Predators

Keeping chickens safe from predators has to be top on your list of priorities. There are several animals around the World that will prey on chickens and it’s your job to keep them safe and not letting them become part of the local wildlife’s food chain!

Foxes

In the United Kingdom, the number one predator for chickens is of course the fox but did you know that some people also have badgers killing their chickens? Most inexperienced people will think a fox has visited however this isn’t always the case.

A fox is opportunistic, he will visit your garden regularly (a little tip, if it snows, go out and have a look for paw prints to see if foxes are visiting and how close they get to your chickens – you might be surprised!) and the one night you forget to lock up your chickens… he’ll visit.

There is more information about foxes and how to tell if it was a fox that took your chickens on the Foxes page under the Pest and Predators menu.

Fox-looking-for-chickens

Badgers

Badgers are incredibly strong and if they are hungry, they have been known to tear off wooden panels of chicken houses that aren’t secure and tear open pop holes to get to chickens. They will usually kill and take one bird but might come back for a second. They usually work alone.

Mink, Stoats and Weasels can all be a problem but are far less common in most parts of the UK.

Domestic Cats

Cats aren’t generally a problem to fully grown chickens and mine have never bothered with young ‘growers’. They seem more interested in chicks though and shouldn’t be trusted. Some people have had problems, usually with a specific cat in the neighbourhood and with smaller bantam chickens. It’s very difficult to keep cats out completely.

chick looking at cat

Yikes… I won’t be trusting you in a hurry.

Rats and Mice

Pests such as rats and mice can be a problem as they spread diseases, eat valuable feed supplies and (rats) can steal eggs and gnaw at doors, wires and even chickens feet. Usually only one or the other are present and rats can be quite discreet so if there are no mice then be suspicious of rats!

There is more detailed information about Rats and Mice under the Predators menu.

85 Comments

  1. Hello,

    I have/had three different types of chicken. All of which disappeared last night. One of them has feathers EVERYWHERE around the pen, the others have few feathers scattered around the pen. However, they are nowhere to be seen. There’s no traces of blood or feathers outside their pen and we have a fox alarm which potentially prevents them.

    I have researched minks, weasels and stoats as we have a river about 200m away but I am not convinced it was any of these predators that killed them!

    Could you suggest what killed them? So I know how to prevent the predator for my next set!

    Ellie

    • I would suggest a fox killed them. They will carry the bodies away after a kill and bury them for later. Look for signs of entry to the run and the odd feather left where they were carried off. The other predators will take one at a time and won’t leave feathers everywhere.

  2. Hi
    We live in a large housing estate.
    A neighbour is keeping free range chickens and he has alleged that one of our cats has attacked and killed one of his birds and another is missing. He didnt actually see our cat kill the bird but he was in the garden when the neighbour found the bird.
    He has threatened to kill the cat – I cant keep the my cat in as he would destroy the house! Likewise he wont keep the birds locked up as he needs to keep his free range status for the birds. What can we to help him in terms of cat scarers for his garden to discourage our cat visiting his garden can you recommend anything.
    We have foxes in the area and I am certain that it is the foxes not the cats attacking the chickens.
    hanks

    • I have -never- heard of a cat killing a grown chicken. All of our cats over the years have been hunters and haven’t even bothered with young chicks. It is more likely to be a fox or bird of prey.

      Cats have roaming rights and you are entitled to let your cat out. You are protected by law. Your neighbour should not threaten to kill the cat. He may discourage it by chasing it off or using a cat scarer.

      As he is keeping live stock, he is more at risk of complaints to the local council I would say!

  3. I can vouch for cats killing chickens. I know people say cats don’t but I had my neighbours cat bring me an 8 week old hen. The cat killed it and was carrying it around, most pleased with its self. I do not blame the cat or my neighbours though. My bad that I did not do better to protect my hens. The same cat has taken out two of our chickens now, and I have meshed over the entire chicken garden. Now kitty sits on the fence and watches but can not get in.

    • You are right. Youngsters are at risk although I’ve never seen any of our local cats bother with mine. That said, they don’t go out into the open grass runs until they are 10 weeks or so due to predation from Hawks.

  4. Hi all

    Can anyone help plse.
    We have two hens, both laying, but one of them has been bitten on her leg and above her eye, I can see two puncture wounds, both the area’s are swollen, what could this be and how do we help her ? She seems ok in herself, is eating and walking around etc.
    Thanking you all in advance. Pauline. Brackley, Northants. UK.

    • If it’s a minor wound, it can be topped with antibacterial wound powder and dressed but if it is deep, you would really need to take her to the vets so that they can use antibiotics to stop any infection. Dog bites are bad in this respect as they can often become infected.

  5. I have 4 bantams that are nearly a year old. So far only one lays any eggs, which has recently stopped. How can I get them to lay eggs? Or what is stopping them? If they don’t start to lay soon, I’m going to have to get rid of them.

    • Feeding is the most common problem (see my page on feeding chickens for more information), but chickens will not lay over the darker Winter days anyway. They should come into lay in the Spring if they are healthy, not overweight, are getting sufficient protein and have enough calcium from pellets / mash and topped up with Oyster shell grit. It may be worth checking your coop for red mite as the spring arrives too.

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