So I got some chickens...and egg thieves.

[85_Ranger4x4]

I hear blinders also help. I have some friends that raise Pheasant, which is basically a chinese chicken, and apparently they are much more aggressive that way. Apparently they are like coked up cannibals, actually eating each other.

Pheasants are not really a domesticated bird like a chicken.

 

[Dirtman]

In all my years raising chickens I have never seen them attack each other whether one has an injury or not. They can get a little rapey and injury each other that way but never actually attack. That idea comes from chicken farms that pack them in with no room so they get stressed and go psycho. We'll cared for chickens will not eat each other...

 

[rubydist]

Seen it with my own eyes enough to know its true, and we never packed them in that tight. They just are not real smart...

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

I have a buddy who has a few chickens. I dont know anything about raising them. His are more like pets. He comes outside and they run to him and jump up in his arms. He's got a large bubba keg thingy that he keeps what spaghetti noodles in. They will rest in his arms as he hand feeds them. This is hilarious to watch. He also lives in a Airstream on 10 acres. Not because that's all he can afford but that's how he likes it. He owns a house in town he rents and has a houseboat docked at the Marina they party at all weekend. Damn rockabilly haha.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Awesome thanks for the responses. Sounds like I am on the right track. We have everything here predator wise, but the coop is pretty bomb proof, its a modified big dog kennel cage. Its also enclosed by a chain link fenced in part of the property.
I just have the 5 chickens for now. Probably wont hatch or raise chicks, for now.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Awesome thanks for the responses. Sounds like I am on the right track. We have everything here predator wise, but the coop is pretty bomb proof, its a modified big dog kennel cage. Its also enclosed by a chain link fenced in part of the property.
I just have the 5 chickens for now. Probably wont hatch or raise chicks, for now.

A weasel can go thru a 1" hole and will kill every bird you have in a night for the fun of it. A rat which can steel your eggs and feed will fit thru a hole smaller than that.

Never had a problem with chickens picking on each other but I have heard of it. The other night one just reached out and bit the barncat's ear, that was hilarious. She bolted and about ran into another chicken which took offense and chased her. Just a rough night to be a cat...

 

[Eddo Rogue]

A weasel can go thru a 1" hole and will kill every bird you have in a night for the fun of it. A rat which can steel your eggs and feed will fit thru a hole smaller than that.

Never had a problem with chickens picking on each other but I have heard of it. The other night one just reached out and bit the barncat's ear, that was hilarious. She bolted and about ran into another chicken which took offense and chased her. Just a rough night to be a cat...

Yea Im worried about that...We dont have weasels, but do have rats, skunks and racoons. the enclosure is 1" diamond pattern right now. I plan to run another layer of 1/2" or smaller steel wire mesh over it. There are dogs back there, but they are useless. Both are small, One is only motivated by food and sleep, and the other just wants to play all day.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

And unless you live in the city or keep your chickens in a prison you're gonna loose one every once in a while. Hawks love chickens and there's not a heck of alot you can do to stop a hawk. Every year I loose 2 or 3 to hawks. The upside is hawks won't massacre the entire flock like stoats, minks, or coyotes and the latter are somewhat easy to protect against with a good secure coup. If you have snakes they love baby chicks but if you're raising chicks you should keep them in a brooder and then a move them to a smaller secured coup until they are eating regular food and ready to join the rest of the group.

We do have hawks, but there seems to be plenty of rabbit and squirrel for them, which have taken over my yard to where I cant grow anything unless its fully enclosed, even from underneath. Plenty of gophers too.