I thought my chickens were safe. I was dead wrong.

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Henlo, friends! Be sure to watch until the end to see what I used to get my chickens through the trauma of what happened because that's the most important part of this video. And also remember that you don't have to buy anything, you can always use what you have to boost your chicken's nutrition: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6XUeJWvosuno6ssi=k7AYU1pPH3Qi8OOA

[@rhepp8874]

Hi Dalia, (I hope I’m spelling your name correctly) I have been wanting to post a video on the “Egg Song” theory for a long time now. This is upsetting to me, regarding your loss, that I had not. The “Egg Song” is absolutely false! This needs to be addressed in the backyard chicken community asap, for all of us who absolutely love our feathered babies. The “Egg Song” is no egg song at all, but is a CRY OF ALARM! Your chickens are scared of something and are bawking about it to keep others safe and hidden. Roosters do the “egg song” too! Thus, it is no egg song. When something is startling them, roosters and hens alike will begin to bawk and cluck loudly, the so called “egg song.” This is when we need to check out why they are bawking, because sometimes it’s just a floating piece of paper they don’t understand, but sometimes it’s a serious threat! I have never had any of my hens sing an egg song after laying. They lay, they get up and go about the day with no song business until a threat is brought into view for them. So please don’t misinterpret this for egg song any longer. Much love to you all and the best to your precious flocks. Please check into this yourselves and observe their “egg song” much closer, now, and much more frequently, and you will know it’s no egg song, and may save your flock from loss.

[@aliciaspears7847]

I haven't been keeping chickens for long, only about 9 months, but I always hear the "egg song" although, I did read a piece on it where the conclusion was that chickens are not making noise because they laid an egg, but rather because they want to be accompanied safely to a nest site and away from it when they're done. I thought it was very interesting. Anyway, for the first time, about a week ago - I heard a more high pitched and strained version of the " egg song" & the rooster was doing it too. I left the coop to see what was going on because they wouldn't calm down. A hawk was perched on top of their covered pen and left when I walked around the corner into view. I still get cackles and squawking every single morning, but otherwise, I'm in complete agreement with you. These sounds should not be ignored. I learned my lesson that day

[@steveconnor5388]

Hey Dalia sorry for your loss You have the best backyard chicken channel on KZbin

[@blujeans9462]

Oh my!! I cracked up with the raccoon clip - don't ever take it down; it's hilarious!!

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

LOL thank you!!

[@deborahembry7292]

I have a shed like that as well, and the bear ripped off the door at the hinge. I put all my feed in trash cans and buckets, so if the bear would get in it would only be one bucket. Plus some obstacles that make noise in front of the doors, metal trash cans, old metal watering cans on top. Sure I got to move all of this stuff am and pm but I know it’s worth it.

[@brookecantrellkreiser5934]

My 5 year old daughter, Delilah, has been making me play your videos on repeat 🤣 now she's saying "mommy I'm gonna say that to the predators too! "I will find you and I will deter you!" 🤣🤣

[@mardiahring66]

This makes me so sad. I had a Bobcat enter my yard and hide in my hedges. I was within 10 yards when it jumped out and grabbed one of my chicken girls. My poor Pepe fought for her life as it jumped the fence and ran off with her. I'm in a suburb very near a lake. I am still in shock. I know my Rose was traumatized because she was right there. She wouldn't leave my side and talked about it for in her chicken language for the rest of the day. I wish I had some of your calming tincture on had. I will get some just in case something else happens. I'm very sad for your loss. I know we love our chickens with our whole heart.

[@sikuvitall7006]

A bobcat can hop like Tigger over a 4’ electric fence with a 7lb Pekin

[@SaundraGrenard]

We have fox, possum, racoons and bears. I put hot wire around my coop at night

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Good idea!

[@ukminuteman]

Crumbs, I'm glad being in UK I only have fox & birds of prey to be concerned about! Thanks, Dalia

[@susanrodman]

So sorry for your loss😢 so glad that the bear didn’t get into the coop. 🌻💕

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Me too. It's a very well constructed coop!

[@joeyl.rowland4153]

@@WelcometoChickenlandia Dahlia if you have ever seen what a bear does to bee hive boxes it will give you an understanding they are very powerful animals. Unless your coop is steel they can destroy your coop faster than you can react.

[@56deejay]

what an incredible story you brought to us today. So sorry about your sweet special needs babies. Thanks for always advising us, preparing us, the endless lessons of owning these great birds.

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Thank you!

[@kimberlyraz6343]

I am sorry about your girls...it is heartbreaking to lose them, especially just out of the blue with no explanation. I wanted to tell you my bear story.....I live in southern WV and we have loads of wildlife around us (we live on top of a mountain with no neighbors).....never had much of a problem with bears, just raccoons, opossums, weasels and hawks mostly. But about 5 yrs ago we had a problem with a juvenille (yep lol) black bear.....he'd gotten turned around on our long road and ended up coming through the yard to the other side, back to the woods....except he got distracted by the grain barrels on the way through lol. Big silver trash cans with lids. Well, we ran him off but he came back later that night, rode the chicken lot fence down with his weight and then proceeded to literally rip the hardware cloth off of the coop window, pulled boards off the door and got into our chickens. It took 3 days of this happening before we finally ran him off for good, but we lost about a third of our flock. It was devastating. I would say that electric fencing would likely be the only real deterrent for a black bear of any size. Hardware cloth and even the wooden boards didn't stop him from getting in.

[@debradiane3929]

I would definitely run a single electric wire around the coop and run, or around your property. It is very inexpensive and is used by bear experts in the north to protect all kinds of property from bear destruction. Tractor supply has $35 fence chargers, and wire. You can get the push in portable posts. I use electric poultry netting that has kept bobcats out, and many other predators.

[@whatafriendwehaveinjesus5354]

We put down boards with screws sticking up at night around the coop.

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

That's smart!

[@bethhurst6231]

I am so sorry this happened to you!!! You are such a wonderful person, and I enjoy hearing your tender-hearted approach to keeping chickens.

[@hdcent6390]

I love your videos. We bought your book with my new chickens on Cinco de Mayo.(I have 6 ,to start with.) They were in the house,in a spare empty room,then moved into a small coop on wheels that I supervise and pull in and out of the garage. We have to build a coop and run outside very soon and I am absolutely worried sick about leaving my babies out there.😢I am SO sorry for your loss and trauma to your feather babies! I can't believe how attached I became to the chickens...I can't imagine the sadness over losing them to predators and other causes. I am so happy the bear didn't get to your flock ,though!❤

[@user-hj2io6qt4x]

I use cheap trail cams from Amazon on my chicken run and coop. I have predators come by every single night that I had no idea about also in Washington state. Mostly possums, but it’s fun to look at the cameras in the morning

[@diananore1368]

I live in Alaska. Your fence doesn’t look that bear proof but I love the size and the overhead protection. Also a bear could easily break into that plastic shed …my nephew in Juneau has a horrible problem with bears in his neighborhood…my advice is to research electric single wire fencing and use when the risk is high. We don’t use electric but I have electric available. Our chickens are in a house and yard made of heavy mink wire with some overlayment of finer hardware cloth in low areas or where any gaps that would allow ermine or mink to enter was seen. During the day they free range with two roosters and a guard goose along with 3 large dogs. We’ve lost a rare one to an eagle but prefer to take that risk to allow them to forage freely on our acreage. The roosters sound an alarm and send everyone under cover when danger is present. We’ve come home to find everyone in the inner sanctum of their shelter including Goose and found eagles flying low. Side note: ravens will harass eagles and tattle tale on their location.

[@aliciaspears7847]

I'm sorry about your little hens, but I'm so glad the rest of your flock is OK. I am going to order the Rescue Remedy asap. BTW I freaking love Grubbly Farms !!! The BSF grubs are amazing and my chickens love them so much. The people there are great - super helpful. I've been on a subscription with them for about 4 months, maybe 6 and they arrive in perfect condition. On time, every time. There was another co out there with grubs that most KZbin channels that deal with chickens or homesteading were super enamored with a year or two ago, their quality really started to go downhill and lots of folks were looking for an affordable alternative, myself included. I'm so glad I found Grubbly Farms. I don't think you can go wrong being affiliated with them as long as they maintain their current standards

[@sarahmchugh-d9s]

so sorry for your experiance. your yard is amazing, and you do so well by your birds. The young bear knows you and your birds are there, we are in bear country and young bears will scope things out and will most likely be back, even years after when they are bigger they have you on their radar . Electric fencing is going to be worth your time. We lost our first birds to any preditor last year, a BIG HEALTHY grizzly, he went though 3 coops in one night, we have older guard dogs, and that bear went past our coops, into town and was an aggresive bear in town for over a week, before it decided our birds were worth his efforts , then on his way out he got us. I live where it is almost impossible to get any poultry. When I watch you tube videos and see all the predators down "south" I find it overwhelming to think of, yet I live amongst Grizzlys, wolves, wolverines. As a deterent on windows we will screw saw blade off of old bow saws, that way any predator that does come along will usually get their paws on that and turn themselves around (old trapline trick) . Big or small bears wil go though what ever they want with a hungry belly. We have moved and electric fencing is going up, kennels are up and we will be adding a couple young guard dogs next spring. Good luck

[@whatafriendwehaveinjesus5354]

Sorry to post so much, but in our area, a black bear broke into a house and killed a woman in her home. They can't be trusted in our area. Sorry that happened to your flock ❤

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

OH my goodness that is horrifying! It's tough to live in places where there are a lot of bear around.

[@jandcschwartz]

Yikes, I never would've thought that would happen!

[@annettemastenchickenlove]

OMG how horrific

[@whatafriendwehaveinjesus5354]

Yes, it was unmanageable ❤. I would never have thought a black bear was like that.

[@mtnlindama8146]

Black bears can get over 600 lbs, especially when humans provide them with food. We had a large bear eating from a hummingbird feeder when we were going to bring it in for the night. He was over 6’ tall. Luckily, he was not acclimated to humans and ran away pretty quickly. We’re in Central CO.

[@whatafriendwehaveinjesus5354]

One of my chickens died this July from a heart attack from neighbors' fireworks 🎆 💔.

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Aww I'm so sorry.

[@hfrench789]

I'm so sorry! The idiots in my neighborhood pop large ones...I mean like mortars. My flock and all the wild birds are terrified, and my dog is beyond help. I feel your pain and sorry for your loss.

[@kimm59]

I also wondered about that

[@CharmedByLaurie]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Have you ever thought about security cameras? I use them myself. Inside my coop in the run and outside my coop. So helpful and convenient especially when the weather isn't good.

[@austinc691]

I live on the Florida panhandle. There was a black bear in my backyard three nights ago. Thank fully it did not get into the chicken run which has an electric fence that maxes out my 10k voltage meter. I have the set up on my channel.

[@pamelajohnson9260]

The presence of the bear would be enough to kill the chickens, especially being they had health issues. Makes perfect sense. Sorry for your loss. Wish I had a homeopathic vet where I live. And yes, Rescue Remedy is great.

[@ravensdotter6843]

Great bear impression.

[@CrystalandBern]

I have a shed I used to keep the garbage can which of course had a lid. It was locked. I figured it was safer to keep the garbage can locked away. A black bear showed up, stood on his hind feet making him as tall as our shed, and ripped the door off its hinges. We watched this from about 12 feet away as we stood on our upstairs deck. My neighbor had pigs in a strong fenced in area with their shelter. A bear broke through the fence like butter and killed all 3 pigs. I had a fence around my yard. A bear climbed over it to get to my strawberries. I watched a bear climb a tree 20 feet from my house. There is no protection from black bear if they want your chickens bad enough. My run now is multiple chain link dog runs linked together and wrapped in 1/2 inch hardware cloth.

[@nicolebarker6438]

You definitely should get some cameras

[@13MoonsOverMayhem]

Aww, so sorry for your loss. Sending you virtual hugs, and gentle scritches for your feather babies.

[@Quentin0352]

We have a lot of bear issues here in Florida. People tend to be surprised at that and many former chicken owners I know stopped because of them. We have two Great Pyrenees that keep larger predators like them away. They are also a great pet.

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

I wish we could have one of those dogs. I've really thought about it but we have some intense allergies in our family. That's why we have hairless dogs. Are there any hairless Pyrenees? Lol just kidding.

[@Quentin0352]

@WelcometoChickenlandia the only hairless ones I know of were shaved due to mats and etc. 😆😆 But any large breed that barks a lot will help. Especially several of them. Bears tend to be lazy and will bypass for easier meals.

[@AnnJo24224]

​@@WelcometoChickenlandiathey can stay outside all year along and you don't have to pet them.

[@aliciaspears7847]

You don't have to pet them ? I'm sorry, but that's just irresponsible I love in farm country, I understand LGDs, but no affection ? That's terrible. I hope nobody takes you seriously

[@Thorcita]

Wait a minute, the racoon scene is the best of the whole video (not that the other part isn't amazing, it's just that it makes me wicsh I was friends with that lady!)

[@americanpatriot7247]

So sorry for the loss of your 2 girls. 😢 I keep all my animal feed in their bags inside my home in one area. I just haul what I need for feeding my chickens outside in a bucket with containers inside it when I go out to feed them. It becomes my mini workout everyday. .... grin.

[@monana1711]

I do the same thing. People ask me why the food is inside.

[@farmhouseontherock]

So sorry this happened. I wondered about if fear or even intimidation from a dominant chicken could cause a heart attack. I had a beautiful blonde Amaracauna who was, at the time, my favorite hen. She would sit in my Lap as long as I sat there. One day, I found her dead in one of the nest. She was completely healthy, just like you said, eating and scratching the night before. I sobbed all day. I was in shock

[@thebabscat]

No maybe about it, a determined bear can get into that shed.

[@deborahembry7292]

It makes sense to me. I also had a chicken die from fear when I had a coop in a front yard in town. Loud party goers went by one night and might have scared the chicken to death. I have had bears tear my coops apart on two separate occasions occasions. Both times I had feeders full of feed in the coop, since both times I had chicks in brooder room of the coop and wanted feed out at all times. and I had left a feeder out of the coop. In the yard. The bear was after the feed! And the chickens and ducks were taken out as well. Now I have metal trash can lids, bells, old metal waters hung all over the coop to make enough noise if a bear tries to again. Also absolutely no feed in the coop. My son has electric wire around his coop.

[@tarayoakum9393]

We have black bears here in FL. They mostly ignore the chickens in favor of garbage. They make a huge mess if the can isn't secure! Very little will stop a determined bear, they can rip the door off a vehicle. We keep our feed inside.

[@Growstuff70]

I put the rescue remedy in my cart to order soon!

[@lordapophis93]

Im so sorry for your loss. Chickens are pretty wonderful creatures I think loosing one is by far my biggest fear as a new chicken keeper.

[@andreaburke6009]

I run 3 strands of electric on out side is hard wear cloth🙌

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

That's really the only way if you have these kinds of critters.

[@kida12]

If they were found in a corner or against a wall, chickens can pile up and smother as well. We would find this when we raised chickens in Arkansas for meat production. Since there were 3000 to 8000 chickens per building, we would sometimes find a hundred or so dead in a pile. Always a bad day.

[@eddieabernathy5998]

I'm so sorry for your loss.😢

[@nic869]

I love your sense of humor 😆

[@junegoguen6961]

I am so sorry for your loss. So sad.

[@nanamimi3382]

I'm sorry for your loss of them pretty babies.

[@NavySturmGewehr]

We've had issues with cougers. Lost a few of our precious girls. Very sad. Now they're in a much smaller enclosure rather than having our whole backyard like they used to.

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Cougars are what really scares me! They are definitely lurking around here.

[@homesteadmoon]

Deepest condolences Beautiful soul about your beautiful bird babies transitioning. 🐔🪽🌹 You are an inspiration to all us newbie chick parents & your candid shared knowledge is invaluable 🩷

[@cholland423]

Aww.. I’m so sorry for your loss ❤️🐓

[@katesmiles4208]

Thank goodness it didn't gain entry. I'm so sorry you lost those cute little buddies.

[@JC-qw8xf]

Had two 5 gallon buckets with gamma lids, full of chicken feed sitting in the barn with the door open, bear took both buckets, so I thought fine, I will put feed in a 50 gallon barrel with lid, put stuff on top of it just in case, darn bear knocked everything off and drug barrel out in yard, took the unopened 50 lb bag of feed, now feed is in the coop locked up with the chickens. He has left me signs but has not got in the coop so far.

[@darlene5621]

Why in the world would you put the feed IN with the chickens 🤨🤨 if he can pull a 55 gal. barrel out & move it at all?? Shouldn't be long now--geez🙄🙄

[@laurab8547]

I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your two babies! I was wondering if you ever considered putting up a couple of trail cameras around your property and in your coop to at least get video or pictures of what is going on outside when you’re not out there?

[@LilacDaisy2]

From an Australian, I don't know how you guys deal with such HUGE predators. Actual lions, bears, wolves, coyotes, cougars!!!

[@janna860611]

I absolutely agree with you, chickens get startled by little things. I'm very sorry about pige and baboon!

[@holynyork7124]

Sorry for your loss, I u derstand your pain. Hugs to you and yours.🙏😉

[@Dragotrecycle]

So I’ve had 2 bear attacks where the bear killed all the flock and took the ducks. So San Quentin is the only answer! A small bear will cut through chicken wire like butter and will go trough a 12x12 window and destroy a double walled door. Best is electric fence but not cheep or razor barbed wire at nose height of the bear and up high so they can’t get over the fence. I also make sure they are up before dusk and installed a chicken door. I’ve had to rebuild twice and my feed is in a greenhouse. Bears remember their paths for 10 years so he will be back. Solar motion lights that come on are a deterrent for a little while. Bear spray does not work unless you spray him directly.

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Oh my goodness I'm so sorry about the attacks!

[@joeyl.rowland4153]

@@Dragotrecycle Electric fence is a beekeepers friend in bear country. Bears will kill chickens goats sheep calves and foals alike. They will kill most dogs and people if they have the chance. They are wild animals.

[@katiemoyer8679]

Is your roof netting strong enough to hold up a climbing bear⁉️❓ I’m worried. Both for your & my flock as we’ve had about a dozen black bear sightings recently in most Southern Illinois.

[@Featherfuss]

Sorry for your loss.

[@krickette5569]

My daughter dealt with anxiety in high school to the point where she would need to be excused from class on occasion. I got her some Bach Rescue Remedy gum that is formulated for anxiety. When she started feeling anxious she would pop a piece in her mouth and most of the time she was able to handle the anxiety and not have to leave the class. Rescue Remedy is good stuff.

[@MelindaWaldrop]

So sorry for your loss, sending prayers!

[@ShortbusMooner]

I think you're right- it's entirely feasible. They were literally scared to death. Condolences, ma'am! 💔 EDIT: You don't need an entire, full-out electric fence! There's movable, plastic fencing that you can roll up & put wherever you want- reminds me of snow fencing (to catch drifts). Josh on Stoney Ridge Farmer channel uses one with his 'chicken mobile', to keep out the foxes. You should look into it! 🤗

[@lisajoy6739]

We lost 7 girls to a bear in July. We live in the forest and they are around all the time. Fish and game put up a trap and caught him within hours. He was dispatched which made me sad all around. I also thought we had the girls on lock down at night but he ripped the door off. We now have an electric fence around the girls which wasn't easy or cheap, but neither is losing and replacing hens!

[@JeanHudson2022]

They could of died of fright that happens sometimes. That bear is awful small to be on it's own, must of lost his Mom. I am in Upper Michigan see bears just about daily. Don't get me wrong by fall he would of been on his own but not this early. Watch out he is skinny for now he should be rounder, so it will be on the prowl for food. And here in Upper Michigan most of us put a electric fence around the coop because you never know the size of the bear that will show up. Blessings sorry about your babies.

[@OurSerenityHomestead]

Madame Presudent, a loss is a loss. Feel your feelings and share them with others. Thank you so much for such an honest and informative video, once again. We lost one of our baby chicks to an aerial predator earlier this week. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and insight. ❤

[@lettyschlieper7410]

Condolences on your loss.🙏

[@omadeitz3340]

I live in the U.P. we have bears and yes they can cause heart attacks in chickens and ducks. We had to put fencing 5 feet around our fencing it is like a box in a box less stress..

[@nicoladelle]

Our biggest annoyance is snakes. They really aren't a danger to the full grown chickens, but they eat the eggs and babies if not found quickly. I thought we had managed to plug every hole leading into our coop, but one just recently found its way in during the night. We just catch them and release them a mile or so from our house, but it can be pretty startling to reach into a nesting box and feel something scaly.

[@mimasminihomestead]

Ahhh they are beautiful chickens too!! Im guessing they did get scared, either heart attack, trampled, hit something, during it all.... 😢

[@mellyg8872]

So sorry for your loss. I lost my oldest chicken last week. It’s heart breaking. 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻

[@katiemoyer8679]

I’m concerned about the netting roof…would a firmer, less easily destructed topper be prudent? I imagine a bear could Fall thru that netting 🤦🏻‍♀️. Btw…love, love, love your channel. 💞

[@dandkproductions7285]

I'm terribly sad Dear flocks of Dalia ! Hugs an prayers for thru grief my camera has scary sirens an bright lights .

[@nogames8982]

In Alaska, they basically electrify the coop at night. Sometimes during the day too. That might be your next option.

[@SaundraGrenard]

Dalia I am so so sorry

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Thank you!

[@medtronicmom]

Bears?! Goodness gracious! Sorry you lost your girls. Thank you for sharing.

[@MosaicHomestead]

I just roll them some tiny little chicken blunts, and they just calm down right away 😂

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

🚬🐔 = ✌🏽

[@MosaicHomestead]

I'm kidding lol 😆

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

@@MosaicHomestead LOL I know!!

[@marklese984]

So sorry to hear this story...when my roosters rallo died in December his main hen still is looking for him...I just try to give her so much extra love

[@MJYouAreNotAlone1]

So sorry, sweetie🙏 God bless you!🙏❤️

[@ZoomerPrepper]

Its why i keep my feed inside!!

[@TheArtisanbard]

Oh no! So sorry! But interesting what shock could do!

[@debbiedotodue]

I agree with you I thought a heart attack before I finished watching the video

[@checkurselfb4ureck]

I love the "cringey" stuff i am a cringey girly as well 😂

[@CountryKirby.]

A bear, I wouldn’t have no clue what to do 😳

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

That's how I felt!

[@annashairtrigger]

I’m so sorry for your loss 💙 Holy cow, they were scared to death! Chicken tending is crazy sometimes. Ok, all the time 😂

[@allaboutspanishforbb]

a good farm dog will deter a bear, and even alert you.

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Absolutely. Although I would worry for the safety of the dog! I have tiny dogs that *think* they could take out a bear haha.

[@AnnJo24224]

​@@WelcometoChickenlandiaLGD well trained with chickens will help you with time to get a 🔫

[@christinabaker3210]

thank you for sharing, I was crying in May because we had a tornado and I lost 2 to shock and 2 to injuries :( then prior i lost one in the hail storm. I blammed myself but I did rescue 1 hen who was in shock under a chair. I lost one a few nights ago because she got scared during the night (she had bad PSTD from her past) but thanks for reminding us

[@traceydrost2159]

So far our motion sensor lights have been working as a deterrent . They are solar powered as well .

[@andreaburke6009]

And cameras I arm the cameras around my runs at night and un arm them in morning 👍

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

I think we are going to add some better cameras. We have them but they don't always work. We've seen tons of coyotes with them!

[@NicyDelValle]

I am sorry, I lost one of mine a couple of weeks ago. I tried to save her. I miss her. ❤️🙏

[@kristivaughan3839]

So sorry for your 2 girls' loss. Always sad.

[@Watchoutforsnakez]

Sorry for your loss. I have Blink cameras all around my coop in the run. And inside the coop. You can put the sync module in the house nearest the coop. If your coop is too far out, Can you find a relay system or rearrange your internet modem on your property to get a signal out there? My module is in a window on the side of the house were the chicken area is about 100-200 feet from the cameras. It can be set to notify me of any movement around the coop.

[@shdwbnndbyyt]

In Pennsylvania, people are told to put up electric fencing ON THEIR HOMES to drive away the black bears... Of course in several cases where the person was prosecuted for shooting the bear, the bear was ignroing the electric fence shcoks and tearing apart the home trying to break in where his chidlren were... Despite the evidence of the bear tearing apart the walls of the house and ignoring the electric fencing mounted around the house... the man was convicted for protecting his family from the bear.

[@GracefulHaka]

Guess I won't be moving to Pennsylvania! I ran into that problem with a bobcat once. Called animal control and asked for help as I had a young son as well as chickens. Was told to let it be as even trapping it alive would result in problems for me. So... I trapped it anyway but didn't call them, instead my neighbor took it five miles away to a state park and released it. If it had returned I would have applied the 3-S rule. S.S.S.

[@almaburns6562]

So sad that common sense and fairness did not influence his judgment. Criminals get off all the time but a man is convicted for protecting his family, SMH!

[@mendynoma4272]

Outrageous!

[@winnie4164]

I am so sorry about Pidge and Baboon! 😢 we had 9 chickens taken in broad daylight recently while free ranging with us out here, going in and out. A 10th chicken was found dead without a mark on her. I believe she died of fear/shock seeing the others taken. We believe a local coyote pack ran through and grabbed them. Not a feather left behind. We weren’t 100 yards away, working in the garden, chicken coop and such. We never heard a thing! 😢We only let them out when we are near them, but the coyotes are getting way too bold. I can’t imagine a bear.

[@wordswritteninred7171]

I had 2 parakeets drop dead at the same time. I had a "bird room" in my house. Where my birds were free in the room. They had perches at the window. I came home from work, to find 2 parakeets dead. By the window. I suspect a cat or something scared them. Birds are known to have heart attacks from a startle.

[@steelroz7567]

Solar power electric fence 3 strand wire for horses/cattle help keeps those pesky predators away.

[@lisajoy6739]

We went with electric. Everything said solar can't produce enough juice for a bear.?

[@jrose353]

Im EXTREMELY interested in your take on adding turkeys to my chicken flock. I want to keep a breeding pair & harvest anything they hatch. The run is very mostly dry, we are going to build a separate run for meat birds in spring so we could keep them there…? Ideally I’d like them with the hens? I really don’t know but I trust your opinion and suggestions!

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

There is only one serious issue that keeps some people from keeping chickens and turkeys together and that's Blackhead disease, which can be really bad for turkeys while not really affecting chickens much. That being said, in backyards and small farms all over the world there are chickens and turkeys together. My instincts tell me that keeping their general health up is the key, rather than being afraid to put them together. That doesn't mean something can't happen in terms of disease, though. Also, be aware that turkeys roost much higher than chickens. You could find them on top of the coop if they don't have a high roosting place offered to them!

[@dncnews.510]

Very nice super moo.

[@Teri6419]

My brother lives in Belligham WA as well. I use Grubbly Farms everything. My flock of 2 (tee hee) loves Grubblies!

[@Angelface11]

Bears like to eat chicken just like people. It's the circle of life. No need to get mad or upset at predators for simply trying to eat. I never understood the predator hate, they are hungry. Most people I see getting mad or trying to hurt the animals are people who also eat meat. Makes no sense to me. I simply leave food out if predators are around so they don't hurt pets. I love all critters, predator and prey.

[@michellelovejoy1383]

I'm very sorry for the loss of your feathered babies. It is very hard and I hope at some point you will be able to take time to mourn their passing. Putting up trail cameras or something similar is great for so many reasons. You can check in on your flock at anytime but the other good thing, is you learn to know what predators are out at any time. I also suggest to install an electric fence around the perimeter of your property. If done correctly, it will determine most land predators. I know because our family has 10 acres and we are surrounded by state owned land. I am able to deter a 700 lb male black bear from a 4 yard dumpster, and this is during fall time when they are trying to fatten up for brumation.

[@dragonfly3724]

I’m in WA State too, live out in the country where cougars, bears, bobcats, raccoons, I think we can do our best for our chickens but nature will win sometimes.

[@potato6658]

So sorry, about your sweet girls. It’s so hard to lose a friend.

[@cyn7869]

You could put wooden storm shutters on the windows.

[@sandracrowe47]

We have a trail cam set up that videos our main coop/run area at night when it senses motion. We had a night when 2 of my chickens, for whatever reason, didn't go into the coop at night. We have an automatic coop door that closes after dusk. The two chickens were sitting on a roost that is angled in the corner of the run. That night a bear came and walked around the chicken run. We have video of the chickens just sitting on the roost and watching the bear. They didn't freak out. They just looked over their shoulder and as if to say "what you want". Bear hasn't come back that we have seen on the cam.

[@deborahembry7292]

It makes sense to me. I also had a chicken die from fear when I had a coop in a front yard in town. Loud party goers went by one night and might have scared the chicken to death. I have had bears tear my coops apart on two separate occasions occasions. Both times I had feeders full of feed in the coop, since both times I had chicks in brooder room of the coop and wanted feed out at all times. and I had left a feeder out of the coop. In the yard. The bear was after the feed! And the chickens and ducks were taken out as well. Now I have metal trash can lids, bells, old metal waters hung all over the coop to make enough noise if a bear tries to again. Also absolutely no feed in the coop.