Chickens may be lovable little creatures, but with that comes a slew of enemies! Whether your flock is in an enclosed yard or free-ranging most of the day, you’re going to have to take some extra measures to protect them. Predators are persistent, smart, and often fast to snatch up their prey. If you want to keep your chickens safe from the many predators out there, it’s important to first know who those predators are. Here are some common predators you’ll want to keep away from your flock.
Coyotes
These wild dogs are common among both city and rural areas. Coyotes are excellent diggers and jumpers, being able to jump six feet or higher. These predators prefer to hunt at night, which is when your chickens have the least amount of protection. Though coyotes do have the ability to easily jump over a fence, it is highly unlikely that they’d make the effort just to catch prey. Since they travel in packs, they often hunt in less secure areas where they can find a variety of food. As long as your coop is secure, your chickens are probably pretty safe. If you notice one of your chickens is missing, then it might be time to investigate.
Foxes
These guys might be your chickens’ biggest fans! Foxes aren’t as common to see as coyotes, but they certainly do leave a similar mark. Foxes eat their prey whole, and often hunt more than they can eat in one sitting. This is due to their ability to store food in buried storage space in the ground.
Keeping your coop secure will help to keep these predators out. Make sure your coop is well-built and has locking latches you can use each night to protect your flock. Cover any of the coop’s windows or vents with wire mesh and be sure to remove brush piles or anything else foxes could hide in.
Birds Of Prey
Owls, hawks, vultures, and other birds that eat small animals are swift predators of your flock. Since they have the advantage of height, they can scope out their prey and swoop in out of nowhere. Another prime watching spot is any wooded areas or trees near your coop. Try not to let your chickens roost on tree branches, because their chances of getting caught will increase significantly. Make your coop inaccessible for birds with wire mesh and other tools that will enclose your coop.
Opossums
These pests will usually go for baby chicks or eggs. Opossums usually show up around late fall, looking for food and a safe nesting area. They are pretty lazy, which means they’ll rarely go after tackling a grown chicken. If you notice any small chicks missing or eggshells around the nest, you might have an opossum problem. These shy creatures have no problem eating chicken feed, which can cause some problems amongst your flock. They also eat ticks and vermin that are dangerous to chickens, so they can play an important role in the community.
Securing the coop and any nests will help prevent baby chicks and eggs from being eaten. Since opossums are shy creatures and help minimize the spread of disease by eating insects, they should be left alone unless they cause a problem. If they are causing issues, you can try catching opossums with a large fishing net or call animal control to take care of it.
Humans
It’s an unfortunate truth that more and more chicken coops are being raided by humans today. This can be for a number of reasons, from a spiteful neighbor to having valuable breeds of chickens that others want. A completely empty coop with no sign of struggle (feathers or blood) can mean that someone snatched your chickens. The best way to prevent this is by locking your coop up at night, adding security cameras, audible alarms, and even consider installing an electric fence. Make it as difficult as you can for these opportunists to invade your coop!
Let’s face it, everyone loves a chicken dinner. Your chickens are a moving target for a long list of predators out there, and it’s your job to keep them out. Chicken attacks can happen suddenly and without warning. Use this as a guideline to know what to look out for and what best measures you can take to prevent predators from catching your precious feathered friends.