how do i keep varmints (chicken predators) out of my chicken house?
k_erdahl asked:
i have my chickens in my old barn but the problem is how do i keep the varmints out? i put a row of popcans on some wire along the edges of the house and they raddle when they are hit or stepped on. some people say to get a motion sensor, double the chicken wire, elec fence, have music playing. what about a scare crow? any poisons or scents they do not like? i have heard that they do not like light. i have a heat lamp going 24-7. what can i do?
i have my chickens in my old barn but the problem is how do i keep the varmints out? i put a row of popcans on some wire along the edges of the house and they raddle when they are hit or stepped on. some people say to get a motion sensor, double the chicken wire, elec fence, have music playing. what about a scare crow? any poisons or scents they do not like? i have heard that they do not like light. i have a heat lamp going 24-7. what can i do?
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Your best bet, I think, is a motion sensor and the electric fence.
the best thing would be to bait a trap and call animal control after you catch it
What kind of predators anyway? You’ll have to modify your barn a bit.
Best way is to keep them out of your barn by physical barriers. Go around your barn and look for all possible entry points and have all these blocked using durable material (GI sheets, cement, etc).
Most predators cannot jump higher than 3 feet high. With this in mind, construct a cement barrier around the base of your barn. Have the cement barrier finished smoothly so that predators cannot get a grip on it and climb on. If this is out of your budget, you could wrap GI sheets (or any smooth material that is strong enough so that predators cannot easily destroy it) around the base of your barn.
Entry gates to your barn should always remain closed. It should also not be less than 3 feet in height. Reinforce the outer portion of your entry gate with GI sheets also. Your gate should be designed in a way such that predators cannot climb it, or pass from underneath it.
Clear the outside perimeter of your barn. Remove anything placed against the outside wall that predators can climb on and jump into your barn. I would recommend a meter of clearance around the barn. Some predators can climb ropes and cords – these shouldn’t dangle around your barriers. If there are electricity cables supplying your barn, you should device a barrier of some sort so that predators cannot use these to enter your barn.
If there are trees or plants near your barn, predators can also jump in from these – have these cut down. If you don’t want to cut down trees, you could wrap GI sheets around the trunks so that predators will slip when they try to climb these.
All windows in your barn should also be screened using 2 layers.
Some predators go through drain pipes. If your barn has drain pipes, these should be constructed so that if forms some sort of a P-trap, or these should empty into sealed septic tanks.
Poisons, scare crows, lighting, popcans, music, scents and irritants – these are only temporary measures. Predators learn fast. Physical barriers are more permanent. Electrified fences aren’t so safe and when constructed improperly, some predators will still get through.