We’re all looking for the best ways to help our flock beat the heat. Here’s a home recipe to keep on hand when the temperatures threaten their well being.
Knowing how and when to quickly make homemade electrolytes for heat exhaustion can be the difference between life and death for your backyard chickens… Read Article
FOX: Clever as a fox is a saying we’ve all heard, and it couldn’t be more true. They climb better than you could ever imagine and can dig their way into a coop with ease. Fox are smart and patient, they will watch your coop for weeks before they attack.
Every bird the fox can grab in the coop will be killed, and often the entire flock will be completely wiped out.
They’ll take as many birds from the coop as they can with them.
Signs a Fox Leaves Behind After an Attack
Many birds missing
Feathers sprawled in the coop AND away from the coop
Broken necks
Coyotes will either tunnel or muscle their way into a coop. They’re smart, staking out the premises first to learn when the ideal time is to attack. A coyote is most likely to be seen at dawn and dusk, however, broad daylight attacks are not unheard of. Keep in mind coyotes are very active at night, and they can easily scale a 6-foot fence. When a coyote gains access to a chicken coop they’re known to kill all the birds, then take a couple with them.
Signs a Coyote Leaves Behind After an Attack
Birds missing.
Necks broken.
Feathers scattered everywhere in the coop.
Racoon: These clever egg-stealing masked burglars leave significant evidence of their presence. A raccoon rips open the crop and sometimes the breast to feast. You’ll find all the chickens still in the coop as a rule because coons have difficulty carrying them off.
One of the raccoon’s most distinctive features is their extremely dexterous front paws, in other words, they’re extremely talented at opening door latches!
Signs a Raccoon Leaves Behind After an Attack
Rips open the crop and sometimes the breast.
Dead chickens will most likely be left in the coop.
Opossum: This little critter is after your chicks and eggs. That’s his primary agenda, but it may go after a small adult chicken at times. The opossum gains access usually through a small opening in the coop
Signs an Opossum Leaves Behind After an Attack
Doesn’t take birds from the coop.
Tears open the abdomen.
Interesting Fact: The opossum is a Marsupial. The adult females have a marsupium, or pouch where they keep their young while they grow up. Cool
Hawks: These predators usually attack when chickens are free roaming during the day. Hawks, like the fox and coyote, are well prepared for their attack by staking out the premises beforehand.
There’s no mistaking the evidence of a chicken attacked by a hawk, the signs are quite different from all other predators. Sharp talons and beaks are extremely effective in killing or injuring multiple birds.
Signs the Hawk Leaves Behind After an Attack
Some birds will be missing.
Some injured birds will appear to be cut up.
Injuries look as though chickens were stabbed with a knife.
Owls attack similarly to the hawk. They also stake out the potential of a meal by watching the chickens for a spell before they attack.
Hawk or Owl? It’s not entirely impossible to tell the difference between a hawk and an owl attack. Raptors usually poop when they kill, fortunately, the poop of an owl and hawk are slightly different. You’ll find their poop near the feathers of the victim.
Owl: White streak with clumps
Hawk: Just a white streak
Signs an Owl Leaves Behind After an Attack
Neck and head ate.
Deep knife-looking cuts on the abdomen.
Save
Ready for my fall chicks with this totally customized brooder! Hubby spent countless weekends designing and building this beautiful addition to my brooder shed. The interior can be divided into two sections, both are designed for radiant heating as well as overhead low wattage supplemental heat lamps. The plexiglass front allows the chicks to actually see the world before they’re moved into the grow pen.
Special Features
Brooder has six conveniently placed power outlets and cord stays.
Plenty of storage below for all those bulky supplies.
Digital wireless temperature read-out from brooder to our home.
Floor of brooder is easy to clean linoleum tiles.
Top lifts for easy access on both sections and both are self-soft closing.
Brooder box is high so it’s easy on the back for cleaning.
