The first thing you need to consider when getting ready to build a chicken coop is what predators are in your area. I will touch on other livestock another time, in this post, we will talk about chicken housing and things you can do to better protect your flock from common predators. How can we protect our precious poultry (and other livestock) from predators?! ![]() Thankfully it was just one hen, as I have heard horror stories of people’s entire flocks being massacred in a matter of minutes. Unfortunately, my mistake was forgetting to close the chicken coop that night, I was so angry with myself, but after a time I had to take a moment to forgive myself as I am only human, and we will make mistakes. The fact of the matter is though, that sometimes these terrible things happen. Sadly, the hen was one of our favorites, a white Ameraucana, named Persephone. The sound still haunts me to this day and I deal with anxiety in the dark at night when I hear the subtlest of sounds outside our window. I had encountered raccoons (they had never bothered the chickens before), but I had never encountered a possum, and when I came upon it with one of my favorite hens in its mouth I was mortified. It was my first encounter with a predator. I was out of bed, flashlight in hand, and out the door in a matter of seconds. Where we currently live, the chicken’s coop is but 30 feet from our bedroom, so when I was awoken by our dog, and then heard the terrible noise knew the worst had happened and feared what I would come to find when I went out to check on them. It was the worst experience I have encountered since beginning this lifestyle, one I wish no one had to endure. We, unfortunately, had to suffer this tragedy when a possum helped itself to one of our hens. ![]() It is hard for everyone when a loss is suffered on the homestead.
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