Tips for deterring predators?

[BrittanyG]

I let my chickens free range during the day and lock them up at night. A few months ago my Buff Orpington, Buffy was killed by a fox. As I was counting my chickens before locking them up that evening I noticed she was missing and when I went looking for her, I followed the trail of feathers and I found her in the woods behind my house covered up with leaves. I was guessing it was a fox, so I stayed up that night waiting for it to come back looking for her and sure enough, a Fox came through right where I found her body. I usually keep my dogs out until I go to bed and they protect the chickens (I have a German Shepherd & an Australian Shepherd) , but that day I left for a little while and had my dogs in the house while I was gone. Now I'm so worried I'm going to lose another one, if I know I'm leaving I keep my chickens put up until I get home. Does anyone have any tips for keeping foxes away? My coop and run are really secure and I've not had anything be able to break into it yet. I've also noticed a Hawk hanging around the past week. I haven't lost any chickens to it yet but I don't wanna chance it. Any tips on keeping Hawks away too? All help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

- Brittany G

 

[AquaDuck]

I use a fence of two heigths of chicken wire, the bottom bent halfway onto the ground to prevent digging, around my entire free range area. It's expensive, but I live in the middle of the wilderness, so I have no choice. As for air predators, I use bird net strung up over the duck pond. I'm sure it'll work for chickens on land too!
Oh, and I only do supervised free ranging as well. It's better that they feel annoyed being cooped up, than being fox dinner...

 

[BrittanyG]

I use a fence of two heigths of chicken wire, the bottom bent halfway onto the ground to prevent digging, around my entire free range area. It's expensive, but I live in the middle of the wilderness, so I have no choice. As for air predators, I use bird net strung up over the duck pond. I'm sure it'll work for chickens on land too!
Oh, and I only do supervised free ranging as well. It's better that they feel annoyed being cooped up, than being fox dinner...

I've heard of the bird net before and wondered how well it worked. I may give it a try! Yes I completely agree! They will just have to tough it out and be pinned up when I'm not around to watch them. Thanks!!

 

[Ayam onthe Farm]

I've heard of the bird net before and wondered how well it worked. I may give it a try! Yes I completely agree! They will just have to tough it out and be pinned up when I'm not around to watch them. Thanks!!

Bird netting works well except for when it snows unless the holes are big enough it will get weighted down and rip. Otherwise it's good. Try cinder block around the bottom of the fencing. That works pretty well too.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Chicken wire will not stop predators except for digging under. Dogs and coyotes will rip their way in. I use welded wire on the outside of runs and chicken wire on the inside of the 2x4 so it is hard for coons to reach in and snag a chicken. Foxes will grab chickens in broad daylight, we had a pair with a den in our yard. They thought it was open season on chickens. Shotguns will deter them.

 

[Lauramay1980]

Trap the fox in a live trap?

 

[hannahsflock]

We used to have problems with predators, until we got a little flock of geese. Since we've kept geese near the coops, we haven't had one single loss in over 5 years. The geese are like our chicken guard dogs.

 

[BrittanyG]

Bird netting works well except for when it snows unless the holes are big enough it will get weighted down and rip. Otherwise it's good. Try cinder block around the bottom of the fencing. That works pretty well too.

I didn't think about that. I will keep that in mind. Thanks!!

 

[BrittanyG]

Chicken wire will not stop predators except for digging under. Dogs and coyotes will rip their way in. I use welded wire on the outside of runs and chicken wire on the inside of the 2x4 so it is hard for coons to reach in and snag a chicken. Foxes will grab chickens in broad daylight, we had a pair with a den in our yard. They thought it was open season on chickens. Shotguns will deter them.

That's a good idea. Right now I have the run to my coop buried in the ground somewhat and I poured concrete in over the buried area hoping to prevent anything from digging under. It was daylight when this fox got my Buff. And several times my dogs have took off through the woods after something and I'm assuming it was the fox coming back. I tried to get a shot at it when it came back through for the Buff, but it was moving too fast that time. I'm keeping my shotgun where I can get to it easily and be ready for it. Thanks!!

 

[BrittanyG]

Trap the fox in a live trap?

I've also got a live trap set, I just can't seem to keep the Coons and Possums out of it long enough to catch it. I'm still trying though. Thanks!!