Even though we live in the city, our chickens still are at risk from predators, and not the 2 legged kind either. These beasts creep around the yard, sleep in our front porch, tease our dog, and go their haughty way..yes they are CATS!
Don't get me wrong, I love cats, and have had them as pets for years, though not since Henry my orange cat died 11 years ago. I have fed the occasional neighborhood cat who swings by my porch, never thought a thing of it. Annie, our dog, likes cats, though the feeling is generally not mutual except for Sassy the cat up the street who goes gaga over Annie on our walks.
But cats are the most common urban chicken predator! They go after the chicks but will even attack a full grown hen at times.
We may have the rare opossum that strolls through the neighborhood, and there are definitely rats in the star jasmine on the back fence, but these do not present the ongoing threat of the neighborhood bully, "Prince".
He lives across the street, but comes by and wanders around our back yard when Annie is in the house. He even has the nerve to wander past the sliding glass door right in front of Annie who then runs 90 miles an hour out the dog door to try to get to him. He, the clever little monster, knows how to get to the fence, up and away from Annie, just in time. He is audacious.
But, I am not going to let these 4 legged furry creatures hurt one feather on the head of my girls. We have plans for the predators to include:
1. a totally enclosed coop for the girls to stay in at night, which is up off the ground,
2. Rat "food" to control the rat population ( though I have not seen a dead rat in the yard in years),
3. judicious observation of any hawks or owls, again have never seen them around here. But I know they are there and we will be vigilant.
4. While I would love to let the girls roam free all day I know that we need to keep them in the coop when we are not in the yard, or vicinity.
I've got these battery operated owl who have yellow eyes that glow. Terrifying if you forgot you turned them on. That can scare the crud out of you seeing those yellow eyes looking in at you. . I'm going to bring them down from the cabin and install them around the coop area. That should give the cats, rats and raptors something to think about.
The yard is not a fortress, but it is pretty secure, and of course we are armed, so bring it on you four legged, or flying fiends. We will protect our girls.
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