go flavor in the middle of two of Michigan ’s large timber region entail that my husband and I must be extra wakeful to keep our quite a little safe from predator . You do n’t need to live in the wild , however , to want to ensure your birds ’ safety . Whether you keep urban backyard birds or a large rural flock , here are four way to protect your chickens .
Secure Housing
The best way to protect your chickens is to provide them with as sturdy and strong a chicken coop as possible . Because of location , you may not have the ability to sink foundational post in concrete or dig out a protective apron around your chicken coop and run .
you’re able to , however , take such precautions as cover crack with quartern - in hardware interlock . This will keep even the slimmest weasel , racoon and blabber from slew through . Regularly inspect the structure and upshot mend as need , and employ karabiner to preclude nimble - pawed predator from access your nest boxful and pop threshold .
study more : predatory animal problems ? These 15 tips will help you keep your chickens safe .
Predator-Proof Environment
It may not be your volaille that are attracting local predators . If you keep your darling ’s food bowl or your home trash bin out of doors , the scent amount from these may draw uninvited guest . Even crazy - shuttle feeder are bonny game for agile social climber like raccoons .
Once on your property , athirst predators may describe your flock ’s creation . To minimise this peril of notice , prey your household deary inside . buy an animal - proof trash bank identification number ( and keep it inside a shed or service department if possible ) , and bestow your wild - bird tributary in at nightfall .
If you have a grille , keep it covered and clean it oftentimes to keep pests out . Most importantly , stash away your chicken feed in airtight container well away from your hencoop .
Live Traps
In locations with a high percentage of savage brute ( for example , rat in New York City or , in our case , raccoons and opossum in the Michigan wilderness ) , it may only not be possible to predator - trial impression your property . In these position , live trapping may be a practicable pick .
bouncy yap can be buy or rented , then baited ( canned Caterpillar food is our bait of selection ) and set out in your yard , near your deck of cards , by your shed , or anywhere else you have witnessed tempestuous animals .
Once you have pin a predator , you could contact Animal Services or your local fish and wildlife office to have them take the animal . Another option is to release the animal in a forest or park at some distance from your home . you could also contract a commercial critter - control company to handle the trapping and removal for you .
show more : Keep an oculus our for these common poultry predators .
Livestock Guardian Dogs
If you ’re a poultry keeper with a large loose - ranging flock , alivestock guardian dog(LGD ) may be a great choice to protect your poulet . An LGD shackle with its sight at a very early age and is meticulously trained and supervised to protect it from predators .
Usually the mere presence of an LGD is enough to keep wild animals away . Those curious , hungry or brazen enough to approach quickly bump themselves confronted by a growling , snarl , bark LGD displaying aggressive behavior .
An LGD will physically struggle a predatory animal if the dog deems it necessary .
An LGD is not cheap . These are specific breeds of dogs , such as a Great Pyrenees or an Anatolian Shepherd , and an LGD pup necessitate continual training and guidance for the first two years of its lifetime . pass the possible decimation of a flock , however , an LGD may be a valuable investment .
