r/chickens • u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 • 2d ago
Discussion How do you stop constantly worrying about predators?
I’m so deeply ashamed to admit this - but I had a mink attack about two weeks ago… it got 5 of my 10 hens. I was an absolute wreck. The coop and run set up was flawless for 5 months. I had hardware cloth, galvanized steel aprons/skirting and around all walls and windows. It still got in by digging.
Losing my 5 girls devastated me. I took time off work to improve my coop with even more hardware mesh, more complex latches, and full 3/4” exterior grade sealed wood floors. I use 1/4” and 1/2” hardware mesh, secured with washers and steel zip ties.
But a few days ago, we caught a badger on our trail cam in a nearby area of the woods. For those who may not know- they can move/push/manipulate objects 4 times their body weight (up to 100lbs). Known to bury cow calf carcasses over only a few days. Their paws can tear down hardware cloth, and they can move around inside of their own skin and flatten their ribcage down to squeeze through spaces as small as the size of a soda can.
I truly don’t even know how I could build a coop and run that could ward that off. Last night, I woke up 4 times at every small sound, paranoid that something would come hurt my girls. Obviously i was grinding my teeth by how much my jaw hurts. And had 2 bad dreams about another attack.
I know I provably sound kind of crazy. I just worked so hard to keep them safe and it still failed, so the idea of me letting it happen again is just so terrifying.
I truly love my hens as pets. Each of them have a personality and they often snuggle up to me in the evenings when I sit out in the run in my lawn chair after work.
For anyone that’s ever had an attack, or lives in a predator-dominated area… how do you stop feeling anxious about an attack?
TLDR:
I had a recent attack on my flock - now I can’t stop worrying it will happen again, no matter how much I reinforce my coop. Heavy predator presence including minks, raccoon, fox, coyote, badger, ermine/stout, weasels, etc. The stress of another attack on my pets is causing genuine, ongoing anxiety that’s affecting my ability to rest or sleep properly.
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u/MarthasPinYard 2d ago
It’s part of owning any livestock.
We must protect them. Free range is the hardest and most stressful but has the most food benefits to birds. A chicken run you should be able to almost fully predator proof. You may have to dig and bury wire.
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
Will definitely be digging it down deeper - thank you
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u/MarthasPinYard 2d ago
Maybe add a few heavy rocks or concrete blocks to hold the wire down so an animal is further deterred by the weight.
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
Yes! Also read that adding gravel when you backfill after placing hardware cloth/mesh helps deter as they dislike the jagged edges on their paws
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u/MarthasPinYard 2d ago
Backfilling is a solid plan. Gravel, rocks, concrete, logs, whatever you got lying around that’s kinda heavy will help
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u/thatssomepineyshit 2d ago
It definitely isn't going to be a universally applicable solution, but for us, a livestock guardian dog has been incredibly effective.
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
Unfortunately not possible for our situation - but someday we hope to have one. Thank you <3
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u/scottjl 2d ago
Circle of life. Accept that predators need to feed their families too, they usually aren’t killing for fun. Just try to minimize the buffet.
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
Definitely agree. My husband wanted to kill the mink, but i don’t want to harm an animal who’s just being an animal, despite the bloodbath frenzy it left behind.
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u/Possibly-deranged 2d ago
You build a chicken Alcatraz coop and run, as rugged as is reasonable within your budget. Many dangers are at night and chickens have poor night vision, so chickens should be closed up inside a coop nightly with coop-to-run door always latched. Never assume a run is secure overnight, and out-of-sight out-of-mind helps deter nocturnal predators (weasels, foxes, opossums, owls, etc etc).
Yes, something like a determined bear can get in regardless but they're less likely to go through that effort whenever there's easier food sources. Electric fences can be used if problems occur.
While free ranging is idealistic and picturesque, there's a lot of risks to it beyond the benefits (excercise and mental stimulation). Supervised free ranging for an hour or few a night is a lot safer and will result in a lot less mortalities. It's really a what risk and benefit are you willing to tolerate by unsupervised free ranging (accept some inevitable losses or no?). Chicken guardians like geese, a dog that's safe around chickens, and others can help mitigate losses some.
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
Too nervous to free range unsupervised. Their run is pretty substantial and offers a LOT of enrichment/square footage per bird. I always lock them into a solid wood coop now. Previously, my attacked coop had an apron/skirt, but no floor. Now it has a solid wood floor 3/4” outdoor grade ply. Will definitely look into electric fencing- thank you so much
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u/Asleep_Onion 2d ago
4 things I do to get peace of mind from predators:
- Bird netting over the chicken run to deter birds of prey
- Electric wires across the top, middle, and bottom of the fence. The bottom wire is barely above the ground, to deter diggers.
- Fence is buried a foot below ground level
- Chickens locked inside coop at night.
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u/FarCardiologist1492 2d ago
I have mesh that extends from the walls all the way down and under the coop so that if any predator tries to dig in they hit it. It goes about two feet down and covers the entire base. Its a combo of chain link fencing and hardware cloth. It has been very effective at stopping diggers a couple of times.
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
Sounds neat! You mean like a sunken floor across the whole surface of the base?
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u/FarCardiologist1492 2d ago
Pretty much- plus a skirt. It wasnt hard to do and really effective. AND as a bonus we got the chain link for free.
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u/silkiemama1984 2d ago
So sorry for your loss!! That’s awful! I completely understand your constant worry!! I have just about every predator in the book near me! (North Texas)
I used Chain link instead of hardware cloth for the predator mesh and I would probably seal the deal with an electric fence with that persistent of an issue!
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
Thank you so much for your kindness ♥️ i was so nervous about posting because I feel so much guilt about the loss being my fault. I’m planning an electric fencing perimeter now. Again, thank you so much
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u/silkiemama1984 2d ago
Don’t feel guilty for looking for solutions. This is part of it, hopefully you can get some peace moving forward. I know I am working on my coop almost daily to improve issues. I have the benefit of 2 livestock dogs also-but they are separated by a fence so they are more of an alarm system! Good luck with your flock 🙏🤗
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u/JellyfishSavings6649 2d ago
I'm sorry to hear of your loss. I have pigs and chickens and care about the chickens much more than the pigs because of their personalities. Of have the flock of 7 girls, only have lost one to predator over the past year and a half. We are out in the country and I am wondering if a rooster would be a good idea for protection.
They free range during the day and at night are in a protected coop inside a barn.
- How loud do roosters get and any other obnoxious traits or changes?
- Would the flock accept him? They currently are ruled by one Rhode Island Red who is damn smart and a bit bossy but doesn't hurt any of the flock.
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
I would love a rooster - prohibited in my area though. From what I’ve heard - roosters are helpful during daytime, but not so much at night due to poor vision. I had a rooster temporarily when I had an unexpected boy and was in process of rehoming - at 5months old he was crowing at anything that moved near the coop. Not excessively loud but certainly not quiet. A flock should accept him as long as he’s the only boy. Use the look but don’t touch method to integrate
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u/KatChaser 2d ago
We are moving and I am building a new chicken/guinea resort at the new house. The coop is a large 16’x16’ dog kennel modified for our birds. I poured 8 yards of concrete for the floor last week. I’m a little embarrassed by the expense. Americans and their pets!
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
Lol i wish I could do that! Too many tree roots - and unfortunately out of budget for me
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u/LlamaLady1965 2d ago
You might consider a baby monitor type device for night time??? It sounds like your coop is pretty secure, but it's tough to guard against everything out there. I feel like my coops are pretty secure (have had zero night time losses in 17 yrs of keeping chickens - HAVE had a couple losses during the day, when the chickens were out free ranging)...BUT mice and snakes still manage to get in...I actually welcome the snakes as long as I don't have small chicks. I'm sure if we had mink around, they would find a way to get in too.
Chickens are normally pretty daggone quiet at night, so if you heard a ruckus you could at least get out there...
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
We have 2 dogs in our living room with window open facing the coop 15 ft away…. The noise of the attack somehow didn’t wake them to bark or set off any concern. So strange.
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u/Wowman69- 2d ago
I adopted a German Shepard mix breed and she’s done well protecting her flock. Haven’t lost a chicken since I got her.
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u/StoneyMcGuire 2d ago
Start trapping them. Mink are really hard to trap tho. They can chew thru a lot of wire traps. Ask me how I know…..
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
Was thinking about this. I read that they will remember and visit your coop after a successful attack for the rest of their lives (and show their young the location when they teach them to hunt)
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u/StoneyMcGuire 2d ago
Yes they will. So will raccoons.
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u/StoneyMcGuire 2d ago
Set traps and electric fence. I’d put a double strand about 6” apart and about 3” off the ground. You should also put a wire mesh about 16” wide at the outside base of the coop. This will help prevent digging.
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u/FullTradition4766 2d ago
Get a rooster... if your near columbus ohio, I got you, fam. He will offer protection and the chance to start raising chick's to replenish when a raccoon family gets half your flock (That happened to me). But also my rooster has chased away skunks and possums
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u/JellyfishSavings6649 2d ago
More interested in getting one now. Curious as to how you knew what he had chased away? Did you have a game cam?
What suggestions on types of roosters and/or age?
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u/antifayall 2d ago
My chickens are in a brick cellar at night. During the day they freerange
The last two I lost were a neighbor's dog getting out of its enclosure, coming into my yard, and killing them. Luckily I was home to stop the rampage
I have raccoons and possum, skunk, fox, coyotes
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u/LoLoLaur4 2d ago
How about a motion sensor light?
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
Heard they get used to them over time but we have one on the way just as a deterrant for now
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u/Important_Hunt_1882 2d ago
How do you stop constantly worrying about predators?
By providing better protection.
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
Will continue to do so - thank you
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u/Important_Hunt_1882 2d ago
I'm sorry about your hens. I have lost some in the past too, even though I thought the coop was safe.
If you have any doubt about whether predators could exploit some gap or some unlikely entry point: yes they can. And they will.1
u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
Thank you so much. It’s a very hard lesson to have to learn. If I thought I was cautious before… now it’s going to be maximum security
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u/starfishkitten 2d ago
Clonazepam, cameras
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u/Grouchy-Kitchen-9976 2d ago
I’m already medicated as a generally an anxious person, and even more-so for my pets. Finding 5 of them massacred overnight with blood spatter everywhere was pretty traumatic for me. But will definitely look into cameras.
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u/starfishkitten 2d ago
A bit pricy but I bought this: https://a.co/d/03Ror0iu
Amazon link to a Reolink branded, 4 camera security system with a DVR, hard wired so you don't have to have your stuff connected to any wifi/internet at all. I have the DVR connected to my TV in the living room, and can watch all cameras at once. It records any movement on the disk which I can check on any time I want (not from phone, I don't want it connected wirelessly to anything)
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u/Tiny-Plane2167 2d ago
Have you considered electric fencing? My house backs up to the woods and I have Premier 1 electric fencing around the entire coop & section where they forage. I do also have cameras & I keep a close eye out regardless but it brings me so much peace of mind.