5 Sensor lights and fox lights Nocturnal predators hunt after dark to avoid humans and competition for prey. Rats also love to feast on your girls beloved eggs. Chicken coops Advice. Go After the Chicken Coop. Predator proof the chicken house and run by burying poultry netting or other material around the outside. It’s best to keep bird feeders in the front yard, but if you absolutely must have them in your backyard, try to move them away from the coop. Place them in metal containers around your coop to deter the skunks from approaching. Avoid chicken wire. Use Electric Fences. Making sure your stored feed is kept in a secure drum and removing food sources from the coop or chook run at night is another way to prevent vermin and consequently predators from sniffing around. Prepare yourself to take swift action when you discover predation. The lack of safety preparations in your chicken coop can be a great advantage for predators to have a bountiful feast. 5 Answers. Even if your chickens are free-range, train them to return to the hen house each night so you can keep them safe. Your chicken coop looks like McDonalds to them- and they will do anything to get to your hens! 2-Train the Birds Offer some sort of training to the birds and animals to return to the houses every evening. Keep the coverage at the height of at … The vulnerability of chickens to predators can lead … Read more. January 09, 2019, by Kassandra Smith ... it should be more than enough to keep your coop and your chickens safe and sound. how do i protect my chickens? Give your chicken-friendly dogs the run of the chicken 6 Lockable nesting boxes Egg hunters like snakes, goannas, rats and quolls need to be denied access to your ladies laying boxes. Just as you lock up your house before going to bed, make sure your chickens are protected with a high-security chicken coop. So how do you keep your chickens safe from predators? It's important to always keep things clean and tidy. 11 Chicken run A large and securely meshed chicken run not only protects your flock from aerial predators, but also gives them much needed safe foraging space outside of the coop. And if … 4 Electric fencing The ultimate in backyard chook protection, electric poultry fencing will keep predators away by delivering a small shock, so they associate your chickens with an unpleasant sensation. Not only is this, but some predators like possums and snakes are excellent climbers. I personally don’t use chicken wire to protect the chicken coop and run because predators can easily tear through it. Neighbourhood/stray dogs When Rover comes on over to your place he may not always be the happy neighbourhood dog he is towards your family. I really recommend you replace any chicken wire with 1/4 inch hardware cloth because it really works to keep predators out (my favorite hardware cloth is the Gilbert & Bennett YARDGARD on Amazon). So you need to make sure that the gaps aren’t big enough for them to … This is something that should be taken seriously by poultry farmers. Raccoons detest bad odor, you can therefore use ammonia or urine from predators and sprinkle around the chicken coop; they will have no choice but avoid that region because of the strong smell. Make sure your chook run mesh is galvanised, a strong gauge and at least 10mm x 10mm to keep your hens as safe as possible. All Rights Reserved. A determined, hungry animal can and will break through chicken wire. To avoid this problem make sure that all eggs are collected from the coop each night. But if you want to provide shade to your chickens, you can also use trap sheets instead of chicken wire. The entire run is as secure as a locked coop, and the chickens don’t require locking up each night. Invest in a treadle feeder to keep your feed secure. 1. on How to Keep Predators Away From My Chicken Coop? Having a scare owl positioned on your coop or run will help deter these predators, just make sure you move its position every few days so predators don't realise they're dealing with a dummy. This will keep most nocturnal predators away from the coop. Chicken coop predators are drawn to your chicken coop for one (or more) of these four reasons: Let’s have a stickybeak at ways you can cut off their easy access and keep your hens healthy and happy. Electric Poultry Fencing Keeps the Predators Out Using an electric fence to protect chickens while they forage and roost is your best defence against chook... As hard as it is to believe, there are some animals out there who don’t see your precious flock as cute little feathered friends like... Chicken keeping does not have to be difficult or stressful, and you shouldn’t have to spend your time worrying about the pending threat that rats... What are they? The strong scent is similar to that of a larger predator animal's urine, which makes the skunks uneasy. By predator-proofing your chickens’ coop, maintaining a clear, well-lit line of visibility, and keeping the area around the coop free of any potential hiding spots, you can keep these crafty carnivores from devastating your flock, and keep your chickens healthy and safe. 7. Please wait... guide to training your dogs to live with your hens here, 3 Reasons Electric Poultry Fencing is Great For Your Chicken Flock, Everything You Need To Know About Fertile Eggs, Different Coloured Eggs and the Breeds That Lay Them, The 4 Essential Tips for Keeping a Rooster in your Urban Backyard. Take a peck at our ultimate guide to predator prevention for your chicken coop and keep those hens happy, healthy and stress free. Plus these are not feasible for free-range areas but they work wonders for a chicken coop. Download our FREE expert chicken health tips so you can have the healthiest chickens on the planet! Protect your flock today- check out Chickenpedia and their brilliant courses. Alternatively you can make sure your coop has a strong foundation of concrete, bricks, pavers or timber sleepers to stop predators like foxes, snakes, goannas, vermin, quolls and neighbourhood animals from disturbing your poultry peace. So just how do you keep predators out of the chicken coop? 8 Pest and vermin repellent plants Most people are aware that certain plants repel insects, but not many keepers know that vermin are adverse to some plants too! 2. Begin with raccoon-proof locks or latches. Your chicken coop looks like McDonalds to them- and they will do anything to get to your hens! There are 4 known species of quolls active in Australia - northern quoll, spotted tail quoll, western quoll and eastern quoll. Store feed away from the coop. The Trench should be at least 12 inches in depth, so that the digging chicken predators might also not attack. Keep your compost pile far away from the coop. If you keep your garbage cans in the backyard, consider moving them to the front – or at least away from the chicken coop. 4 Electric fencing The ultimate in backyard chook protection, electric poultry fencing will keep predators away by delivering a small shock, so they associate your chickens with an unpleasant sensation. Visiting vixens will think that humans are nearby and steer clear. Relevance. How to keep bears away from your chickens So, how do you not attract bears to your chicken coop then? Also try to make sure that the floor is always tight and durable enough to resist the attacks from the underside. Offer the chicken run with some covering and also make use of cross wiring in order to turn down the … just today i saw a fox patrolling my chicken coop. Hawks, falcons and other birds of prey Hawks, falcons and other birds of prey are expert aerial hunters and most species are protected in Australia. The same rule applies to bird feeders. My favorite one is this light called PredatorGuard, which I got on Amazon. I highly recommend their beginner-friendly, well-structured courses to all my readers! Chickens can trigger a hunting instinct in dogs that have not been desensitised to your flock. Raise The Level Of The Floor. Here are tips to keep coyotes out of your chicken coop: Coyotes can’t “grab” your chickens through the gaps around your coop fencing. © 2020 Backyard Chicken Coops. If your hens free range, consider getting a rooster. What Are The Best Materials To Build A Chicken Coop? One thing to remember: chicken wire will keep chickens in; hardware mesh will keep predators out. You have to take time in preparing the blueprint and quality of materials for chicken coop. This will keep Mr Fox from encroaching on what it thinks is another predator’s territory. If you intend to go higher, you may have a portable ramp for use in your poultry routine. So, while a predator proof coop is still necessary, the number 1 way to keep bears from messing with your chickens is to not attract them in the first place! Motion-sensor lighting is a great addition for enhanced protection. While chicken wire will keep chickens in, hardware mesh is designed in a way to keep foxes and other predators out. Scare tape is a holographic tape that confuses birds of prey by reflecting light haphazardly. Answer Save. I want to build a chicken coop what kind of flooring is recommended? Our poultry expert will contact you soon. Quolls and Tasmanian devils The Australian quoll is a rare but serious predator threat to your chicken coop. So, you can try installing a motion-activated night light that shines brightly in the chicken coop. With proper lighting surrounding you coop, predators will be hesitant to attack and become visible in case they will attempt to strike. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. You have to take time in preparing the... Elevate the chicken coop off the ground.. Raise a certain level of height from … How to Keep Predators Away From My Chicken Coop? Surprisingly, chicken wire was designed to keep chickens in but not predators out. Raise a certain level of height from the ground to the base of your chicken coop. Provide An Enclosure Around The Coop. Use a 1-inch by 2-inch wire mesh or smaller gauge to keep predators out. Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account. They will often be found circling above any potential meal waiting for the right opportunity to swoop in. Step #2 Inspect everything. Check every corner of your coop thoroughly and use the hardware cloth to cover any holes, vents, and windows. This is not optional but compulsory. A worn (um, smelly) men's shirt hung near the chicken run is thought to deter predators. Having a rooster in your flock (if your area allows for it) will ensure your girls are warned of any incoming predator threat and can make their way to safety. Not only will they happily chow down on any eggs or unsecure feed they can get their claws on, they also attract the big boys looking for a vermin snack like goannas, monitor lizards and snakes. Do not allow food scraps to linger. How to Plan and Design Chicken Coops in your Backyard? Predators are smart and will work … This should be high enough to prevent rats, dogs, fox and other animals to reach. Make sure everything is secured as tightly as possible. Predator-Proofing Your Chicken Coop. Now that you know that you have at least 13 types of chicken predators to be aware of when keeping chickens, it is also important to cover how to protect your flock. If you have chickens or are planning on getting chickens, then you want to try to keep them as safe as possible. If you're worried that your chicken coop isn't secure enough, … Our poultry expert will respond same day between 10am - 5pm Monday to Friday AEST. So to keep chickens safe, a need is to cover the coop with the help of a wire mesh. Clean up any food scraps that the chickens do not eat before nightfall. They will associate the sound with food, and come running when they hear the noise. So, while a solar light is an economic choice for outdoor light, it may not be effective. If you’re purchasing fencing with the intention of keeping out predators, it doesn’t have to be beautiful. This will serve as the chicken run, yard or outdoor feeding area. Chicken wire is more for keeping your chickens in than keeping predators out. When building a coop, elevation can help protect your chicken from potential predators. The base of the coop should be at least 4 inches off the ground so that vermin cannot hide underneath. Then they store the rest of the food in a buried storage space in the ground. Keep all of these in mind when you are designing your chicken coop to keep chickens safe. If the gauge is larger than an inch or so, then wrapping the chain link in chicken wire is a good idea to keep smaller predators such as weasels or snakes out also. Cats are notorious acrobatic climbers so make sure your fence is feral cat proof with a rolling bar system or spike wire top. Make sure the top of the run is covered (if they will be in a run) and that there are no openings. All doors in … You can use hardwood that is permeated with pesticides, rabbit wire,  chain link and other popular chicken material that are tested for durability and reliability. This told me my chickens were in danger. It’s best to keep bird feeders in the front yard, but if you absolutely must have them in your backyard, try to move them away from the coop. The effectiveness of these ways to keep predators away from your chicken coop depends on the implementation. 1 Flock guardian dog Dogs make great coop companions and there are certain breeds, like Maremmas or Great Pyrenees dogs, who will protect your hens with pride. Have a well-constructed chicken coop.. Keeping your chicken coop safe from prowling predators is a top concern for all chicken keepers. We design all our coops and accessories with predator and vermin protection in mind. I really recommend you replace any chicken wire with 1/4 inch hardware cloth because it really works to keep predators out (my favorite hardware cloth is the Gilbert & Bennett YARDGARD on Amazon). Raccoons are one of silkie chicken’s biggest predators. Will lights keep predators away from chickens? For foxes - try leaving a battery operated radio tuned to a talk-back station near your coop overnight. That way it can help deter predators and provide automatic lighting for you for late night checkups. Shake a feed container two or three times as you feed your chickens. This will help prevent predators from attacking your chooks in their coop and snakes or vermin from gaining entry to your chicken run. Prevention is the best method to keep snakes out of the coop and away from the chickens and their eggs. This can prevent rodents from nesting near your chicken coop, as they will be more exposed. The best kind of fencing in this category for poultry is electric net fencing, a portable, … How can I make my chicken coop and their run smell better. Put lights around the coop at night; motion-sensor lights work well. Allow for a 30-day quarantine away from your girls to ensure everyone remains healthy. Foxes will run away the moment a spotlight pops on so this is a great way to keep them away. Move everything away from the walls. You can erect an electric fence around the perimeter if your chickens are free-ranging to keep predators away from your cuckoo. Cover the Coop. Read on to find out what types of chicken coop predators you may come across in your area and ways to prevent them from hurting your hens. Keeping the chicken coop raised at all times is one of the best strategies for offering your backyard chickens with some protection. But don’t fret, caring keepers! Not only is this, but some predators like possums and snakes are excellent climbers.. Adding a mesh flooring or a perimeter foundation of concrete, bricks, pavers or timber … 13 Out of the box solutions Over the years we have heard of and tried many different unconventional chicken coop predator prevention methods. Sleep soundly knowing your chickens are safe from predators. Place barb wire, or a tall fence. Secure it with a tight fence, high enough (about 4 feet) and deep enough (1.5 feet) underground to keep jumping and digging predators at bay. These are often constructed by digging a trench down 12″ around the entire perimeter of your chicken run and burying the hardware cloth beneath the ground. Baby Skunk I captured outside my chicken coop 2017. My deck is lit with low voltage lighting at night and I still catch them walking across it. If he hasn’t been trained … Ideally, have your coop elevated about a foot off the ground. Make Sure You Keep Chickens Safe from Predators If you have chickens or are planning on getting chickens, then you want to try to keep them as safe as possible. September 02, 2020. This method of course will not work for light fingered neighbours. Quolls and Tassie Devils are versatile nocturnal predators and can attack your bantam chickens and baby chicks as well as your eggs and any vermin hanging about the chicken coop. Here Are My Tips: Give your coops a floor that cannot be dug into or place chicken wire at the base of the coop so it will cut whatever tries to dig under the coop Raccoons have been able to easily adapt to a wide variety of habitats- from cities to the urban neighborhood and countryside. 7 Secure chicken feed Secure feed means no vermin and no vermin means no nasty so-and-so's hanging about your chicken coop for an easy rat or mouse meal. 10 Scare owls and scare tape Birds of prey such as raptors, ravens, butcher birds and magpies are naturally wary of owls. This explains why you’ll see feathers lying around as well because they are harder to … July 31, 2018 April 28, 2020 by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies. This is your primary line of defense. 2 Burrowing prevention Make sure your coop is burrow proof with a mesh floor that juts out at least 30cm from the coop perimeter or is attached at the base of the chicken coop or run. Please check your email for your copy. Our friends at Chickenpedia have created a fantastic Poultry Predator Protection course. Secure it with a tight fence, high enough (about 4 feet) and deep enough (1.5 feet) underground to keep jumping and digging predators at bay. A far safer fencing choice is chain link or welded wire. You will want to look everything over. He will be watchful and give the alarm to take cover if anything attacks. Placing deterrent lights around the chicken coop is one of the best ways to create a raccoon-free property. Mow the grass or field near or around the coop. Many animals have an aversion to humans, so playing a radio all night by … They are beautiful, intelligent,... Not sure whether your eggs are fertile? You can use old coffee cans, metal baking trays, or anything else that prevents the ammonia from seeping through to the ground. The ground assault from raccoons, foxes, and other … Hardware cloth on the other hand is said to be stronger and has less gaps … Adding a mesh flooring or a perimeter foundation of concrete, bricks, pavers or timber sleepers will help prevent burrowing nasties from ruining the poultry party. There is another technique that is equally effective; you can deter the raccoons away from the chicken coop and they will have no choice but to walk away. An automatic chicken feeder is the best way to reduce the feed spillage that attracts rats and mice. Not only do they delight in chasing any vermin found in and near the coop, they can also attack your bantam hens and baby chicks. I doubt solar lighting around the coop will keep racoons away. This introduced nasty has no native predators and is now pervasive across all of mainland Australia. This will deter most predators and keep your chickens safe. 9 Keep a rooster The natural purpose of the rooster in a flock (aside from helping hens make adorable baby chicks) is to protect their ladies from threats. Make sure that you have provided them somewhere safe to go to get away from predators and bad weather. Raise the floor of the chicken coop off the ground . Bury the chicken wire or hardware cloth 12 inches deep all along the run to add an additional barrier against burrowing predators. Sprinkle Cayenne Pepper Flakes Many predators such as hawks or owls dive right in from the sky and will take your chickens away. Secure 12 to 24 inches of hardware cloth on the bottom of your coop on all sides to prevent skunks and other predators from entering. Also, invest in materials to be used in the chicken coop. There are many ways to prevent these fiendish foes from attacking your fabulous flock. But, Make sure your dog likes chickens or has been trained not to harm them. Perhaps the most important … How to prevent predators in the chicken coop Prepare the coop. They are excellent carriers of chicken diseases and deadly viruses. Chicken wire is more for keeping your chickens in than keeping predators out. Need to know something but short of time? The safety of his hen harem is a rooster's number one priority. Raising Chicken Tips: Requirements for Building a Coop. Keep feeders in the coop or run even if your chickens free range during the day. I doubt solar lighting around the coop will keep racoons away. Put the radio on a timer, or turn it on and off at … Snakes Most species of snakes, from carpet pythons to king browns, are attracted to your chicken coop by two things - vermin and eggs. Speaking of temporary coops, if you don’t have a permanent run one great solution to keep predators away is to build or buy a chicken tractor. Fence pricing varies … a lot. Some predators will avoid areas that are brightly lit. A lot of chicken coop plans are made to keep chickens in, not rats and other predators out. Have a peck at our guide to training your dogs to live with your hens here. Adding a floor a few inches up creates one more barrier between your chickens and their predators. I have had quite a bit of experience keeping skunks away from my chickens and I want to share these with you. Get a Guard; Employ a livestock guardian dog or a rooster, or both, to watch over your flock. It is advisable to have 3 to 4 feet distance from the coop base to the ground. The floor of the coop will prevent snakes and other animals from gaining access. All they need is about a ½ inch hole, in the case of rats and weasels. Chicken wire will not keep snakes out of the coop. But the reality is they are not the greatest threat to a flock. Several nocturnal predators are just waiting for darkness and take advantage of the situation. Hens are one of the most captivating creatures on the face of the earth. Set live traps as soon as your chickens are locked securely in their coop. However, maintain a level that can still be accessible for feeding, cleaning and other daily routine. So to keep chickens safe, a need is to cover the coop with the help of a wire mesh. Make sure your coop has lockable or secure nesting boxes that are only accessible by a human hand. If that's not enough to deter predators, a few other steps may … 11 Chicken run A large and securely meshed chicken run not only protects your flock from aerial predators, but also gives them much needed safe foraging space outside of the coop. Many predators such as hawks or owls dive right in from the sky and will take your chickens away. by Kassandra Smith Put a roof on it. Strategically placing sensor lights on your coop and chicken run will help scare off any potential beasts with a shock of bright light. Coyotes WILL stick their head into the coop through the fencing if the gap’s big enough. Planting mint, lemon balm, catnip and lavender around your coop will help deter pests, rats and mice. You can also invest in fox deterrent light systems that mimic animal eyes in the dark. This will keep most nocturnal predators away from the coop. A persistent coon will likely eventually get accustom to the … 2. Goannas Just like their sneaky snake cousins, goannas and monitor lizards are after your bum nuts and the rats, mice and vermin your unsecure chicken feed can attract. Returns, Replacements, Refunds & Warranties, Make sure your chicken coop and run is burrow proof and your hens are securely inside at night, Keep your chicken feed secure with a treadle feeder and store it securely at night, Establish a chicken area perimeter with electric fencing to deter larger predators. The smell of a human nearby is a big turn off for predators in general. But it does have to be made of solid material and securely installed, which usually means you’ll have to spend a little money and either do a little work or hire someone to do it for you.. Chicken keeping is quite addictive and once bitten... Roosters are a contentious issue among backyard chicken keepers. Learn how to keep owls away from chickens and how to appreciate the benefits owls have on the farm. Raccoons can climb walls and over fencing. It formulates financial sense to construct a chicken coop yourself than buying … First, prepare your coop and run with a regular check for any holes over a half inch and cover them... Make some noise. There are several predators that can cause problems to your chickens like snakes, rats, hawks, dogs, owls and other bewildering animals. Snakes will rarely eat a chicken but a hungry predator should not be underestimated. Keeping Out Predators. Provide a night light (motion-sensor-activated) that will flood the chicken run with light after dark or install a set of Nite Guard Solar predator-deterrent lights (see advertisement inside front cover). Make Sure You Keep Chickens Safe from Predators. People typically focus on the ground and they forget that a predator can attack from above. Instantly search over 500 articles using the search box below. Secure nesting boxes mean that any potential bum nut bandits will come away empty mouthed. You can get a similar effect by hanging old CDs near your run. #1: Raccoons. Build your coop off the ground. This will serve as the chicken run, yard or outdoor feeding area. This will keep the mice and rats from burrowing into your chicken coop and leading weasels into it. September 04, 2020, by Kassandra Smith Keep it in a airtight container like our feed drum with the lid always firmly in place. This will keep the mice and rats from burrowing into your chicken coop and leading weasels into it. Do I Need a Rooster in My Backyard Flock? Let’s look at the top 7 winter predators and tips on how to keep your flock safe. For free gifts, discount codes, and loads more entertaining information. They are pretty bold. In layman's... It’s a very common practice among backyard chicken keepers to keep LOTS of egg-exquisitely different breeds! Plain and simple, the answer is no! Why? Raccoons love a good trash-dive every now and then, so this will keep them away from the chickens. ... is something that is taken away (think -). Predator-Proofing Your Chicken Coop. One of the primary concerns in poultry raising is how to keep predators away from the chicken coop. Modern Farmer has more info and build instructions … Prices on Amazon here To deter potential predators, it’s important that the light be bright. Predator-proof the run. You can take it a step further and hang bunches of these fresh smelling herbs from your chicken run roof. Keep them safe through the night with a well-built coop that's set up the right way. Give your chicken-friendly dogs the run of the chicken yard – particularly at night. Adding a floor a few inches up creates one more barrier between your chickens and their predators. If you have already had a snake invasion, if you don’t take measures to snake-proof your coop, the offenders will return. This will help defend against predators such as chicken hawks as well as keep wild birds from mingling with your chickens (although, not their poop, so there can still be some transmission of diseases from wild birds to chickens even in the best of situations).