When predators are near, use these tips to protect your chickens.
This winter has been an interesting one. We have lost two chickens to predator attacks. We have had chickens for three years and 2022-2023 is the first winter we have had hawks, opossums and foxes knocking on the run of our hen house.
So what can you do to prevent losing your priceless birds to these dime a dozen predators?
Take a look at your coop
In our case, our predator problems were related to our coop. Our coop is on stilts and fenced off with hardware cloth. The hardware cloth had collapsed and let an opossum in to the run. We don’t have a roof over our run because we didn’t feel like it was necessary. We realized how naive we were when we saw a hawk roosting on top of our run, waiting for our scared chickens to come out of the coop.
Take a look at your feed
The few run ins we have had with opossums this winter have been related to feed. When its negative 27 degrees outside, any animal is on the hunt in search for food. Well, our chickens don’t always finish their daily scoops of feed. And we don’t bother to empty their feeders every day. Available food sources is the perfect way to attract unwanted pests.
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Prepare your pest control methods
Two of our predator attacks happed in the middle of the night. Preparing for predators is a great example of something to prep for.
Since we live in the city, we are limited in what we can do to deter pests. The only forms of pest control available to us are live trapping or our animal control officers. Any further methods require registering for a pest control permit through our state’s game and fish office or carefully placing chemicals or other deterrents in our yard. The only hesitation deterrents create is that they need to dissuade a predator but not bother your flock. A careful balance must be struck.
Whatever method you choose, you can grab a live trap similar to this one or save your animal control officer’s number in to your phone. (BONUS: I also recommend grabbing a pair of work gloves, like these.)
Stick around!
We talk a lot about what a microhomestead is. Do you know what it is? Read this post to learn more. Are you looking for a way to relax after dealing with a predator problem of your own? Make my lavender sugar scrub and kiss your worried goodbye.
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