined to establish an outside perimeter using 2' rolls of chicken wire hung on fiberglass posts and making the chicken wire hot (like poultry netting, but stronger). Season long barrier of glyphosate + to keep weeds down so fence can be lowered to the deck to prevent crawling under. Perhaps even some type of non-conductive apron to prevent crawling under. Bump gate to come and go if full coverage is needed during the day. That should help with the fur, won't help with feathers (herons).

Would think somebody would have solved the bird problem a long time ago. Shotgun might do it, but I suspect MDC takes a dim view of that.

There are limits on how many birds you can legally shoot even with a permit. Farmer thinks active Bald Eagle nest a couple hundred yards away keeps heron action low during day. Herons clearly active at night.

Fencing may be approached later. Options I envision involve clutter / tripping hazards when carrying heavy loads that require concentration.

 

[Chipper Chicken]

Crawdad farm predator repellent....airborne
SOME (crazy?) IDEAS ONLY
.Make multiple Horizontal propellers with 10’? circumference, don’t know what width but probably easy to stagger heights to create overlap with “propellers“ made out of something light enough to create a whirligig effect....making a fairly dense impenetrable layer ? or perhaps create just an undesirable effort required to penetrate the rotation from airborne predators. Something Like multiple lengths of rope only light and tough....can’t think what right now.
Use the water in the raceways to turn the “propellers” but make them tall/high enough for people to work under....
Just some musings....use as you will....don’t have time to think it through right now.

Chipper

 

[Howard E]

Another thought.......if you have help / time / resources, while the rest of this is going on, it would be good to be able to find and follow travels routes coon, mink and otters are using to get to these raceways (and ponds) from wherever it is they come from. That is a prelude to a trapping program if the other methods are not effective and farmers want them gone.

But, if you are using this assemblage of varmints to research methods and equipment, and purpose is not simply to end the carnage, then that is another story too.