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.
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.
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.
We have recently lost about 9 chickens over a period of about two weeks! One was left in the chicken coop and had been killed but not savaged or eaten and the rest have all disappeared never to be seen again. The fence on the coop is 6′ high and all the chickens have been clipped to stop them flying out – any bright ideas what might be attacking them? We have been told it could be a pine marten?
We live in Callander Central Scotland.
Yes, Mink and Pine Martens will take poultry. It’s probably best to set a trap.
i have my chickens in a six foot high run of harris fencing with mesh on the top ,however something has managed to get hold of one through the bars and really mauled it .The tail feathers are all ripped off and a big chunk out of her back , its been suggested it could be a cat ,does anyone no of this
My wife came home tonight to find a neighbour’s, semi-ferral, cat eating our Bantum cockeral. Poor thing was probably use to our cats being around and didn’t know what hit him. Two very upset young children when they got home from school.
Rest of our flock are fully grown hens so just hoping the cat hasn’t got a taste for chickens now and comes back for another go. We shall be keeping them in their pen for a few days while we monitor the cats behaviour.
It doesn’t take the hint – had plenty of buckets of water thrown over it and beaten up several times by our two.
Oh dear. Cats don’t usually bother with chickens but for the few that do, bantams are more likely to be attacked being so small.
I think you’re doing the right thing containing the chickens for a while. If the problem persists, maybe even feeding the cat for a while would help? It sounds strange but if it’s starving hungry, it might be more likely to have to hunt for its next meal. If not, I guess an electrified fence would keep the cat and foxes out and chickens in a given area but that may not be possible in a small garden.
My silver laced Wyandotte bantam Blossom has vanished. Put to bed in a large fox proof run 50m x 30m, with trees. A 6″ fence with electric wire surrounds and scaffolding boards laid flat round the bottom edge prevents digging. I left Blossom happily munching treats before taking herself off to bed. She sleeps outside in the run usually low down.
Chooks let out 10am next day to free range the farm but Blossom has vanished without a trace. Not even a feather for a clue. No sign of entry and even if something managed to climb the wire netting how would it get out with a chicken leaving no signs?
As far as I know our predators are fox , badger, buzzard, rats, and maybe next doors cat. So Far my money is on the Buzzard. But it is still a mystery. I have eliminated a sudden attack of broodiness. Flying out of the pen is unlikely (she is not a flighty type) but not impossible. Any clues /comments please?
Sorry Lin, I don’t know 🙁 It’s hard to say what happened to her without any clues. Could it be a 2 legged fox?
I had a hen eaten ( I assume) last night. I have 2 ex battery hens. I think a badger has broken the metal clasps and split the wood of the lid to get in. This was not a cheap coop, quality heavy wood.
No evidence left behind. And one survived in the morning. Absolutely heart breaking experience. The survivor is now residing in my bathroom. I hear badgers come back when they find a food source.
Sorry to hear that Laura 🙁 Badgers are very strong…