![]() Pinwheels, bird scare tape, disco ball, hanging CDs (shiny things are purported to deter hawks, but I have not found these things to be effective.Bears will not be deterred simply by touching an electric fence. Electric Poultry Netting or Electric FencingĮlectric fencing must be baited with something tasty like bacon to deter predators such as bears from returning to the area.Predator deterrent systems, such as the one shown above The best ones will have multiple layers of protection, including motion sensors, lights (red, blinking & motion-activated) and alarms.Solar, motion-activated siren with lights.None should be relied upon as a magic bullet, however. I don’t worry about predators getting into my coops, I’m just curious about what else lives in the woods behind my coops.Īny of the following can be used as a part of an overall strategy to deceive, deter and defend against chicken predators. This trail cam was my birthday present this year. A trail cam with night vision provides excellent reconnaissance as to predator types and patterns of behavior. ![]() Knowing the type of predators and how they operate enables one to plan predator-specific defenses. One of the basic tenets of The Art of War is to know the enemy. Providing natural and artificial cover in the form of bushes, boxes, branches will provide a degree of security and safe-haven when predators are detected. PROVIDE COVER FOR FREE-RANGE CHICKENSĪ free-range flock is at higher risk of predation than confined birds. Roosters are attentive, early warning systems, alerting flock-mates to take cover when danger is nearby many a rooster has sacrificed his own life battling a predator in defense of his hens. Many animals make excellent flock guardians, including geese, llamas, donkeys, guineas and certain breeds of dog, including Great Pyrenees, Shepherds and Akbash. Blaze is my Black Copper Marans rooster and one of the most attentive, most vigilant roosters I’ve ever had If food must be left in the run, consider using a treadle feeder, such as Grandpa’s Feeders, which conceals feed, reducing the temptation. While predators may succeed in gaining entry into the run, they can cause significant property damage and stress to the flock. ![]() Formulate a human escape route.įood attracts predators and pests such as mice and rats. Important personal safety note: Many chicken keepers have had the misfortune of locking themselves inside the coop or run. Spring locks and barrel-style locks are recommended. Locks requiring multiple steps to unlatch are more secure plan than a hook-and-eye style lock. Raccoons are very adept at unlatching simple locks and turning basic door handles. While my flock’s pop door automatically closes after dusk, had I not checked the run to be sure it was clear, this opossum would have been locked inside, waiting for my flock in the morning. An an electronic poultry door can manage this detail automatically. Always check the chicken run to be sure it’s empty before securing the door at night. One never knows when a nocturnal predator might begin its hunt for food prematurely, therefore, the coop and run doors should be secured as soon as the flock has gone to roost for the night. Use s crews and washers to secure the hardware cloth to the structure, not staples! Strong critters like raccoons can push and pull hardware cloth secured with staples, dislodging it. ![]() Window screens will not keep predators out. All windows should be secured with hardware cloth. Using hardware cloth, cover any opening in the coop and around the run that is greater than ¼ inch. Snakes and members of the weasel family can get into the coop through very small openings, devastating a flock in very short order. Never rely on chicken wire as a safety fencing.ģ. Chicken fencing is a type of fence engineered to contain chickens and keep out predators. Hawks can reach in through chicken wire with their talons, pulling a bird to its death. A hungry raccoon can defeat chicken wire as easily as opening an envelope. Read about Coop Training, here.Ĭhicken wire is meant to contain chickens, not to exclude predators. Teaching chickens to return to the coop at night is best done from the time they first take up residence in the coop, but they can also be trained at a later date if necessary. The following are my best recommendations for predator-proofing chickens based on my experiences.Ĭhickens are most vulnerable when they are asleep and many chicken predators are active at night, making the inside of a locked coop the safest place for them. The best offense is a good defense and knowing the basics of coop security is essential to keeping chickens safe from harm. Protecting chickens from predators is one of the biggest challenges a backyard chicken keeper faces.
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