subject: Hen Ark Plans – Predator Defense [print this page] Hen Ark Plans Predator Defense Hen Ark Plans Predator Defense
Predators should be considered when choosing hen ark plans. You want your hen ark plans to incorporate safety features to protect your chickens from becoming a meal for a variety of predators. I would like to point out a few that are common to your chickens' safety.
Opossum
The opossum is classified as a marsupial and is the only marsupial in North America. These crafty little animals are different than most of the aggressive predators that are attracted to your chickens. Opossums find holes in fences or roofs or any crevice it can find and gain entrance to your chickens to attack. The difference is the opossum will mostly eat eggs and baby chicks rather than adult chickens. On occasion, the opossum will attack an adult chicken and because opossum is not a very strong predator, the way they attack is at the neck and the soft belly. When you are choosing hen ark plans I recommend making sure that your plans include a roof and incorporate a full wrap of protective heavy gauge wire at the perimeter of the ark.
Skunks
The skunk is mostly a Mr. Magoo, it has very poor eye sight and most of the time where the skunk gets into your hen ark is at a hole some where there's damage in your wire. The skunk will eat mostly eggs and occasionally a baby chick. Because the skunk is very slow and is not a very aggressive predator, it does minimal damage as compared to other predators. I recommend that your hen ark plans include instructions on keeping your hen ark well-wired and maintained with no holes to prevent any misguided skunks access to your chickens.
Owls
The owl is a protected animal and can't be killed by a trap or any other means to protect your chickens is a challenge. The owl is like a hawk in that they hunt from above and swoop on their prey very quickly with precision. They carry off the kill and will return at a later time to hunt again if the prey is still uncovered. I recommend a roof with your hen ark plans of a sturdy material. If your chickens are covered and not visible from the air the owl will not bother the chickens.
Hawks
Hawks like the owl are birds of prey and hunt from above. The hawk will also swoop and carry off a chicken in one quick attack and fly away with its prey.
Bears
The bear is an animal that if it wants your chickens you don't have much recourse. Bears are not usually attracted to chickens as a first choice of food source. Bears are attracted to garbage or left out trash bins. If you want to keep bears away from your hen ark I recommend your hen ark plans include a secure and protected feed box that won't tempt the bear to come close enough to your chickens to be interested in them for a meal. The best advice to keep bears away from your chickens is not to invite them with careless uncovered garbage.
