There are many people who decide that they would like to have their own little chicken brood. Many enjoy keeping these animals for the fresh eggs that are delightful for a morning brunch or used to make fresh bread and other delicacies. However, no matter why you are keeping your pets you should know that there are a lot of animals out there that enjoy fresh eggs and chicken as much as you do. And you must take preventative measure to keep them from being stalked and eaten by these chicken predators.
The first step to protecting your investment is to provide shelter for it. These animals are not safe if they are left wandering all over your property. If you allow them to wander, they will get lost, and they will be eaten, no matter where you live. So you need to establish a home for them that will not only keep them in one place, but will keep other animals from getting to them as well.
A chicken coop is the most popular type of home for chickens. These feature a fence that was created to keep predators out and chickens in. And you also need some form of shelter connected to the coop so that chickens have a place to nest and stay warm and dry during inclement weather.
Depending on the area in which you live, you may also need to consider establishing an underground fence as an addition to your coop. Weasels, raccoons, and other predators will not be stopped by a mere fence, but will proceed to dig under it for their next fresh meal. So you need to establish an underground fence, either from chicken wire or from plywood, whichever you choose.
You should also keep the area around the coop free of large bushes and clumps of grass that would provide ideal hiding places for predators. If there are a lot of hiding places, it will only encourage these animals to come closer for a look, and they will get bolder and bolder.
Foxes are often considered the number one predator that chickens have to deal with, and these animals are not afraid to climb the coop and try to get in over the top. Hawks will also fly in from above to swoop down on their unsuspecting prey. There are a number of animals that are not to be stopped by a mere fence.
So you may need a coop with protection overhead as well as on the sides. These are all good things to consider and should make you shop more carefully for a specific high quality coop that will keep all other animals out.
Overall, if you have established a solid sturdy coop for your brood, then they are most likely safe. You just need to stay cautious and aware, and at the first sign of a fox or even a local cat, you may need to rethink your plan and see what you can do to further protect these helpless animals from being stalked and eaten by one of the many chicken predators out there.
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