Predators in your
chicken coop
From the moment you
decide to buy chickens you need to be thinking about how to protect them from
predators. Even as chicks in the brooder in your house, to introducing them to
their new coop, there should always be a thought that something can and will
eat them. So what could that something be?
When you bring your
new chicks home, these cute little defenseless babies are instant prey to, the
family dog, cat and your young children. Even with the most supervised
introductions and watchful eye, there is no assurance that the moment you turn
your back, something happens. My advice, make or buy a brooder box that is
completely closed in or put them away in a separate room in your house behind a
closed door.
Once the big day comes and they are ready to go outside into
the coop make sure you have done the very best you can to make it secure. If
you intend to free range, shut them up at night in a secure coop. There are
quite a few predators that would love to sink their teeth, claws, or talons
into your chickens. We have listed some of the most common predators below to
make sure that you know why you need your coop built so sturdy.
Dogs
Dogs definitely love to go after chickens. This could be
your dog or your neighbors. But never assume they would not kill your chickens.
Even if under your watchful eye they steer clear of the chickens, or respond to
your demand to leave them alone. Even if your dog has a chicken friend, there
will come the day when, a friendly game of chase the chicken becomes,…. why are there feathers all over the yard?
They all react to the chickens differently. Some simply
ignore them, some just love to chase, and others really do want to hurt them. But
they just can’t help themselves dogs are by nature predators and chickens are
prey.
And there are many people that will tell you how to “cure”
the dog from killing chickens. One is beat the dog with the dead chicken. Others
say, tie it around their neck until it rots. Most people are not going to do
either, but believe me the first chicken your dog kills you will be thinking
seriously about it. You can train your dog to not chase the chickens but once
you are not standing there, all that training goes out to the chase. Some dogs
are afraid of chickens, and a really serious rooster might just do the trick.
Some love to bond and sit with the chickens but not many. Your best bet, keep
them apart. A neighbor’s dog is another story…hope you have good relationships
with the neighbor. Calling Animal control doesn’t always seem to be the answer
either, it is only a matter of time before he is back in your yard. Taking matters
into your own hands, well that is a personal decision only you can make.
I would recommend that you leash all dogs that have never
been around birds and try to get them used to them.
How will I know that
it was a dog that killed my chicken?
Domestic dogs usually kill aimlessly, or even accidentally.
What you will commonly find is a bird with a broken neck or mauled and nothing
is eaten. The bird will usually be left where it was killed out. When the bird
stopped struggling the game was over for the dog.
Fox
Chicken predators like a fox are common killers. There is a
reason that you hear all of the old phrases about foxes and hen houses. They
are a chicken predator that is.. “as good as it gets” to kill your chickens. Foxes
are sly, and will stake out a chicken coop for weeks before making their
strike. They are also quite good at what they do. They can dig like a dog and
can climb almost like a cat, getting over fences that you never thought that
they could. When foxes get in to the coop they usually clean house as well. As
the birds get excited and worked up seeing the fox in the coop, the fox gets
worked up as well. The result is that every bird the fox can get to will
usually be killed. The fox will get as many as he can out of the coop and take
them with him.
How will I know that
it was a fox that killed my chickens?
The birds will often have: a broken neck, there will be
several gone, feathers will be strewn on the ground, you will find feathers
away from the coop.
Coyote
Coyotes are Chicken predators that will take advantage of
unsecure settings. The coyote is more prevalent in our area of North Florida
and South Georgia, much more than the
fox. The coyote is a chicken predator that will find a way into your coop a lot
like the fox, although they are not as big of a climber. They will more than
likely tunnel under the chicken pen as opposed to going over like a fox does at
times. They are still very sly like the fox. They will also stake out a coop
and will often wipe it out if they gain access.
How will I know that
it was a coyote that killed my chicken?
It may be hard to tell by the evidence if it was a fox or a
coyote. How they gained access could be a clue. The coyote will more than
likely have tunneled in or forced their way in, while a fox almost never leaves
any evidence. The mayhem that ensues will be pretty much the same: birds will
be missing, necks broken, feathers scattered.
Raccoon
These masked bandits are sly chicken predators as well, and
with the added gift of the opposable thumb, they can be quite the burglar. They
can often figure out latches and door openings. If you know these guys are
present in your neighborhood it may be a good idea to put a more complicated
latch on your coop door or even go as far as putting a lock on it. Chicken
predators like raccoons are very persistent.
How will I know that
it was a raccoon that killed my chicken?
If this burglar gains entry he will normally kill multiple
birds. Usually you will find their bodies still in the chicken coop, because he
will have problems carrying them off. He'll usually kill by ripping into their
neck. Raccoon's will rip open the neck and eat at the crop and often go as far
as to rip the breast open and eat on it as well. They are also good at stealing
eggs.
Opossum
Chicken Predators such as Opossum love eggs. But doesn’t
have a problem sneaking into your coop at night when they hunt. The chickens
will put up a fight. The opossum or as we like to call it just the
"possum" can also wreak a little havoc if he can gain access to your
coop. He will usually gain access to the coop through any small opening, his
goal is to steal eggs and eat baby chicks. But they will kill adult bird just
for the fun of it.
How will I know that
it was an opossum that killed my chicken?
Most of the time, as I said, these guys will go for eggs and
for your babies. If they do attack an adult bird they will usually bite at the
neck and then tear at the abdomen. The dead birds will most likely be left in
the coop because, like the raccoon, they have trouble getting their spoils out
and away from the coop.
Hawk
No matter what you have heard, hawks do attack and eat
chickens. Considering that your chickens don't often look up when searching for
danger, the hawks have a pretty high kill ratio, when they do choose to come
after your birds. Like the fox and coyote, they will often stake out opportune
times to go after your birds. They usually do this while birds are free-ranging
during the day, as opposed to most of the other chicken predators that attack
at night. If hawks are prevalent in your area a good alternative might be to
free range your birds in a chicken tractor to give them added chicken predator
protection while they graze.
How will I know that
it was a hawk that killed my chicken?
A chicken attacked by a hawk will look different than any
other predator. Some birds will be missing and the ones that get away will be
cut up, almost like they have been stabbed with a knife. The hawks sharp beak
and talons can really do some damage.
Owls
Owls will go after your chickens in a similar way as hawks.
They stake out and then swoop in for the kill unexpectedly mostly at night,
early morning or late afternoon. Free range birds are most in danger from the
attack of birds of prey, or raptors, such as the hawk and the owl. If you have
a problem with raptors attacking your birds it is best to keep them in a
chicken coop with a chicken run or in a chicken tractor that can be moved
around.
Keep in mind that in the U.S. all hawks and owls are
protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 USC, 703-711). What this
means is that protecting your chickens by killing chicken predators such as
owls and hawks around your home place will likely land you with a very steep
fine and possibly some jail time. It is not an option.
How will I know that
an Owl killed my chicken?
Hawks and owls kill in similar ways. If you find a dead bird
it will have the head and neck eaten and will have deep almost surgical looking
cuts on the breast from sharp talons.
How do I know if it is an owl or a hawk? Good question.
Raptor birds often defecate when they make a kill. Most hawks will leave a
sweep of whitewash that you will see making its way away from the feather pile
of the kill. An Owls defecation will also be a whitewash, but it will be in
small heaps and clumpier.
Bears
If you live in an area that has bears you may have to
consider them a chicken predator as well. According to how determined they are,
there may not be a lot you can do. Bears can tear into small wood structures
such as chicken coops and will get as many chickens as possible. The best way
to prevent this will be to build a bear proof chicken coop. The bear is a chicken
predator able to create a lot of damage that you may not recover coop or
chickens. Bears are looking for a quick meal. Raising chickens does not attract
bears. Things such as garbage cans that are accessible and especially chicken
feed that is accessible. Chicken feed is very high in protein and very
attractive to bears. It is almost like crack for bears, they can't get enough
of it. Once they get this close most will then just take the birds they want.
The best defense is to not attract them to start with. Make sure that all
chicken feed and any garbage is covered and locked to prevent attracting bears.
How will I know that
it was a bear that killed my chicken?
It should be pretty obvious. They are not sly like a fox.
They break in pretty obviously and take what they want. They are also rather
heavy, so you should see the paw print.
Skunks
Skunks love chicken eggs. Skunks are more of an annoyance
than a serious chicken predator. They will go after baby chickens and eggs, but
rarely attack an adult bird. They are usually nocturnal and have very poor
eyesight. If they gain access to the coop they will go after eggs first. A dog
or cat around your home is usually a good deterrent for skunks. And Oh…you will
know a skunk has been lurking around by the smell.
How will I know that
a skunk killed my chicken?
You will normally find eggs opened at one end and eaten. If
they do get a bird it will have it's neck opened up and the head eaten. Most
good coops will keep skunks out.
Snakes
Snakes love chicken eggs. They will slither into your coop
and eat an egg or two every day. They can and will eat baby chicks and
ducklings whole. Once you suspect you have a snake watch when you reach into
the nest, you may find them napping after a nice meal.
How will I know that
a snake has eaten my eggs?
Missing eggs and your chickens may be upset and slow their
laying if they are getting a daily visit. You can see their tracks in a sandy
area of the coop. They eat eggs whole and leave no trace. And they will stay as
long as you let them rob your nest.
Crows
I have had several customers tell this story. It starts
with, “Something is stealing eggs and I know it is not a snake”. These super intelligent
predators sneak in through the tops of your coop, if there is no hole they will
make one. They will send in two, one will watch while the other steals an egg. No
sign of them in the coop but eggs are missing every day.
How will I know that
a crow has eaten my eggs?
There will be a tall structure nearby from where they will
sit and watch all the days activity in your coop. They are usually pretty vocal
and will “Caw Caw” back and forth as they talk about the robbery. Under this
tall tree or light pole you will find broken eggs.
So WHAT do you do to
secure your coop?
Even your best design can be a challenge. And there are as
many predator proof designs out there as there are chicken breeds. And that is all you can do, is your best. Once
you get that all figured out, another kind of predator will come along to
challenge you. Take your security serious and know that chickens are prey and
we live in a world full of predators. But the rewards of having a yard full of
chickens, fresh eggs on your table and just the farm experience is worth it. And
each year without a predator attack, will let you know you are a good chicken
handler. Good Luck!
