How to Protect Chickens From Predators

Chickens can be easy prey for hawks, foxes, opossums, skunks, dogs and cats. Here's how to protect your fowl from foul play.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chicken Coops
• Chicken Wire
• Cement Blocks
• Wooden Posts
• Lumber
• Heavy-duty Staplers
• Common Nails
• Hammers
• Hammers

1. Provide a roosting area inside a barn or shed. The roost needs to be at least 4 feet from ground level.

2. Use a post or thick branch placed horizontally in a corner of a shed for an adequate roost.

3. Build a hen house that can be shut up at night when hens are roosting.

4. Fence in an outside chicken run with chicken wire to keep predators out.

5. Secure chicken wire across the top of the run as well.

6. Nail 2 by 6 boards around the base of the chicken run, and staple wire to the boards. This will keep animals from pushing their way in under the fence.

7. Prevent dogs from digging under the pen by placing cement cap blocks along the edge of the pen.

Tips & Warnings

• Train dogs not to run at chickens even in play; this can quickly create a bad habit.

[xoxoalice]

on 10/16/2008 We live on a farm, with 13 chickens. We had 10 originally, but 6 of them were killed by foxes. We renovated the chicken coop. Now, it's tighter than Fort Knox.
One thing that will work just as well (Maybe even better then) Putting wood around the base.
We had already built a chicken wire fence, so we dug a trench under all of the fences, and filled each trench with concrete. Then, we pushed then bottoms of the fences into the concrete and let it dry.
We covered it back up with dirt, and you can't even tell. It looks much better, and nothing can get underneath.
Also, be sure to put some sort of metal rod or sheet in the space between the fence and the gate, if it is wide.
We had a den of cat-sized foxes around here last spring that slipped right in and out.

[MizGreenJeans]

on 9/14/2008 Chicken wire is better for keeping chickens in than predators out. Use hardware cloth (also called rat cloth) to deter predators. A determined raccoon or dog can rip through chicken wire easily.

on 2/22/2006 Use 2 foot, 1 inch chicken wire around your yard area to keep small predators from digging under your fence line. Lay it flat on the ground and attach it to the bottom of the fence and cover it with several inches of dirt to keep it stationary.

on 11/22/2005 Keep the chickens in a fenced-in area that has an electric wire around it for safety at night. During the day open the gate into a large fenced yard for free roaming. They are great bug eaters and will keep your lawn free from insects. Peace of mind for you and the chicks at night.