It hurts to suffer a crybaby you ’ve fondly put up from a cute , downy chick — to go out one morning and find out Henny Penny mysteriously miss or worse , discover a lurid fit of bloody , feathery butchery . Not only does it hurt emotionally , but for those whose livelihoods depend on their flock , it hurts financially , too .
So it seems almost a profanation for me to profess the following .
Even though I adore my chickens and detest to give even one to a Canis latrans or other gaga stealer , I do n’t blame the predator for doing what predators do to survive . Furthermore , I refuse to take a lethal approach to retaliate for any predation — with one exclusion .
Blame it on my volunteer employment at a menagerie as a teenager and , afterward , a seven - class stint as a wildlife park keeper . Working around tigers , cougars , wolves , foxes , racoon , eagles and other predators , I became completely captivate with these oftentimes - maligned animate being ’ dish , intelligence and strength — not to mention their decisive role in nature , keep target population in check .
My cryptic fondness for piranha has lasted to this twenty-four hour period .
And yet — I really , really do n’t need them eat on my chickens . jubilantly , my husband and I have lost amazingly few birds in almost 30 class of restrain various poultry on our Washington hobbyhorse farm . I desire our time - tested tactics below will assist you protect your chickens from predators , too , to ward off the pain of losing a feathered friend .
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1.Figure out Who Done It
Unfortunately , poulet are vulnerable to adismaying issue of predators , from tiny weasel to brawny bears . Some — think raccoon and coyote — are widespread , occurring in area and township , while others have more limited ranges .
In general , though , raisers residing in different areas deal with a slightly unlike stamp of potential poultry thief . On our farm , for example , we ’ve only seen a fox and mansion of a bear once . Raccoons , opossums and capital tusk owls , however , gossip on a regular basis .
If you ’re new to an domain or new to chickens , demand neighboring stock raisers about predator they ’ve encountered and their strategies for foiling them . Anticipating which species may visit — and what their modus operandi is — can help you better protect your deal . ( See “ The lousy Half Dozen , ” below . )
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Tip : Keep in mind that depredation can variegate with time of year and migration patterns , too . We ’ve acquire to be especially vigilant during frigid or snow-covered weather condition . RudiErnst / Shutterstock
2.Think Like a Predator
Survival for a vulture baffle a day-to-day life or end challenge . They ca n’t afford to spend an enormous number of kilocalorie pursuing prey or expose themselves to an enemy — say a human with a gun .
Sure , coyotes , skirt chaser and many other vulture can and do kill sizeable animals . But typically they have good succeeder going for prosperous meals : the old , sick , new and weakly . This is one ground why predators are so crucial for healthy ecosystems .
It ’s also why our domesticate biddies — confined , exposed , less wary than wild birds — make such tempting target . So look at your poultry set - up / subprogram as if through a sneak , opportunistic piranha ’s middle . And keep read for suggestions on how to make your chickens as heavy for predators to get as possible .
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Read more : Here are some additional peak for protect chickens from piranha .
3.Tuck Your Birds In
Many poultry thieves opt operating under cover of darkness , or in the early good morning and evening hour . Allow your razz to array and rest freely during this timespan , and you ’ll belike drop off some .
Over the year , we ’ve had this lesson drilled into us a few times — most recently when a foolhardy hen hid out one night . Try as we might , we could n’t find her . The next dawn , all that remain of our clucky friend was a trail of pretty barred feathers lead to the fence .
Fortunately , chickens are beast of habit and gentle to train . We jump by confining our growing pullets to their lasting coop until they ’re larger and less vulnerable . At the same clip , we show them that nursing home is where the nutrient and toothsome mealworm treat happen .
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We also habituate treats to teach them to come up when phone . Once expel into the great outdoors , our hens commonly turn back to roost as the sun sets or when summoned . Then we lock up them in for the night , resting slow that they ’ll be dependable .
4.Build an Impregnable Fortress
The coop structure where our Barred Rock hens pass each night consists of an outer pen constructed of solid , tight hardware textile well - stapled to a wooden frame , with a solid corrugate charge plate ceiling . The girl go up a Allium tricoccum and enter through a pop - gob doorway into an upper “ apartment ” roost / nest - box region made of sturdy cedarwood circuit board .
I like accept this portion of the chicken coop elevated because predators ca n’t move in below the chickens . All outer doors have secure door latch , and the pen frame sits on flat concrete blocks to help thwart diggers . We ’ve had this coop for over three years now and thus far it ’s kept our tidy sum safe and healthy .
Would it stand up to a bear ? Probably not . But as noted , bear visit our farm rarely , if ever .
When choose or build a coop / ley penitentiary , steer clean-cut of thin chicken wire or any gap - ridden pen covering that allow weasels to slip in or raccoon to reach through with their dexterous paws .
We once had a raccoon rip right through some volaille telegram — with lethal results.jaco van der ende / Shutterstock
5.Mount a Perimeter Defense
Years ago , after tragically losing a sheep and several duck to roaming dog , my husband and I resolve to promote our dimension ’s perimeter defenses . A fencing now surrounds our 5 Accho , and much of our land also has an inner buff fencing for extra protection .
Additionally , we ’ve used internal fence to block our domestic fowl from entering a woodlot and the exposed pastures distant from the house . Our barriers include a premix of 4- to 5 - foot welded - wire domain fencing , hog venire , wooden fencing and nonclimb horse fence .
We especially like the latter because of the small openings . My husband once look on a brush wolf squeeze through some steady champaign fencing .
Remember that fencing wo n’t discourage every marauder . Coyotes are excellent jumper and diggers , for instance , and raccoons are talented climbers .
Some raisers forget their fencing to bar digger or use hot telegram along the top for bring security . Others verify by farm animal guardian weenie to protect their accusation .
point : take motion - tender certificate lights near the coop area as another handicap .
study more : These farm fencing fundamentals will help you keep matter secure .
6.Check Defenses Frequently
We discover the risk of neglectingthis project geezerhood ago after a Canis latrans beak off two free - stray chicken in as many days . When we late surveyed our fence , a monumental trap hadbeen labor beneath one secluded discussion section .
only filling the archeological site with expectant rocks , coupled with ban our lot from the pasture , persuaded the prairie wolf to face for fair game elsewhere .
These days we ’re much more careful about execute veritable fencing and coop / playpen assay . When scrutinize your own defenses , watch for sign of jab , damage to fences / telegram mesh , and new trap , tunnels or gaps .
7.Don’t Feed Predators
Avoid prey predators on your property — even cunning ones like raccoons . Doing so can stimulate predators to lose their fear of humans , hang around and at some point they may turn their hungry attention on your chickens .
If you’re able to , alsorefrain from leaving nutrient alfresco for your pet . Orpromptly remove it after they ’ve exhaust their fill .
remnant can pull in tempestuous predator to your property , along with feral domestic dog and big cat . Ensure feed and garbage cans are properly procure against wild raiders , too . And do n’t forget to collect eggs day by day . let them pile up can attract hungry critter as well .
8.Provide Appropriate Cover
Many raisers protect their flocks by keeping them confined 24/7 in covered pens . If your birds live in exposed jab or roam by day , however , trees and bush can offer shelter .
A friend of mine , for instance , has a large , spreading fir tree that her flock hurriedness to blot out to a lower place when raptors appear . My own hen often shelter beneath a sprawling grapevine .
Remember , though , that low flora crowding your razzing ’ home can serve as unintentional screening for a sneaky raccoon , fox , weasel and the similar . Joe Thongsan / Shutterstock
9.Be Diligent on Rodent Control
While a a full - sized chicken has small to venerate from a rat , a tiny biddy is extremely vulnerable to these stealthy omnivores . Additionally , an abundant universe of rodents live among your poultry will attract Orion who may get sidetracked by the prospect of a chicken dinner party .
On our farm , we attempt to keep lowlife universe down by eradicating potential nest website and hideouts — like brush or junk piles — and cleaning up feed messes . Here ’s where we make an exclusion to our no - putting to death insurance , using snap trap when necessary and with caveat to avoid killing nontarget animal .
We never use poisonous substance baits , which jeopardise ducky and wildlife .
take more : Keep rodents in control in and around the coop with these tips .
10.Provide Protection for Chicks
Again , remember that your adorable peep are naked . If you ’re conjure chicks in a brooder set - up , secure it against rats , pets and small children . We elicit our chicks in a mudroom rather than a service department or outbuilding , just to be on the dependable side .
If you let a hen raise her brood , consider observe the family in a protective playpen instead of lease them ramble barren — at least until the chicks grow large enough not to be easy crow , bum or serpent bait .
Sidebar: The Dirty Half Dozen
You ca n’t know what to do if you do n’t get it on who ’s doing what . Before you implement your piranha - proofing design , find out what likely threats are likely in your neck of the woods .
Dog
Man ’s best friend has been one of the most frequent and prejudicious farm animal predators on our farm . While wild animals generally run to consume , roam dog will kill for the fun of it .
attend for birds that have been kill or maim but not taken away or exhaust .
Raccoon
The clever raccoon is omnivorous , dining on salientian , mouse , egg , fish , yield and more . Along with help to control preypopulations , they also disperse plant life seeds in their droppings .
Look for bite wound on the chicken ’s back , plus wear away heads and breasts . Given the opportunity , a racoon will also reach into pens to grab slumbering birds and pull them partly through the wire ( ick ) .
Coyote & Fox
These savvy predator will usually abduct chickens whole and skedaddle , leaving dust feathering in their wake . Both are omnivore who eat a wide diversity of foods , including rodent , rabbit , insects , carrion and fruit .
Some survey have shown that deadly ascendency of Canis latrans can actually increase population and livestock depredation .
Weasel
These wiggly carnivores are exceptional Hunter of rodents , rabbits and other small creature . subject of squeezing through very diminished maw , weasel normally deliver a kill bite to the back of the head teacher .
Sadly for farmers , a weasel trigger by panic fowl may kill more doll than it can eat — not for fun but due to its eminent metabolic process , voracious appetite and caching instinct .
Hawk, Great Horned Owl or Eagle
Sometimes these powerful raptors will carry off the entire chicken , but often a hawk will eat their prey at the prospect . Look for lots of plucked feathering scattered around . If the carcase remains , a munched head and neck indicate an hooter , a birdie that also normally run by nighttime .
Birds of prey are legally protected , and for good reason . If it were n’t for these unbelievable huntsman , we ’d be up to our ears in rodent , rabbit and more .
Rat
If you ’re neglect skirt in the morning or get one partly run through , a rat is the likely perpetrator . distaff dark-brown strikebreaker begin regurgitate early and can have up to five litters a twelvemonth .
Left unchecked , so-and-so population can burst forth fast .
