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Original poster

Chickens going missing- can’t believe why!

40 replies

RuralLiving · 19/07/2022 12:49

Hi, after some advice. We live very rurally and have a small flock of chickens. We’ve never had any issues with predators (lots of shooting here so fox numbers are very low) but recently several of the chickens have gone missing. Couldn’t work out what was happening so set up a Wildlife camera and discovered a badger! Any ideas on how to get rid of it? Obviously we’ve been keeping the chickens locked in, reinforced the fences etc, but What can we do about the badger? The chickens are free roaming and usually put themselves to bed in the barn, but I daren’t risk that anymore :(
i found a large humane animal trap online, but am I allowed to relocate a badger? What are the rules?

OP posts:
BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 19/07/2022 12:53

Adult male wee is supposed to be good for keeping foxes away (has to be an adult male because of the testosterone). I wonder if it would work for badgers too.

BoJoGoGoGo · 19/07/2022 13:00

Are they not secure and covered anyway? We have foxes living next door (which is not that close) but the chickens have been alright as they are not currently able to free roam (they have a massive secure area) we will have to rethink once they are allowed out again. Urine deters badgers and foxes , as do lights but these are obviously not good for chickens.

Saracenia · 19/07/2022 13:03

Badgers and their setts are protected so relocating may be problematic as they won’t have access to their sett and may not survive. They may also be feeding young.

TheOnlyAletheia · 19/07/2022 13:06

Irritating and exciting all at the same time. It’s illegal to trap a badger so your best bet is to try to protect your flock. www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/animals/badgers/law

Thursday37 · 19/07/2022 13:08

In England you need a license to trap badgers I believe, there’s almost nothing you can do with the badger itself legally, all you can do is stop them getting to the hens.
Our hen house is on a solid base to stop the buggers digging under and we try to block up as much of the fences as possible to stop them getting on the land.
I don’t dislike them but they are a pain and they won’t give up easily. At least we can shoot the foxes.

RatherBeRiding · 19/07/2022 13:09

Badgers are protected so you must take steps to secure your chickens. Rather than assuming they will put themselves to bed, you must ensure they are all in before the badgers become active.

Reinforcing fencing and making sure they are secure at night will probably do the trick.

Alternatively, try leaving out food and water for the badgers, who will be having a tough time with this hot weather.

statetrooperstacey · 19/07/2022 13:11

get some guard alpacas !! Please

Els1e · 19/07/2022 13:16

Get geese to go with your chickens.

Genevie82 · 19/07/2022 13:50

Get a dog Op .. that will deter ..

Original poster
RuralLiving · 19/07/2022 13:52

I think I prefer the idea of llamas than geese! They have a barn to live in, with laying boxes and high up roosting areas and then they just wander during the day. We had them locked up during bird flu, but they’re free to roam all over again now

OP posts:
Newfluff · 19/07/2022 13:53

When are they being taken? Overnight, during the day?

Hotenoughtoburnasausage · 19/07/2022 13:53

I can't believe you don't personally tuck your ladies in at night...

Original poster
RuralLiving · 19/07/2022 14:05

Taken overnight. I’m shocked people do put their chickens to bed every night? They usually stay up later than I do 😂

OP posts:
Thursday37 · 19/07/2022 14:17

Ermm yes-it’s basic rule of chicken keeping? They get shut away at dusk usually although height of summer it’s just before we go to bed, so late. Last night we left it as late as poss to keep the air circulating but they are normally in much earlier. Ours are usually inside by 4pm winter and 7pm summer anyway by choice.

When we used to both work full time in the office we had an auto shutter on the coop for winter so they were shut in well before we got home. We don’t need that now as we are mostly at home.

gogohmm · 19/07/2022 14:20

Badgers are protected. Just put up a fence

AperolWhore · 19/07/2022 14:27

We put ours behind the fix gate every night as we have a lot of foxes in our area. They aren’t inside but we have a separate area attached to the coop which is fully fix proof.

Newfluff · 19/07/2022 14:28

I don't know what's with the laughing emoji, I can't believe you think trapping a protected animal is your first port of call.

Of course I shut my chickens away, as does everyone I know even those that have electric fences around the pen.

You can put a light in the coop to encourage them in a bit earlier or get an automatic door.

DoncasterHombre · 19/07/2022 14:41

Do you mean the badger comes in and takes just one chicken for his/her tea? Like we would do at Morrisons?!

I know somebody who had a badger get into her hen house and it was a massacre. Nothing survived and it looked like something out of a chicken horror movie!

OzziePopPop · 19/07/2022 14:46

Yup, our chickens and ducks are put to be each night with a kiss on the beak and a bedtime story. If the kids miss kissing a duck they’re sent back to do it again🤣

seriously though, chickens put themselves to bed around dusk, we then shut them in properly about 9pm. Earlier in winter. Ducks are party animals so want to be up at all hours, they get herded in by 10pm and shut up (separate shed to the chickens). We have fox issues but would shut them up regardless, we’ve had daytime fox attacks and it’s horrendous (but natural) 😢

love my 🐓 and 🦆!

ToastandJamandTea · 19/07/2022 14:47

I can't believe you are laughing about it?
The chickens are your responsibility and you haven't done evening you can to keep them safe.
Everyone I know with chickens shut then away at night.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 19/07/2022 14:49

We had geese who were attacked and killed by badgers. It was horrendous. The clean up was not for those with a weak stomach. I’m not going into detail, but they didn’t just take one for supper and leave the rest alone.

Original poster
RuralLiving · 19/07/2022 14:53

I can’t believe people are upset because I joked that the chickens stay up later than I do 🤦🏼‍♀️ I’m not laughing that they’re dying, they’re my pets, most are several generations of family, obviously I want them to survive.

@Newfluff my neighbours suggested shooting it, I was trying to find out if It’s legal to trap and move it, just like I do with mice. No one around here locks up their chickens, they’re all just free roaming

OP posts:
Thursday37 · 19/07/2022 14:53

gogohmm · 19/07/2022 14:20

Badgers are protected. Just put up a fence

Badgers are not overly bothered by fences. They will go under them. They need shutting behind closed doors that can't be dug under.

ShirleyPhallus · 19/07/2022 14:55

I can't believe you are laughing about it?

the op is laughing about the chickens staying up later than she is, not about the incident with the badger?

op, badgers are nasty bastards, one tore down our fences! I’d also get them in a proper protected coop though

Thursday37 · 19/07/2022 14:56

RuralLiving · 19/07/2022 14:53

I can’t believe people are upset because I joked that the chickens stay up later than I do 🤦🏼‍♀️ I’m not laughing that they’re dying, they’re my pets, most are several generations of family, obviously I want them to survive.

@Newfluff my neighbours suggested shooting it, I was trying to find out if It’s legal to trap and move it, just like I do with mice. No one around here locks up their chickens, they’re all just free roaming

What did you do during avian flu then? Were they free roaming when legally they had to be contained?

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