There are more than a dozen reasons why one may wish to consider keeping chickens.
Most people keep them because they provide food, and everyone knows that raising your own chickens can provide you with daily fresh eggs that are delicious.
However, when you keep chickens, you will have to take care of them.
And it does sometimes involve slightly more than simply providing them a home and feeding them.
You see, there are a host of predators out there that love chicken and fresh eggs just as much as you do.
And once these chicken predators discover your little secret coop, you will have to become smarter than they are.
There are a number of animals that are always on the lookout for their next fresh meal.
And when they see a whole host of chickens all in one place, they are apt to become very excited very quickly.
They have found the perfect place to snatch a quick meal whenever they need one.
And unless you learn how to stop them, they will continue to stop in for a quick meal very often.
Chickens unfortunately have a lot of predators.
Among those animals which pose a threat to your precious chickens are cats, dogs, hawks, raccoons, weasels, foxes, and even rats.
But there are a number of things you can to do keep your chickens safe.
First, your chickens need a home.
Nothing is inviting predators in like a click or chickens wandering helplessly unprotected throughout your property.
Unless you keep your brood protected and sheltered by a coop, then you are just asking for trouble.
Many also suggest stringing barbed wire at the top of the coop to keep animals from climbing over it.
Others also say that you should put an underground fence for at least two feet.
This can either be a wire fence or plywood to keep predators from digging under the fence.
And they will do it unless you take these measures.
You should also keep the area as clean as possible.
Clear away all bushes and clumps of grass from the area.
If you remove all of the areas that would provide ideal hiding and stalking places, then it will discourage other animals from sneaking in to catch a glimpse of the mouth watering dinner that they cannot help but stalk.
Keep the animals at bay and they are less likely to approach the pen.
When it comes to the smaller rodents and pests, it can be a bit trickier.
If you are dealing with rats or even large mice, make sure that you are keeping feed tightly closed and put away.
Nothing will bring these rodents in quicker than fresh feed.
There are also a number of poisons that you can lay out for these pests, just remember to make sure that they are safe for the chickens to be around.
Having a chicken coop provides an ideal shelter to keep them safe from predators.
However, you still have to be proactive and aware at all times.
Keep a close eye out, catch the warning signs early and you can prevent your flock from being ravaged upon.