Official BYC Poll: How Do You Protect Your Chickens From Predators?

Double J Farms · Mar 30, 2022

Most of my chickens are in predator proof coops. I have coops scattered out in different areas of the farm near our big barn. We also have a big female Catahoula that roams the property. She deters most predators at night. Our Lacys are all in big kennels but they bark and raise a ruckus whenever they smell one. We see lots of coyotes in the day and have had them come in the barn even but they cant get to anything. We also have a AR 15 with night vision on it that we take out and hunt them a lot.

GingerRose · Apr 6, 2022

We have 4 separate flocks of chickens; multiple egg producers, black silkies, white silkies and game (because they are gorgeous). All of our enclosures are predator proof with hardware cloth surrounding the whole exterior. Strong latches on every door inside and outside. Motion sensing LED lights. A mean ass peacock named JoJo that let's us know if something is lurking around and we are armed with a rifle or a few if we need it.
We also have several cameras so we can monitor any frequent predators.
We don't kill animals. But we do protect ours.

638858 · Apr 27, 2022

LGDs..

Noah P · Apr 27, 2022

BYC Project Manager said:
Predators are one of the greatest fears a chicken farmer has. They can be cunning, fast, and very sneaky. Your chickens will be drawing in predators from the next county over! Well, maybe not that far, however somewhere back in these predators' ancient memories they have eaten wild chickens at some point and will come snooping around for a meal day and night. So keeping them safe from predators should be on every chicken keeper's top priority list.

How Do You Protect Your Chickens From Predators? Place your votes above (you may select more than one)

Feel free to share any other ways you keep your chickens safe in the comments section below.

View attachment 2517029

Further Reading:

Top 10 Chicken Predators
A Checklist To Avoiding Casualties In The Flock
Predators & Pests

(Check out more exciting Official BYC Polls HERE!)

I have an angry broody hen.

Jaguar61 · Apr 27, 2022

Hen house is a Mennonite built shed (12x10). Have a poultry mesh "wall" inside to separate bird room vs feed and storage. Chicken run is covered (12x12) yard. Feed lot panels, 2x4 weld wire (4') with mesh inside. Cinderblock "foundation" to sandwich the fencing. Posts are 4x4 treated posts placed in pre-fab cement blocks. Chickens access yard from slide door cut into wall. They have a windproof covered ramp. Farm dogs patrol the property to keep pest-preditors away. Haven't seen a coyote since GP chased one a mile across the next pasture. Was fun watching Thor running that sucker thru a freshly burned field.

BDutch · Apr 28, 2022

Noah P said:
I have an angry broody hen.

I can’t believe an angry broody impresses a hungry fox that much.

BDutch · Apr 28, 2022

FlintMcCollough said:
LGDs..

Are these the predator’s you have to deal with?

Noah P · Apr 28, 2022

BDutch said:
I can’t believe an angry broody impresses a hungry fox that much.

It was a joke. We did at one point have a hawk try to take down one of our chickens, and her chicks freaked out so she hurled herself the hawk. It surprised it enough to buy me time to run over and boot it.

Molpet · Apr 28, 2022

BDutch said:
Are these the predator’s you have to deal with?

Livestock Guardian Dog

BDutch · Apr 28, 2022

Molpet said:
Livestock Guardian Dog

This was my joke.
But there is also truth in dogs being predators. My mother had a dog coming into her chicken run twice :he

And I heard of many more cases that dogs attack chickens. Even the chickens of the same boss/ they should protect.

Official BYC Poll: How Do You Protect Your Chickens From Predators?

How Do You Protect Your Chickens From Predators?

I have a cement floor so they can't dig from underneath

Their coop is raised off the ground

Their run is covered

I have secure latches on all doors, including nest boxes.

They are fenced in with hardware cloth

I have bushes and other hiding places for my chickens to hide under during the day

I have one or more roosters on guard

I've installed an electric fence around my perimeter

I have a motion-activated light near the coop

I have a game cam installed

I have a properly trained guard dog

Predators aren't much of a problem around my area

I hang CD's and other shiny objects around to deter aerial predators

Other (please elaborate in a reply below)

Chirping

Crowing

638858

Guest

Attachments

Crowing

Chirping

Natural

Natural

Crowing

Enabler

Natural

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