I had the same problem this past spring, racoons and opossums took out my entire flock of chickens and quail. We got 2 great pyrenees dogs and have had no more problems with any predators.
Possums will get the bigger chickens as well. It is the time of year when the critters are out and about after my flock. I put chicken feet (used for broth) in my live trap. I am in and out all day checking on my two flocks. I'm so sorry you have critters attacking your flocks it hurts to lose them.
Tom, you’re not a failure. I’ve seen experienced homesteaders have a rough year with predators. I do hope you dispatched the ones you catch. If you just take them far away, they will find their way back. They need to be removed permanently. Also, everyone makes mistakes. Learn from them and make sure you don’t do it again. Have a checklist to go over every night to make sure you’ve done everything that needs to be done. Also, if Milo won’t sleep outside, get a LGD who’s used to being outside. A true LGD won’t want to come in the house at night. It’s bred into their genes to be outside guarding their animals. I’m actually surprised Milo doesn’t cry to be outside at night. But I do believe having one outside at night will make a huge difference. Btw, I miss your videos. I learn a lot from them. - Sue in AZ
I'm so sorry you all had to go through all that! We've had possums, raccoons, and foxes get our chickens over the years. It's so hard finding those bodies 😔 I know how discouraging it can be and you start to feel like giving up... Hang in there! You guys are doing so well and learning so much!! Each year will bring more lessons, and you'll have success on top of success ❤
Tom, so sorry you’re going through this! I do agree with Sue in AZ. Milo was bred to be outside with the livestock, and as long as he has shelter, he’ll even thrive in the MI cold. We have two Maremma LGDs, Cousins of the Pyr, and they LOVE being outside. Even in very cold temps, they only use their shelter when it’s snowing or raining.
I agree. Hardware cloth and lots of it! And plenty of big heavy staples. If you don’t fasten it really good and secure, a raccoon will pull the hardware cloth up and get in.
Build you a trap with hardware cloth and let me know it held it. Might be a reason cage traps are not made that way. Wire is way to soft to hold. If won't hold in won't hold out
Preditors and garden critters were definitely rampant this year! So much learning by experience in this lifestyle, you guys are doing good! Take it easy on yourselves. 😊
A little tip if you're going to continue free ranging or not get a livestock dog. Leave bowls of cat food around the edges of where your chicken are, outside the pen. Leave plenty of bowls around some wet food, some dry. The predators are hungry and your farm is a quick and easy source of protein. We feed the local strays and they have never attacked our chickens, and I have seen raccoons hang around when I didn't have very predator proof coops at the time, but never loss any birds because the racoon ate the catfood.
Why would you invite predators by leaving feed for them? You secure your chickens with hardware cloth and leave no food outside that area to entice predators to come into that area. It may be time to keep them a secured run for a time.
@jenniferd2322 I don't think you understand. The raccoon is already here regardless if it eats the catfood or not. Behind my backyard is 10 miles of forest. They will come whether I want them to or not due to having chickens. I said the one way to stop them from targeting chickens IF this guy doesn't plan to predator proof and stop free ranging his birds, would be to feed the raccoons to deter them from eating his birds as they won't have to hunt for their meals. Otherwise, he will keep losing chickens. They will keep coming back as he has said they are doing.
Same issue here this year Tom. I lost 3 ducks, 2 roosters, and 6 hens....I killed a possum the other night but I don't think it was him. He was too small. I had Peking ducks and something pulled the head off one of them. None of my remaining birds will go in the coop. Going to rebuild and restart again next spring.
I've heard of people waiting until the predator year comes, then they set up the inflatable dancing tube man, and a radio that plays talk all night. If possible, see if you can find a way to put the tube man on timer so it starts dancing every 2 minutes instead of constantly. Raccoons are smart.
Have you ever tried raising a goose with the flocks...I free range our chickens on an acre of land and have a couple geese as guard geese. They get put up in the coop with them at night.🤔 Im sure you will work through this...love your adorable family. We will be praying for ya.
It's been the year of the predator for us as well. More like the month of the predator. Lost 6 guineas and 4 chickens in the past month to hawks and nocturnal ninja monsters.
It happens, all you can do is reinforce to the best of your ability and keep adding predator deterrents as they get more determined. Unfortunately, this is the time of year when the predators are hungry and looking for an easy meal. Not to mention much of the country is in a major drought right now so that has made it very hard on the wildlife and they are seeking east meals and easy water sources. I do hope you’re dispatching anything you trap though, relocating just makes it someone else’s problem and releasing just makes them smart enough to avoid the trap.
It serves no purpose having a dog treating it like a person. Keep it outside or get use to continuously getting predator attacks. Changing the wiring on the cages to 1/4” hardware cloth will also help.
I can't imagine having a Pyrenees stay inside all night. they're nocturnal! poor dog must be bored out of its skull sitting in a dark quiet house for eight hours. my two dogs live outside 365 days of the year and they are barking and sprinting a mile off to chase something away practically every night.
That silkie coop is not predator proof. I think if you upgrade to hardware cloth you will be secure. It's an investment but your flock will be safe. Include a predator apron around the coop floor about a foot out. That way nothing digs under.
I just lost 2 of my girls to a neighbors dog.. this dog broke into my closed off pen (was stuck in there and could not figure out how to get out) and just killed them , did not care to eat them .. just wanted to kill them.. 😭.. I called the police and they sided with the neighbor , treated me like the bad guy and threatened to arrest me if I did not let their dog out of my run..(wtg! officers) the neighbor was heartless and even tho her dog was stuck in my run with the dead chickens she is denying her dog did it.. ☹.. I live in a small city , I am only allowed to have 5 chickens and no Roo.. the only thing that brings a glimmer of warmth to my heart is .. NOW there will be baby chicks in the house again..🐤🐤🐤..and yes I reinforced my run with tin roofing on the sides so this will not happen again..I love my girls and even tho people may think "they are just chickens" they are my pets..🥰
When we had great Pyrenees dogs we never had a problem. We no longer have them, but have one goat that shares space with the chickens. We never lock up the hen house door and have not had a problem with predators. I have even had opossums in their coop eating their food. Maybe the opossum did feel like he could take on the silkies. Mine are just normal size hens. We also have raccoons, I have not seen them in there. I do put out cheap dog food for the raccoons closer to the house, to keep them from eating cat food and maybe they have mercy on me, I don't know. When the goat dies, I will get an automatic door. + Edit*** I was just thinking of our set up. Our goat is only in the area of the door that leads to the coop. Opossums/raccoons have easy access. Maybe the coons are more afraid of the goat, but opossums walk right in. But.....when I have caught opossums in the coop, they are eating chicken feed that is in the hanging feeder. Maybe that is why they are not interested in the chickens.
At least the only issue ive had this yr is snakes ive caught prob about 10 snakes all yr and they have only eat the eggs so far i have only lost 1 chicken but never found what caused it made big improvements and now no more snakes and have not lost anyone else yet
That's right! Eating the occasional chicken is part of homesteading. Otherwise, you're shoveling out money for feed. It's hard to rehome extra roosters, and, at most of the places they get rehomed TO, they become THAT person's dinner
Please don NOT get another animal til you get this place predator proof. Maybe think about another dog that can work. I watched many videos for research before I got anything. I'm sorry to have lost so many.
I started raising chickens and quail years ago, and I've never lost one to a predator. Minimal effort. I don't understand why people can't spend 30 minutes doing some research on how to protect their birds on the internet. There's really no excuses for this.
like to pat yourself on the back hey?.. well dont .. things happen to other people that dont happen to you every damn day! stop thinking your to bees knees because your not.. your judgmental and RUDE.. I am 63yrs old and have had chickens all my life.. I went 15yrs with no attacks but it happens and you learn .. so stop picking your nose and being so judgmental .. again what happens to me may or may NOT happen to you.. 🤦♀
You have to dispatch the preditor. That's the unfortunate truth. If you release them, they'll simply return. They have to be dispatched.
Same applies to human predators (men)
What needs to be done is secure the coop, and release distance is important, it matters how far.
I had the same problem this past spring, racoons and opossums took out my entire flock of chickens and quail. We got 2 great pyrenees dogs and have had no more problems with any predators.
We were losing to foxes, raccoons and things. We got three Great Pyrenees pups and haven’t lost another since and we free range our birds.
Possums will get the bigger chickens as well. It is the time of year when the critters are out and about after my flock. I put chicken feet (used for broth) in my live trap. I am in and out all day checking on my two flocks. I'm so sorry you have critters attacking your flocks it hurts to lose them.
Tom, you’re not a failure. I’ve seen experienced homesteaders have a rough year with predators. I do hope you dispatched the ones you catch. If you just take them far away, they will find their way back. They need to be removed permanently. Also, everyone makes mistakes. Learn from them and make sure you don’t do it again. Have a checklist to go over every night to make sure you’ve done everything that needs to be done. Also, if Milo won’t sleep outside, get a LGD who’s used to being outside. A true LGD won’t want to come in the house at night. It’s bred into their genes to be outside guarding their animals. I’m actually surprised Milo doesn’t cry to be outside at night. But I do believe having one outside at night will make a huge difference. Btw, I miss your videos. I learn a lot from them. - Sue in AZ
I'm so sorry you all had to go through all that! We've had possums, raccoons, and foxes get our chickens over the years. It's so hard finding those bodies 😔 I know how discouraging it can be and you start to feel like giving up... Hang in there! You guys are doing so well and learning so much!! Each year will bring more lessons, and you'll have success on top of success ❤
Learning so much from you guys! Thanks for sharing the good and bad.
Tom, so sorry you’re going through this! I do agree with Sue in AZ. Milo was bred to be outside with the livestock, and as long as he has shelter, he’ll even thrive in the MI cold. We have two Maremma LGDs, Cousins of the Pyr, and they LOVE being outside. Even in very cold temps, they only use their shelter when it’s snowing or raining.
Hardware cloth on all Coops. Only way to go. Sorry to say but your stuff is far from predator proof
I agree. Hardware cloth and lots of it! And plenty of big heavy staples. If you don’t fasten it really good and secure, a raccoon will pull the hardware cloth up and get in.
Build you a trap with hardware cloth and let me know it held it. Might be a reason cage traps are not made that way. Wire is way to soft to hold. If won't hold in won't hold out
@@Andrew-sanders the hardware cloth is meant to be a second layer of defense over the main structure.
Very sorry your going through that. This year was the first year we had predators. It bites no pun intended.
Preditors and garden critters were definitely rampant this year! So much learning by experience in this lifestyle, you guys are doing good! Take it easy on yourselves. 😊
What happened to the two ducks and the turkey?
A little tip if you're going to continue free ranging or not get a livestock dog. Leave bowls of cat food around the edges of where your chicken are, outside the pen. Leave plenty of bowls around some wet food, some dry. The predators are hungry and your farm is a quick and easy source of protein. We feed the local strays and they have never attacked our chickens, and I have seen raccoons hang around when I didn't have very predator proof coops at the time, but never loss any birds because the racoon ate the catfood.
Why would you invite predators by leaving feed for them? You secure your chickens with hardware cloth and leave no food outside that area to entice predators to come into that area. It may be time to keep them a secured run for a time.
@jenniferd2322 I don't think you understand. The raccoon is already here regardless if it eats the catfood or not. Behind my backyard is 10 miles of forest. They will come whether I want them to or not due to having chickens. I said the one way to stop them from targeting chickens IF this guy doesn't plan to predator proof and stop free ranging his birds, would be to feed the raccoons to deter them from eating his birds as they won't have to hunt for their meals. Otherwise, he will keep losing chickens. They will keep coming back as he has said they are doing.
So how did it get inside the house itself?
How’d they get in?
Same issue here this year Tom. I lost 3 ducks, 2 roosters, and 6 hens....I killed a possum the other night but I don't think it was him. He was too small. I had Peking ducks and something pulled the head off one of them. None of my remaining birds will go in the coop. Going to rebuild and restart again next spring.
We keep a trap outside of run.
An eglu coop with auto door for the silkies would work, you should reach out to them and see if they might give a discount to show on your channel.
I've heard of people waiting until the predator year comes, then they set up the inflatable dancing tube man, and a radio that plays talk all night. If possible, see if you can find a way to put the tube man on timer so it starts dancing every 2 minutes instead of constantly. Raccoons are smart.
Have you ever tried raising a goose with the flocks...I free range our chickens on an acre of land and have a couple geese as guard geese. They get put up in the coop with them at night.🤔
Im sure you will work through this...love your adorable family. We will be praying for ya.
Guard Geese? That's a good idea.
Do they go in the coop on their own at night, or do you have to chase them in?
@@a123phi5 they go in at dark with the flock.🙂
Raccoons typically go for the neck/head and then just leave the bird lay. If you think you have a raccoon you can bet it’s not just 1.
It's been the year of the predator for us as well. More like the month of the predator. Lost 6 guineas and 4 chickens in the past month to hawks and nocturnal ninja monsters.
Don’t stop baiting predator trap. Keep baiting until you don’t catch any more. And predator proof all your coops no exceptions. Safety first.
It happens, all you can do is reinforce to the best of your ability and keep adding predator deterrents as they get more determined. Unfortunately, this is the time of year when the predators are hungry and looking for an easy meal. Not to mention much of the country is in a major drought right now so that has made it very hard on the wildlife and they are seeking east meals and easy water sources. I do hope you’re dispatching anything you trap though, relocating just makes it someone else’s problem and releasing just makes them smart enough to avoid the trap.
You really need to put that dog out to do its job it was born to protect, maybe do a check of your fence line ,its a shame but it does happen
It serves no purpose having a dog treating it like a person. Keep it outside or get use to continuously getting predator attacks. Changing the wiring on the cages to 1/4” hardware cloth will also help.
I can't imagine having a Pyrenees stay inside all night. they're nocturnal! poor dog must be bored out of its skull sitting in a dark quiet house for eight hours. my two dogs live outside 365 days of the year and they are barking and sprinting a mile off to chase something away practically every night.
You are spoiling that dog!
That silkie coop is not predator proof. I think if you upgrade to hardware cloth you will be secure. It's an investment but your flock will be safe. Include a predator apron around the coop floor about a foot out. That way nothing digs under.
I kept my silkie with the main flock so it would not be alone worked great
I just lost 2 of my girls to a neighbors dog.. this dog broke into my closed off pen (was stuck in there and could not figure out how to get out) and just killed them , did not care to eat them .. just wanted to kill them.. 😭.. I called the police and they sided with the neighbor , treated me like the bad guy and threatened to arrest me if I did not let their dog out of my run..(wtg! officers) the neighbor was heartless and even tho her dog was stuck in my run with the dead chickens she is denying her dog did it.. ☹.. I live in a small city , I am only allowed to have 5 chickens and no Roo.. the only thing that brings a glimmer of warmth to my heart is .. NOW there will be baby chicks in the house again..🐤🐤🐤..and yes I reinforced my run with tin roofing on the sides so this will not happen again..I love my girls and even tho people may think "they are just chickens" they are my pets..🥰
If it gets in there again keep it trapped in and call animal control. If you were in the countryside I'd just say to pew pew it
When we had great Pyrenees dogs we never had a problem. We no longer have them, but have one goat that shares space with the chickens. We never lock up the hen house door and have not had a problem with predators. I have even had opossums in their coop eating their food. Maybe the opossum did feel like he could take on the silkies. Mine are just normal size hens. We also have raccoons, I have not seen them in there. I do put out cheap dog food for the raccoons closer to the house, to keep them from eating cat food and maybe they have mercy on me, I don't know. When the goat dies, I will get an automatic door. + Edit*** I was just thinking of our set up. Our goat is only in the area of the door that leads to the coop. Opossums/raccoons have easy access. Maybe the coons are more afraid of the goat, but opossums walk right in. But.....when I have caught opossums in the coop, they are eating chicken feed that is in the hanging feeder. Maybe that is why they are not interested in the chickens.
At least the only issue ive had this yr is snakes ive caught prob about 10 snakes all yr and they have only eat the eggs so far i have only lost 1 chicken but never found what caused it made big improvements and now no more snakes and have not lost anyone else yet
Secure your coop better and they won't be a problem
I HATE POSSUMS!!!
Don't even like looking at 'em 🤢
I have a dear friend who likes to reminde that they eat their weight in ticks every year, but I don't care: come around my chickens and you're toast.
@sparrowmoses48 secure your coop better
😢
Don't listen to those people condemning your methods, I'm sure those same people don't mind eating chickens.🤩
That's right! Eating the occasional chicken is part of homesteading. Otherwise, you're shoveling out money for feed.
It's hard to rehome extra roosters, and, at most of the places they get rehomed TO, they become THAT person's dinner
Please don NOT get another animal til you get this place predator proof. Maybe think about another dog that can work. I watched many videos for research before I got anything. I'm sorry to have lost so many.
Get another large dog ll
Kanga
I started raising chickens and quail years ago, and I've never lost one to a predator. Minimal effort. I don't understand why people can't spend 30 minutes doing some research on how to protect their birds on the internet. There's really no excuses for this.
like to pat yourself on the back hey?.. well dont .. things happen to other people that dont happen to you every damn day! stop thinking your to bees knees because your not.. your judgmental and RUDE.. I am 63yrs old and have had chickens all my life.. I went 15yrs with no attacks but it happens and you learn .. so stop picking your nose and being so judgmental .. again what happens to me may or may NOT happen to you.. 🤦♀
Exactly, ppl need to research their stuff before jumping in
WHERE IS YOUR DOG WHILE THIS IS GOING ON?
They don't have it working. Its been made to be a in the house dog. Okay to spoil it but they like to work.