{"id":103269,"date":"2022-10-26T07:00:35","date_gmt":"2022-10-26T11:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.hobbyfarms.com\/?p=103269"},"modified":"2022-10-25T12:28:31","modified_gmt":"2022-10-25T16:28:31","slug":"protect-your-chickens-against-these-common-predators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/protect-your-chickens-against-these-common-predators\/","title":{"rendered":"Protect Your Chickens Against These Common Predators"},"content":{"rendered":"

T<\/span>he benefits of free-ranging a flock are vast and varied, with the overall outcome that birds kept outdoors 24\/7\u2014or at least for most of the day\u2014are more active and healthier than their coop-kept counterparts. If you choose to completely free-range your fowl, they must have the ability to shelter under structures. Chickens without access to safe housing are most at risk of falling prey to predators.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Predation Patterns<\/b><\/h2>\n

Chickens have a lot of predators<\/a>, but the primary threats your chickens face will depend on what part of the country they call home. Hawks and other birds of prey, raccoons, foxes, weasels, opossums, coyotes, skunks, rodents and bears are just a few of the animals that consider your birds a tasty treaty.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to remember that domestic dogs and cats\u2014whether your own or a neighbor\u2019s\u2014also pose a very real threat to free-range flocks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It can be helpful to ascertain what predators put your chickens most at risk to determine the best course of protection. Local feed stores and other chicken owners in your area can offer insight into regional predators at threat to your chickens. If your birds are already under attack, noting the time of day they go missing, as well as where on the bird\u2019s body the injuries can be found, can help to narrow down the instigator.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Birds of Prey\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Birds of prey can be found all over North America. But how they threaten free-range chickens can differ by species. <\/span><\/p>\n

Hawks and falcons will attempt to take birds during the day. Owls often attack at night. Hawks are persistent predators, killing just one or two chickens at a time, but returning repeatedly to an unprotected flock. Hawks typically decapitate chickens, eating the breast meat and the entrails. Owls can leave behind a pile of feathers and other inedible parts, but if it\u2019s chicks they\u2019re killing, they may take the entire bird.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once birds of prey have found your flock easy pickings, it can be difficult to rein them in. Many of these birds are federally protected, so shooting them or shooting at them to scare them away isn\u2019t an option without threat of a hefty fine or even jail time.<\/p>\n

Instead, use these tips to protect your flock from flying threats.<\/p>\n

Undercover<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n

Let your chickens range where cover, such as bushes, trees or buildings they can get under, is readily available. Chickens often see attacks coming and will run and hide.<\/p>\n

If your birds have an area in which they frequently pass their time, consider installing netting\u2014or even a solid roof\u2014over the open <\/span>area to limit their accessibility to hawks and owls<\/span><\/p>\n

Goodnight<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n

Put poultry to bed early. Owls hunt at night, so corral your flock in their coop before dusk.<\/p>\n

\"chickens
Richard Pratt\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Spooky Decor<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n

Consider using scare tactics such as hanging reflective tape, old pie tins, CDs or shiny pinwheels so they spin and create bright flashes of light, deterring birds of prey. (Don\u2019t use mirrors, as these could start a fire.) Note that each of these tactics might not work on all birds that threaten your chickens<\/p>\n

Decoys such as scarecrows can also keep birds of prey guessing. These must be moved often or the birds will become accustomed to\u2014and not intimidated by\u2014them\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Loud & Proud<\/b><\/h5>\n

Use various noisy solutions such as wind chimes or a radio to make even the most persistent hawk pause. It\u2019s important that (like the decoys) the sound be changed every so often so the birds don\u2019t get used to it.<\/p>\n

Utilize a chicken saddle designed to confuse aerial predators. This piece of equipment isn\u2019t uncomfortable for your bird and won\u2019t scare flockmates, but it will give aerial attackers pause.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Read more: Got rats in the chicken run? Here’s how to get and keep rodents out.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Coyotes\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Coyotes are active around-the-clock, but those that live closer to urban areas tend to be most active at night. A canine species that can weigh up to 50 pounds, coyotes are found throughout North America. They\u2019re extremely capable of digging and jumping. They\u2019ve been known to scale fences well over 6 feet in height. Though coyotes can hunt in packs, they normally hunt alone when searching for <\/span>smaller prey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ways to thwart coyotes from feasting on your feathered friends include the following.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Guards<\/h5>\n

Utilize trained livestock guardian animals such as dogs, donkeys or llamas, to protect your flock, both when free ranging and when in a coop. (The key word here is \u201ctrained.\u201d)<\/span><\/p>\n

Seals & Upkeep<\/h5>\n

Keep chicken feed tightly sealed. Coyotes are omnivores and will eat everything from insects and plants to roadkill and livestock. Coyotes are attracted to smell, so removing chicken feed in the evening (from either coop or field) can be key to not attracting unwanted coyote attention.<\/p>\n

Install \u201ccoyote rollers\u201d on the tops of fences to prevent access to your flock. These contraptions roll when the coyote tries to push off of them, thwarting his efforts to get inside<\/p>\n

If coyote attacks are your No. 1 concern (and not attacks from above), eliminate bushes and other areas where a coyote can hide while stalking prey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dig In: <\/span>Digging is a coyote\u2019s preferred method of entry. To prevent access, install hardware cloth 2 feet under fences.<\/p>\n

Light It Up<\/h5>\n

Place solar-powered visual deterrents around chicken perimeters. When activated, these emit bright red, flashing lights to scare predators away from your chickens.<\/p>\n

Foxes<\/b><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a lot of truth behind the saying \u201csly as a fox.\u201d Fox attacks can be very difficult to prevent: They can dig under fences and squeeze through small holes, removing chickens with little to no evidence\u2014even during the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unsure how the fox is getting access to your coop at night (or if you\u2019re unsure of exactly what\u2019s stealing your chickens), it can be worthwhile to set up a trail camera to see exactly how\u2014and who\u2014is getting in at night.<\/span><\/p>\n