I used to have 10 chickens and a turkey, then 2 went missing from inside of the coop…….no evidence but a small hole and I don’t reckon the chicken could fit through there. The last week I’ve chose to let them free range. They never, ever go near 10 feet away from their coop. I left this morning for a few hours and came back and all of them were missing except my turkey and he was in the tree. I reckon somebody is taking them. Every once in a while somebody on a quad comes pretty close to the coop. Coops by our property line.
What can I do to make them safer?
I don’t have the money to get a security system (some people use this), and I can’t afford much now. The coop is all wire held together by 2×4’s and has an attached small house. I can’t leave them cooped up in there all day. Any thoughts on what I should do?
I want to let them free range. Thanks!
Yes it does have a top, and I thought about a lock but somebody could probably just cut the wire, if they really wanted in. I have 2 dogs not sure about leaving them outside. My yards not fenced in and they are not normally tied so, when they are they despise it and bark the whole time
Dont have a fence
I live in the US, Pennsylvania
There were NO feathers at all anywhere, no blood either
Related posts:
While there is the possibility of someone taking your chickens, i wouldn’t rule out a predator thieving from you. Do you live in the UK? If so, a fox may have taken them, although there would be a lot of feathers left lying around the place.
As the turkey seems to be able to glide, he would’ve obviously been able to escape predator, or human alike.
I’d say the simplest way track suspicious movements around your coop is by buying a cheap CCTV. camera, they don’t cost that much nowadays.
Buying a lock might not be so terrible either, I’d be willing to bet a human chicken stealer wouldn’t bother trying to break a lock for a few more chickens. At least if you get one, and the chickens still disappear, or you find the lock cut, you’ll hopefully be able to decipher whether this thief is human or animal.
Excellent luck in catching the perpetrator, and i hope all the poor chooks are alive and well!!!!
I ould place a lock on the coop door and no one is able to get them only you since you have a key.
Does your coop have a top on it? IF you dont hawks can getthem.
Keep a what dog out there. I have one who is a coonhound who barks if anyone come in yard.
make an indoof run thats huge so thya can free range. Make sur eit has a top and make it larger. The coom you have add an outdoor enclosure. like this thing
http://www.theblogpound.com/images/uploads/chicken-coop.jpg
Mine is like that it has a hen house. Also an outdoor one but a lot larger.
Get a survalance camera and install it
in an ariea that it won’t be noticed.
If someone is stealing your chickens
you should have this caught on camera
as evidence to the police and to the court
when you file a lawsuit against the guy.
Excellent luck!
add a electric fence to your existing fence
email me and i will tell you how to build an alarm using things from the house ect… or getting them from the store about $20…
i can also send you a plane so you get it right…
I reckon radio shack has like small cam corder type things honestly inexpensive you could install one and find out for sure….
You need to ck your area where your chickens live for tracks and see if you see animal or humans this will tell you if its a animal or person/persons is there feathers all over if so most likely an animal but not always right raccoons will kill then if hungry take dogs will kill and take fox will grab and take off with may leave a few feathers.
Your chickens were dinner for something or someone took for dinner or fighting.fox,coyote,stray cats, or dogs or opossums.
Provide a sturdy and safe living place no holes or gaps in walls use chicken wire this wire needs to be at least 6-7 inches into the ground to ensure predators from digging under into the coop.Ck for any sings digging, provide barriers such as large rocks, bricks logs,stepping stones. anything HEAVY so critters cant GO!!! or dig under.
Can also introduce smell into chicken areas take some ancient clothes you dont want and wear for 2 days then place into mesh bag hang or place some where in chicken ares where you belive the critter is getting in or can fill an ancient pair of pany hose and hang or drape over fence this will help with animals but not people.
Lock chickens up EVERY night this is a MUST DO!! Be ALERT to noisey chickens and they do make a fuss if a critter or human is around.If hear any thing GO ck it out IMMEDIATELY!!! If you do have a predator you MUSt be vigilant most predators will RETURN!! Its not a excellent thought NOT to lock up at nights since a fox will watch this and if you dont its there sign to attack and they will.
Kishel’s is a ratcoon repelent may wish to look up more for other critters.
Its Not excellent for your birds to stay in coop all day they need to be free so can eat strech and roam just keep a close eye on them.
I have caught 9 cats 4 ratcoons and 2 opposumes since Ive had chickens (with a live trap) and released some where else so they do come around.