Chickens are such important critters in our lives. Whether you live in rural, urban or suburban Australia the greatest threat facing your flock are predators.

It’s up to you to protect your chickens and it all starts with the physical chicken coop security.

But who are the predators?

Snakes, goannas, quolls, hawks and eagles are common predators but no hunter is as efficient a killer as the fox.

Foxes

Foxes are stealthy, tricky, very strong and can decimate your flock in one night – a shocking and heartbreaking thing to go through.

In Australia fox cubs are born early August to late September so from this period right through to the end of the year there are many mouths to feed. Dark nights, windy conditions and humans safely inside makes for ideal hunting conditions. A fox will stake out your place for weeks prior to an attack.

Known plurally as a ‘skulk’ or ‘leash’ of foxes, their eyes glow green in torch light instead of red or orange of other animals. They are most often single predators, but can travel in pairs.

Foxes have an amazingly good sense of smell (better than dogs) and more heightened senses generally which include whiskers on their face and legs to assist with navigation during nocturnal travels but they also hunt through the day.

They can travel 10-15 km from their den to find food and will map food sources by smell.

Foxes can thrive in cities where there are lots of hiding spots under buildings and plenty of food waste.

If you’ve got a fox skulking around, you can talk to your local council or Lands Department who could assist with at trap and humanely disposing of a trapped fox.

Snakes

Snakes are predominantly attracted by rodents and eggs and won’t usually eat a chook, though they would gulp down a young chick. Keeping on top of rats and mice and collecting eggs every day will reduce the prevalence of snakes.

Goannas (Monitor Lizard)

Goannas are similar to snakes but will harm a sitting chook to get to eggs. If you do have a chook wounded by a goanna a slathering of honey to the wound will help to heal the nasty toxic wound.

Protected Species

Predators like Quolls, Tassie Devils and Goannas are protected animals so must not be harmed. You will need strong preventative measures to keep them out of your chicken coop.

If you have free ranging hens it can be more difficult to protect them against birds of prey, feral cats and dogs.

Rats and mice are attracted to easy access of chicken feed so keep your feed secure and don’t have surplus grains lying around in the coop.

On poisons, avoid using poison pellets and blocks. They make for a slow and awful death and you risk secondary poisoning to birds such as owls, hawks, pets and other critters.

Fortress Chicken… the best defenses against predators

A strong and secure run and coop sleep-house with galvanised netting or mesh.
A floppy fence top facing outward if the coop is not fully covered will make it difficult for foxes to get over
Placing a 300mm mesh apron facing outward at the base of the fence is a great deterrent. They’ll dig close to fence but can’t easily tunnel under.
Keep your chicken feed secure and don’t leave food around
Use double latches on chicken run and sleeping coop
Electric fencing with hot wire around the base or wired chicken mesh
Install a light activated coop door – available from this great little Tassie company
Fox lights are available online – a random sweeping strobe
Predator sensor light – activated by movement close to the coop – hah! don’t use in conjunction with light activated door!!
Urine and smell of people – have wee around your coop 🙂
A good rooster will always keep one eye out for danger. If he spots anything he’ll sound the alarm and gather his hens in a safe place. Listen for alarm calls
Your family dog, no matter what the breed, makes an excellent poultry protector and will alert you to predator threats. Your trusted pooch will hear a fox yelp and scream on a windy night and tell you there is danger afoot!
The chicken, in their dinosaur days, may have had the forest as protection. These days they are more exposed.

Your chook flock is a target for every sky and land based predator.

Perhaps you need to upgrade security!

Super Mash

Are you getting heaps of eggs from your gals?  Treat them back and help to keep them healthy from the inside with Super Mash

Super Mash is a natural antiparasitic that contains nutrients and probiotics to boost and re-vitalise your chickens in a natural way.

Find out more, order online and check for a stockist near you at https://naturalchickenhealth.com.au/

Natural Chicken Health – Super Mash is a natural feed supplement to help keep your chooks healthy all year round.

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