Lost all of our hens last evening.............

[SKR8PN]

#$^%&*$%#^%& weasels.

We were going to replenish the flock this spring, it just would have been nice to have gotten a few more eggs before we put them in freezer camp.
I am now planning for new chicken coup with lots of fence wire around and under the edges.

 

[~gd]

#$^%&*$%#^%& weasels.

We were going to replenish the flock this spring, it just would have been nice to have gotten a few more eggs before we put them in freezer camp.
I am now planning for new chicken coup with lots of fence wire around and under the edges.

If it was weasels they can get thru very small openings! I had one in a hava-heart live trap and while I went to get my gun he managed to squeeze out somehow. That is when I switched to rat snap traps mounted on the sides of verticle poles. It kills when you get one.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

oh crap.

sorry buddy
:-(

 

[tortoise]

Not cool.

How about running electric fence wires on the outside of the chicken coop and run?

And/or a dog that lives with the chickens (and doesn't steal eggs or kill them... )

I would totally boot my poor dog out to live in the shed if I had predator problems with my rabbits. Aparently 2 dogs running in the yard during the day is enough to keep them away. :crossfingers:

 

[murphysranch]

Oh no.....I can't imagine the horror...

 

[bibliophile birds]

oh skr8pn! that's too bad. sorry about your loss of all those tasty meals.

i'm really loving my electric poultry netting. i got 164 ft for $175 (free shipping) and so far it's totally kicking butt! the only problem i've had was when a cow dropped dead ON the fence and bent a pole. other than that, it's kept everything (dogs, coyotes, foxes, skunks, raccoons, feral cats) out and it's so easy. i don't even lock my chickens in at night anymore. i've gone up to feed several morning and seen tracks and the strong smell of skunk, but 3000 volts is a pretty good deterrent.

i don't really know how that would compare for stationary coops. you may be able to secure it for less in other ways. just wanted to let you know that this system is pretty successful.

 

[Wifezilla]

Sorry to hear that. So many critters out looking for a free dinner . Grrrr

 

[i_am2bz]

I'm so sorry, SKR8PN. I can't even imagine that. I'd be devastated. And DH wonders why I'm so obsessed with covering every nook & cranny.

 

[tamlynn]

Oh no. So sorry.

 

[savingdogs]

That is a good reminder to me to go out and shore things up. The wild critters are hungry out there at this time of year.

Sorry that happened! How do you know what did it?