Chicken keeping is such a wonderful hobby for anyone with a small amount of space in the backyard or garden and a desire for fresh eggs (and entertainment). Don’t leave any food outside and nearby your flock. All of them would take advantage of an easy chicken dinner if given the chance. And if you have a resident raptor you’re caring for your land correctly! Interestingly, roosters have different calls for predators approaching chickens from the sky or the ground. Check out these 10 tips for keeping chickens safe from predators. (Both burying and extending is not necessary with electric mesh fencing.). Clean out the coop every day since uneaten chicken feed can attract predators. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'countryfamilyhomestead_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_3',108,'0','0'])); Free Range Chickens Hiding Eggs – Where To Look & What to Do About It. We have 6′ tall perimeter fencing around our backyard where our duck spends their day. Don’t get me wrong, old wooden structures on the farm are sometimes picturesque and give an nice vintage feel to the homestead, but they should be boarded up if safe to do so and checked regular for any sign of an occupant. So to keep chickens safe, a need is to cover the coop with the help of a wire mesh. The Perimeter. When you finally decide to add chickens to your homestead, there are a ton of questions you’ll have to answer. Always give your chickens a place to hide while out in the pasture. Mow the grass or field near or around the coop. My hens were always pretty good at protecting themselves. Train Your Chickens To Return To The Coop In The Evening Train your backyard chickens to return to the coop every evening – and be sure to close it up securely with a locked door. Ways to protect your chickens from predators when they free-range. Whether you’re in an urban environment or surrounded by acres of land, other critters may want to cash in on the hard work you're putting into raising chickens. I hope our time-tested tactics below will help you protect your chickens from predators, too, to avoid the pain of losing a feathered friend. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time. The most common chicken predators are rats, skunk, birds of prey, opossum, raccoons, foxes, bears, coyotes, weasels, snakes, bobcats, minks, badgers and fisher cats. Tips for Protecting Your Chickens from Predators. Hang bright ornaments around the coop, such as CDs, Place solar-powered night animal predator lights around, It’s important to have predators on your land to keep prey such as rabbits and voles from causing crop damage and contamination, but a hawk sees rabbits and chickens, still work in harmony with your resident raptors. The run is made from garden fencing wrapped around pressure treated posts. Predator attacks are the number one cause of death of backyard fowl. So, here are my top five ways to learn how to protect chickens from hawks and other aerial predators. We should do all we can to ensure this doesn’t happen to our flocks. One of the most important things for you to do when you are going to be getting chickens is to make sure that you have provided them with a safe and secure place to live. The best way to protect your chickens from hawks and other birds of prey is to keep the flock in a covered pen or enclosure. There will still be dangers during the day if you allow your chickens to free-range, but at least at night you can have the peace of mind that they are safe and secure. View our disclosure policy for details. Some things to consider to attract predators are food sources, shelter or hiding areas, and vermin that may be around the homestead. Install 6′ tall perimeter fencing. Having a very secure chicken run and coop is imperative for the safety of your flock. Not only is this, but some predators like possums and snakes are excellent climbers. A lot of them are the same as in North America or at least very similar to them. Don’t get discouraged. We have lots more on the site to show you. The first thing you should do is remove all potential hiding spots in and around your chicken cages, chicken run and backyard poultry coop. Justin Buchli/Shutterstock. What they are doing is looking for movement. The extra effort is part of how we protect chickens from predators. You can still work in harmony with your resident raptors. Read instructions carefully as you’ll need to hang the light at the right level for certain animals. Required fields are marked *. Fencing is the number one way to protect your chickens from predators. Along with their care and maintenance, you’ll want to consider the impact the... Part of a larger homesteading family, Maria and Corey Sitkowski enjoy their small Michigan homestead by raising poultry, growing fresh produce, making maple syrup and providing for themselves as much as possible. Copyright © 2020 EG Media Investments LLC. Chicken wire does well against chickens themselves and larger predators who will be stopped by the presence of a fence, but a raccoon can reach its hands through and tear at the opening until it’s large enough to slip through. Whether you keep chickens in the countryside, city, or somewhere in between, one of the most important things you can do to keep your flock safe is to protect them from predators. After the attack we attached a second layer of welded wire fencing to the outside. You can also employ the guardian animals mentioned previously. Make sure there is open space so your birds will have a chance to get away. Any time a chicken is free-roaming in the yard, you run the risk of an opportunistic hawk swooping in for the kill. When predator proofing your chicken coop, always remember that chicken wire is only good for keeping chickens in, not keeping predators out. If burying the fence isn’t an option, extend your fencing along the ground for a few feet. Protecting Chickens from Predators. Let’s identify the the many different types of chicken predators based on what area of the world you happen to live. Secure this food in airtight containers or in buildings that are sealed up to not allow the odors of those foods to drift away off the homestead for a passerby to notice and come investigate. Don’t leave out pet food, and secure the lids on garbage cans. To secure the coop, I first secured any siding or boards that were just nailed on with either screws or added metal angle brackets to make sure there was not way to pry a board lose. Because our chickens are so prone to predation, we have to think like predators in order to convince them that invading our coop isn’t worth their time. Whether you live in the city, suburbs, rural, or remote wilderness, North American chickens owners have many predation threats to worry about. Guard Geese are territorial and can help protect your flock of chickens. Protecting your chickens from these predators is an important step for any backyard poultry farmer. We’ve lost several hens to predators over the years, and let me tell you, they can be very difficult to keep away once they know you have tasty chickens on your property. It’s vital that they have a safety shelter that they can run to when they sense danger. The beautiful hawk, soaring majestically, is a sight to behold. Let’s look at the effective methods of preventing predators from attacking your flock of chickens. The small chicken door to the run slides in a track and is difficult to open unless pulled straight up by a cable that runs to the outside where we can open and close it easily. (These fences are easily moved and can be solar-powered.). This requires taking predator management one step further by either live-trapping/relocating or using deadly force. Live traps like this one on Amazon are relatively inexpensive and pretty easy to use. Be sure your dogs aren’t tempted to chase running, squawking chickens if … I then used eye-bolts, chains and clasps to secure the lid to the nesting box. Figure out Who Done It. Unfortunately, chickens are vulnerable to a dismaying number of predators, from petite weasels to brawny bears. Protect Your Chickens From Common Poultry Predators. Taking all these preventive and control measures into account should give your chickens an excellent chance of a long, healthy life on the homestead. Please let us know a convenient time to call you on, (*All time slots are available in CDT zone.). Lastly I put a latch on the large door way up high and made sure it is a tight fit that takes a lot of force to open it. Place solar-powered night animal predator lights around the coop. Protecting Chickens from Predators. Give your chicken-friendly dogs the run of the chicken yard – particularly at night. They can make a lot of noise and sound a warning when a predator is near. Or at least minimize those attractants because just owning livestock is an attractant in itself. One guy for 10 girls is a good ratio. Please try again. Dogs, roosters and guinea fowl are considered the best animals to protect chickens. Cover the floor of the tractor in hardware mesh to prevent predators digging their way to your chickens. I’m not sure how delicate a predators taste buds are, but I know I’d much rather eat chicken than rat. Your free-range chickens are particularly in danger from hawks that can land on them, kill them and eat them right then and there. For free-rangers, don’t let the pasture grow so long that the chickens can’t see what’s creeping up on them. Make your coop and surrounding yard and pasture distasteful and inaccessible to predators. If you allow your chickens to roam free rather than keeping them in a coop or pen, it’s much more difficult to protect them from predators. Geese are also good guard companions with their loud warning honks. Even an old wooden barn or shed may harbor an owl or a family of foxes or raccoons. You can only deter it. However, make sure to check your fence from time to time with an electric fence tester to make sure it’s still hitting. To break the hawk’s behavior, keep your chickens in a coop or in a safe enclosure for a month or two, until the hawk keeps getting thwarted. I folded it in half so it went up the fence a couple feet and then also embedded the other half in to the soil to inhibit digging. PoultryDVM presents an infographic which provides tips for protecting backyard chickens, ducks, and other poultry from predators. The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that the number of people raising backyard poultry has increased by nearly 40% since 2013. In no particular order, here are 17 ways to keep your ducks and chickens safe from predators in your back yard: 1. 1. Improve Fencing and Housing for Increased Protection. This way will enable you to easily see when the hawks are coming. You might also want to set up a motion-activated light on the coop to scare off any predators that go near it at night. Whether you know it or not, critters around your farm are waiting for their chance at an easy chicken dinner. It’s up to you to make them change their minds in a humane and fair way and let them know that your chickens are off the menu. A gander’s hiss and threatening wings can chase off stubborn wildlife. Bushes, large grasses, decks, and overhangs can be a perfect place to take shelter. Do the same with your permanent fence surrounding the coop. Raccoons can reach through a fence and grab a bird if they don’t have enough room to get away. Protecting chickens from predators is accomplished at three different levels:eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'countryfamilyhomestead_com-box-3','ezslot_8',103,'0','0'])); We’re going to take a more in-depth look at each of these three steps with strategies, tips and tricks for each. Measures to protect your flock from chicken predators. They can fight off smaller predators such as skunks, weasels, and other rodents. If using wire mesh to build an enclosure, make sure that the openings are smaller than one inch to prevent predators from reaching through. Alpacas and donkeys are also considered strong guard animals. You want a large yard where chickens have room to explore but still offer protection. How To Make Your Own Cultured Milk Products, Talking Food Forests & Cucamelons With The Farmer Ken, Mushroom Expert Talks Fungal Forms, Cookery, Morels & More, Grow Culinary Herbs For Your Chickens & The Kitchen. Maria is an excellent cook, and enjoys many crafty hobbies such as crocheting, soap making, and has a knack for learning how to make just about anything she wants. Roosters Make Great Hen Protectors. The sketchy part is taking the snarling nasty critter in your vehicle to release it away from civilization. This will keep most nocturnal predators away from the coop. You can bring fresh clipped grass to your hens as long as it’s free of chemicals and as long as you have poultry grit available. If your coop is small, such as a movable arc, consider using a smaller meshed hardware cloth instead of chicken wire. Provide a night light (motion-sensor-activated) that will flood the chicken run with light after dark or install a set of Nite Guard Solar predator-deterrent lights (see advertisement inside front cover). eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'countryfamilyhomestead_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_7',105,'0','0'])); Same goes for any roadkill out in front of the homestead. If you have a large open area to raise chickens, make sure you have clear visibility by cutting down any tall grass and bushes within 50-75 feet. Many times I’ve watched our rooster, … eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'countryfamilyhomestead_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',107,'0','0'])); There are definitely some animals to keep around the homestead to help protect your chickens against predators. 3. To protect your chickens from feral animals, keep them in a secure coop at night so nocturnal predators, like raccoons, can't get to them. If you feed any livestock at all you’re bound to have vermin such as rats and mice move in looking for any uneaten food. To keep these tricky carnivores out, bury welded-wire mesh around the perimeter of the chicken run. Chicken predators consist of many different types of critters including mammals, other birds, and reptiles. Check it every morning until you catch the culprit. For example, mow down long grass, cut back the shrubs and vines, and remove piles of lumber and other junk. (Check out All About Birds for more information.). Interestingly, roosters have different calls for predators approaching chickens from the sky or the ground. Top Ways of Protecting My Chickens From Predators. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'countryfamilyhomestead_com-box-4','ezslot_4',106,'0','0'])); Our coop was broken into once by a family of raccoons and the entire flock of young hens were wiped out. Protecting chickens from predators is accomplished at three different levels: Discourage predators from visiting your homestead Secure the coop and run to give the chickens a safe haven Active predator management when necessary Fences not only keep predators out, but also keep chickens from becoming a nuisance on the neighbor’s property. Set it out near the coop or on a route a predator would use leading to the coop with a little bait inside. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are many ways to protect chickens from predators, but one of the best ways is with an animal guard. Raptors are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so you can’t harass it in any way or try to force it off your property. This includes keeping them in an enclosed run. Thus, you can do some actions before they attack the chicken. Cover Their Coop How to Protect Your Chickens from Predators. As cold weather approaches, check the exterior of your coop and run for weaknesses and openings. Many predators such as hawks or owls dive right in from the sky and will take your chickens away. This situation though should not be allowed to get out of control because even if the predators don’t come for the chickens they will come for the rodents. If you have any dog or cat food stored in an outbuilding it will attract critters such as raccoons and possums for sure. A covered pen also protects against ground-dwelling predators. Because raccoons will easily tear a screen, hardware cloth is a good choice for windows. You can protect the outdoor run by covering it with plastic mesh fencing or by crisscrossing string over the top. A rooster is very helpful in free-range and contained flocks. And make it high enough (at least 6 feet) to stop coyotes and foxes from jumping over. Your chickens are being watched. Here are some tips that can help protect your chickens from hawks and owls. Burying mesh at l… Still others are great for sounding an alarm such as donkeys, geese and guinea fowl. The holes in the fence are 2″ by 4″ which is big enough for a raccoon to reach into or even for a rat to fit through. You can see the wing imprints left in the snow and a pile of White Leghorn feathers from a failed attack. Clean up any food scraps that the chickens do not eat before nightfall. This article originally appeared in the September/October 2020 issue of Hobby Farms magazine. Protecting your chickens from predators begins with proactive measures. If you have a serious problem with hawks and owls, consider covering the chicken run with hawk netting. But it’s one that makes our chickens nervous. All these should be prevented from accessing your chickens by all means. Note: Occasionally when chickens stand on wire floors in chicken tractors for long periods of time their feet can get cut, so check their feet regularly for cuts or sores. One more technique that I don’t use but could also be an option it to put an electric fence around the perimeter of the coop. I vowed to never let this happen again so I fixed up the coop to be as secure as Fort Knox. link to Do Chickens Attract Pests & Wildlife, Chicken Predators 2 – They tried again but failed this time – How to predator proof the chicken coop (https://youtu.be/_T4MjXxyeqc). But, what animal will guard chickens and not kill them? This post contains affiliate links. Some predators are content to dig to get to your birds. For these reasons, I used heavy-duty hardware cloth with 1/2″ holes around the entire coop. link to Can You Raise Chickens and Quail Together? As chicken owners it is our responsibility to protect our chickens from harm. And, Teach your resident livestock that your fence is not to be trifled with by stringing hot wire across the top of the fence or setting up a electric mesh poultry fence around. Our coop had been surrounded by board fencing and chicken wire for years, even though I knew it was not the best choice. This is another method used to protect … Perhaps the best possible thing you can do to protect your chickens from predators is to ensure that they are in a secure chicken coop. In some areas the local road commission may come and take care of roadkill, but most of the time it will be up to the resident to either bury it or suffer the stench for the next few months. Therefore, you can always try the following: Close your flock, especially at nights. The first step to protect your flock from roaming predators is to recognize that no matter where you live, there’s a predator waiting. Doing all these things should keep most predators away, but sometimes it’s just not enough and you may get a persistent predator continuously trying to get your chickens. Red-tailed hawks have a reddish hue on the tops of their tails, a dark bellyband and dark wingtips. Once you know about the possible chicken predators it is good to protect your coop as much as you can. Do Guard Geese Protect Chickens from Hawks. Do not allow food scraps to linger. But adding a rooster stepped up the protection. There are tens of great predator-safe chicken coops in the market. When avian predators are a problem, covering the chicken run with wire or mesh can be effective. Food sources is an easy one to get cleaned up so it’s not inviting. Even suburban flocks may be prey for opossums, foxes, and raccoons. Hawks are diurnal, so they hunt during the day. Here’s a video playlist from our YouTube channel covering chicken predators. Corey is an antique tractor enthusiast, woodworker, and general fix-it or build-it guy. You've only seen one page. At the top of the hierarchy of predator control is not having anything enticing for them to be attracted to your property in the first place. They cannot fight against larger predators such as Coyotes, large cats, or raccoons. Raise your coop off the ground by at least a foot. Your backyard chickens depend on you for health, housing and safety. The Top: Create some kind of cover for your chicken run. While a coop should keep your chickens safe at night, there are still predators that hunt by day. Protecting Your Backyard Chickens From Predators 1. This can be as simple as a coop that is covered and raised off the ground. Raising chickens is a valuable practice for any homesteader, but protecting chickens from predators can be a tough job. Any of those hideouts as well as overgrown vegetation or even long grass that is located too close to the chicken coop is just asking for trouble from a predator. Wildlife made their home on your property long before you arrived, so it’s natural for them to assume your chickens are part of their world. If the hawk continues to attack, you may have to forgo free-ranging altogether. There is also a danger of something digging it’s way under the fence to get into the run. Focus Prose LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. All rights reserved. You may have seen them perching high up, such as on a dead tree or telephone pole. Identify the predators on your land by the tracks they leave. Electric poultry fencing is an even better option to protect against ground predators. Our experts will call you on your preferred time. Don’ts for Protecting Chickens from Predators Don’t leave your chickens in an open area. Secure door latches against busy paws with snaps or carabineers. For example there are different species of foxes that inhabit nearly every corner of the earth. Although dusk and dawn are the preferred hours to hunt for predators such as fox and coyotes, it’s not uncommon to see them in broad daylight. We have friends that use an electric fence around their raised garden beds to keep the rabbits and deer out and it works well for them. Includes design of a predator proof enclosure, types of predators and their most likely method of entry, and other tips to help keep them safe. Live trapping is the first option if don’t have that killer instinct. Once a hawk discovers that chickens are an easy food source, it will continue to hunt until it’s no longer worth its time. It’s up to you to protect your chickens from predators, and it all starts with your chicken coop security. Effective Ways to Protect Chickens from Predators. One shock is all it will take to keep most predators away from your chickens for good. Wildlife usually roam in a set area, so removing a frequent visitor and releasing it into a wild area should remove the problem for good. Some will be very protective of the flock itself such as a rooster or a well trained guard dog. Thank you for choosing this service. Read more: Check out these 10 tips for keeping chickens safe from predators. © 2020 Copyright Country Family Homestead. Focus Prose LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. This is where they should always be at night. Free ranging always leaves them vulnerable to attacks, even if you live in the city and think you're safe. Snakes and rats will come around looking for eggs or baby chicks to eat. I zip-tied the edges to the top of the fence to make it more difficult if a critter tried to climb up and over the fence. I tried to think like a hungry predator to be sure I am always one step ahead of them. There is error while submitting your request. To learn more about us, click the button below. These animals will sound … Focus Prose LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Place food and water in protected areas. Be careful of meat and food scraps thrown away in an outdoor garbage can. If you raise free-range poultry, you're likely to lose some birds to predators, but you can minimize your losses. In this video, I provide some tips for keeping your flock safe and happy. Using poison is just too risky I believe because of accidental ingestion by a family pet or other friendly animal. Keeping your chickens safe from chicken predators should be a top concern, and I have found that improving your fencing … Employ a stock companion, such as a well-trained dog or an older child looking for extra pocket money, to deter hawks from landing and frighten ground predators away from chickens. This can be a hay wagon, a raised coop, small hutches, hedges or a simple plank over two large buckets. Can You Raise Chickens and Quail Together? Your email address will not be published. Not only is it a mess to clean up when a critter tears into it and spreads trash through the yard, but it also keeps them coming back looking for more and finding none the may start to eye up the chickens instead. Two options to employ are setting traps that target the species you believe is responsible for causing damage, or using a shotgun or rifle and wait for the critter to show up. No matter how much preventative measures you take, there is always a chance a predator will show up anyway. All it takes is a coop door left open after dusk or a damaged hole in the fence. Poultry Predator Prevention. Skunks can be difficult to trap for obvious reasons! Disclosure: Boots & Hooves Homestead may earn a commission for purchases made after clicking links on this page. First of all, do not wipe out the hawk’s habitat. In return, they will supply you with eggs, entertainment, pest control, fertilizer, meat and more. 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