Predator Prevention, Fencing, etc.


Whenever possible, fence your entire property with a perimeter fence at least 4' high and 2"x4" welded wire.

Let me explain the building plans for poultry fencing/netting. I use T-posts and 2x4" welded wire fencing that is 5' high. On the INSIDE boundary of this, I add 3' tall chicken wire that has 1" openings. This will prevent birds from sticking their heads out to graze, or whatever other reasons catch their fancy, where owls or other predators can kill them. Also, it prevents animals from easily reaching in. Small or young birds will not be able to walk right out of the pen. You may prefer to bend the bottom 6" down and inside toward the pen, we have had good success with this in our pheasant area, making the chicken wire 30" tall. Above that, we use nylon netting that is quite small, I think it is 5/8" or something like that, we get it at Memphis Nylon Net Co., it is ultra light-weight, easy to work with, inexpensive to ship, strong but I feel it may break down quickly and needs repairs often or replacing 6-12 months, depending on your climate. I use the netting to go on up from the T-posts, to which I will have some taller uprights wired, such as stout electrical conduit.  I like for the top of the netting to be at least tall enough to walk around in comfortably, no need to stoop down. It is also easier to check the pen for security issues if you can enter it, and get a better feel for the health and well-being of your birds.

If the pen is very wide and/or long, you may wish to devise some way for the netting to be supported other than just at the sides or corners. Frank made supports in the pheasant pen with 2"x6" boards, long enough to be buried a foot or two deep for support. Then some spare electrical wire (remember he was an electrician by trade and we're still finding misc. supplies here and there) got strung from one side, to the support and around it twice, and to the opposite side. This seemed to work well.

When attaching/stringing netting, leave no gap or overlap that is not secured together. The wrong creatures can be getting out or in there. The dangers to this netting: horses grazing vines growing on the top of it (long story....just trust me and avoid it) or just altogether missing getting it secured properly. Remember, nobody loves your poultry as much as you do, and paid or free help doesn't always mean good help.

This will do a lot to keep out owls, possums dropping in from the trees (I've seen 'em do it!), animals climbing the fencing to get in, or wild birds from stealing your feed or bringing in disease.

Good gates are a must. Here is a picture of "the perfect gate" that Frank designed for me. It closes positively and securely, has a spring to shut itself (although it best to look over your shoulder, just in case), handles on both sides, and both 2x4" wire and chicken wire in the center for easy visibility and security.

                                  



The picture on the right shows the supports and wire, you cannot SEE the mesh (part of the reason I like it is that it is VERY attractive, we have some other netting that is heavy and hard to put up, and just UGLY. This stuff is almost invisible, and does a much better job, I think, of containing the birds. Obviously, you are getting a good view of the pheasant pen. Note the roost between two of the uprights, for Jersey Giants it should be lower, but again, this is geared towards pheasants.

Other security ideas: keeping a light on 24-7 in the poultry yard, a standard flourescent light bulb will not run up a major bill and helps deter predators. Guineas help by being very observant and loud-mouthed, sounding their Chi-Chi-Chi machine-gun-like, wake-the-dead call whenever anything is amiss. A large, barking dog would be great if the neighbors don't mind. I suggest a non-birdy breed, and FYI I have a rule for any canine on the property: one chicken. That is the limit. No second chances, it finds a home or gets put down. I can't afford otherwise. Our canine is kept in her own pen where she cannot easily see the poultry (she will obviously hear it) but she is never allowed off-lead near the poultry, never taken on leash near it either, and this in no way hinders her happiness.

You may wish to put electric fencing on the OUTSIDE of the poultry fencing boundaries, about 6" off the ground, to zap any noses that are sniffing at your birds. This will give most predators a good idea that your poultry yard shouldn't be treated like an all-they-can-eat buffet.

I am not opposed to trapping predators nearby as I have a small neighboring woods that is full of possum, which are the biggest threat for my poultry here aside from owls. (Arkansas is "blessed" with many raptors who winter here due to the mild climate so they are the biggest threat is in the winter, late fall or early spring.) If you wish to have possum, coyote, bobcat, fox, etc. trapped but do not have traps or do not wish to trap yourself, contact your state's trapping association (or if you can't find it, look at the National Trappers' Association that has links to local organizations), they can put you in contact with a nuisance trapper who will help you, but most will do so for a fee. Feel free to contact us personally for other advice regarding trapping predators that threaten your valuable birds.

A shotgun or rifle is another good means of predator control - even if you only use it to scare something away. If this is too harsh for you, something like the canned air sirens would also do the trick.

I have found that shelters for your poultry are best in the MIDDLE of the pen. Especially when just turned out into a new place, the poultry a lot of times will congregate along the fence or in corners in heaps, and having a shelter in the middle (especially as opposed to right along the edge) will encourage them to stay where they are safer. A light in the shelter will also help draw them to the shelter. Also, if it gets cold enough in the winter and you would like to put out heat lights, as I often do - even in the Arkansas delta, you will have power available already.

Aw, Rats! Yes, I said rats. They can pose a very big threat to quail, young poultry, eggs, and feed. If you have close neighbors, they may not appreciate additional rat populations, either. Eliminate spilled grain to lure them in. Use rat poison externally to the pens, not where your birds or other animals can't get to it. Specifically, it needs to say "rat poison" and not mouse poison, or it may not work. If you DO notice any dead rodents, make sure you pick them up because the birds may pick on them and the affects of the poison can be detrimental. Enclosed traps (like the repeating kind) are good where you can't use poison, or if you are not comfortable using poison. These are a little pricey, but will catch multiple rats at one time and are reusable, almost never wear out unless you leave it out in the weather for a very long time, and are bird and pet friendly. If you get a really bad infestation of rats, the underground smoke bombs to kill vermin can work if you seal all entrances but one, light it, throw it down the uncovered entrance, and quickly cover that last entrance.

My hubby would like to add a note, most snakes are fairly beneficial and more interested in mousing for you than getting poultry or eggs. We have only seen one who was more inclined to eat eggs, and he only stole them once - but had three eggs inside of him.

Remove dead birds immediately and dispose of properly - either incinerate so that all of the bird is consumed in the fire, or bury very deep so that predators do not dig them up. (Remember that animals like a bobcat will bury their uneaten prey to come back later for it - anyone else out there a big Marty Stouffer fan?!)

Lastly, I have to add that I was up past 1:00am writing all of this stuff, just happened to brainstorm well at that hour. In the midst of it, I heard one of my hens alarming off. Just one hen, so I went out with flashlight and .22 to investigate. It ended up a coyote who was too close for comfort, but it never came any closer. I guess the last piece of advice is not to sit up late at night too engrossed in the web that you ignore the warning call when your birds tell you there is danger! Hahahahaha. (My friend Tam had me add that, as I told her the tale of the coyote.)

Hmmm......have I left anything out? Let me know if I have.


               Back to Home