We are having a terrible time protecting our flock from predators probably weasels. Any ideas on this? They seem to be able to get in at night no matter how careful we are.

-- B.E. Courson (ellie@icx.net), October 09, 1999

Answers

Dogs

-- Daryll (twincrk@hotmail.com), October 09, 1999.

However, in our case, the dogs were the predators!

-- CC (car-col@usa.net), October 09, 1999.

We had opossums getting our chickens years ago, I trapped them out with #2 Victors with chicken necks for bait, it took a few nights but I got them all.

-- Bob Henderson (redgate@echoweb.net), October 10, 1999.

We had problems with weasels also once. My husband set a steel trap and baited it with chicken liver. On the third night we got it. Is there anyway you caould make the coop more secure? Good luck

-- Marci (ajourend@libby.org), October 10, 1999.

Haven't had much trouble with 4-legged predators, but we did have a big owl coming in to kill hens. Now when we put the chickens to bed at night, we tune a small radio in to an all night big band music station. Owl flies by, but does not stop. Guess he hates big band music. Since we have been playing music at night, egg production is up. My sister can't get big band music. She uses talk radio. No owls, but no increase in egg production either.

-- Craig Oxendine (sox@threewings.com), October 11, 1999.

I have lost chickens to hawks, possums, coons, cats and current dog. the hawk only seems to get one when the chickens can't run away (trapped by fences an such) the possum only gets young ones that forget to go into the house a night the coons (and maybe coyotes) have to be very firmly excluded. This year when we were in England I put an electric grid made of chains across their door and had it turn on at dusk and off at dawn (the time got out of time so the chickens had to go through it electrified but I didn't loose any). cats only seem interested in baby birds so I only protect from cats until they weigh about 8-10 ounces. the dog is a real problem - he has frightened the hens so they never leave their house - the hens stay locked up anytime the dog is loose.

-- kirby johnson (kirby@selco.lib.mn.us), October 26, 1999.

I HAVE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL TIMES WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. MY SOLUTION WAS TO GET A PUPPY AND PUT IN WITH THE CHICKENS. I FIRST TRIED A BORDER COLLIE TYPE. ONCE SHE GOT OLDER THOUGH, SHE WAS NOW THE PREDATOR (SHE IS NOW LIVING IN A DOGHOUSE OUTSIDE. IF A CHICKEN COMES INTO HER "CHAIN CIRCLE" SHE GOES FOR THEM, AND HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL FROM TIME TO TIME!) MY SECOND ATTEMPT WAS TO GET A GREAT PYRENEES PUPPY (IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM TO OWN ONE EVER SINCE I READ ABOUT THEM IN COUNTRYSIDE. THEY ARE KNOWN TO BOND WITH LIVESTOCK AND THEN PROTECT THEM. I FINALLY FOUND ONE IN OUR AREA AND BOUGHT IT. I HAVE NOT LOST ANY CHICKENS AT NIGHT SINCE THEN. SHE HAS FREE ROAM OF THE CHICKEN COOP BUT DOES LIKE TO CHASE THEM FROM TIME TO TIME. IF YOU HAVE A DOG PERHAPS YOU COULD KEEP IT CLOSE TO YOUR COOP. GOOD LUCK!

-- MICHAEL W. SMITH (KIRKLBB@PENN.COM), November 07, 1999.

We currently own our third, fourth and fifth Great Pyrenees dogs. We had the first pair for 10 years and in that time they removed a feral potbellied pig, coyotes, countless stray and not so stray dogs from our pasture. We lived in an area of Arkansas with a large enough bear population to have a hunt every year and thank goodness we never saw one. They have also chased off hawks. The 2 females we have now are with the sheep and goats and the male has the yard which includes the chickens and fruit trees. Before we put him in the yard, deer would come within 20 feet of the house. The garden and fruit trees were not so close and were a favorite treat to the deer. I will admit that because he will chase away the hawks, the male will also chase chickens if they get out. We keep them in a run as we don't like "fertilizer" all over. It is important to socialize Pyrs doing "house duty" to visitors. They have a sixth sense about good people and those you welcome as opposed to questionable types. Pyrs are wonderful and I'd hate to have livestock without ours.

-- Marilyn Dickerson (rainbow@ktis.net), January 17, 2000.

For our chickens we have a henhouse that is very secure (wooden floor raised off the ground with insulation on the underside, too) and the chickens get locked in at dusk. Our poultry yard has a 6' chicken wire fence surrounding it (I think around 30'x40'). The crest of our henhouse is higher than the fence surrounding it, so we took nylon string and strung it out radiating from a center on the roof of the henhouse to the perimeter of the fence. Kind of like a big square "wheel" with the string being the spokes and the henhouse being the hub. This has kept out owls ( I have seen them) and hawks (those, too!) I think it visually confuses flying predators and would be a challenge for them to drop down through. Maybe something like this would help unless you have flying weasels! I think locking them up at night in secure housing is best if possible. Just my $.02. Good Luck

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), January 17, 2000.

Believe it or not my big tom cat took care of my weasel problem,without even a scratch on him.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), January 18, 2000.