Fox In The Hen-House (let’s hope not)

  Over the years, we have experienced about every predator in the North East.  Whether it was helping themselves to a chicken dinner, or looking over the menu.  In either case, a swift response will minimize or prevent losses.

    Fortunate for our farm, I have been and remain, an avid trapper which often gives me an edge when an unwanted guest shows up for dinner.  Here in Maine those guests can usually be identified as fox, raccoon, fisher, weasel, Martin, coyote, mink, opossum, skunk and occasionally a few others.

    First and foremost the old term that rings true is “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  When coops are set up, the employment of some basic techniques can certainly save some heartache as well as protect your investment!  

    Probably the most used method of critters gaining access is going under rather than over.  Those son of a guns can slide through the smallest of gaps under you fencing.  If they can’t quite fit, they generally have no problem after a few minutes in the sandbox digging.  Keep in mind that they dig where they meet a barrier.  A couple feet of wire laid flat on the ground and attached to your vertical fence can be a huge obstacle.  They quickly find that they just don’t have the equipment to dig through.  Those that can’t get under will often look for other avenues, like OVER.   A good wire top to a chicken coop is essential for preventing access from the top, whether it from predators climbing over or birds of prey swooping in for an easy meal.  Of course, there are a million methods to make your coops predator resistant, but these are what we have found to be the easiest and most economical for our farm.

    Often I talk with folks that are perplexed because they have had their first ever predator pay a visit and discover a way in and helped themselves to one of the flock.  If the species of animal isn’t known, it’s important to figure it out since that is going to decide how to go about removing them.  When the ground is hard and dry most animals will leave little to no tracks.  Spreading a couple dollars worth of flour around your coop after tightening it up will give you a good opportunity to see their calling card.

      A successful predator is not going to forget where the hen house is, which means your going to have to work on Fort Knox or have the animal removed.  Some will want to remove the predator themselves with a live trap which is fine.  However, the fox and coyotes are crafty and will seldom, if ever, be caught in a live trap.  Birds of prey are a different story, and best if you contact fish and game for some advice that won’t land you in hot water since they are all protected.

    Remember you’re not alone, and you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.  Chances are someone has already been through it and has the knowledge to help.  If you have questions,  you are welcome to contact us directly, or join our group on Facebook.  “The Maine Poultry Connection” has over 3000 local members that are more than happy to pass along what they know, what has worked, and what hasn’t.

 

Scott DeMoranville

About Scott DeMoranville

Along with his wife Nickie, son Nolan and daughter Maddigan, Scott runs are 4Dʼs Farm, located in Bradford, Maine. Both Nickie and Scott are independent NPIP (National Poultry Improvement Program) testers for the state of Maine. Scott runs the Maine Poultry Connection of Facebook.