[Kathie]

Hi,
Sidney came to us to avoid becoming his previous owner's Sunday lunch, he is a beautiful, now 7 month old, Maran (and no trouble as yet!!).  However, he has taken to crowing through the night, we thought the coop may have become too low as he has grown so much, so built a higher coop but he prefers the old one.  We do not have any near neighbours and he doesn't wake us, we just hear him if we wake.  Is this common or do we have a problem? Any advice or comments would be very welcome, thanks

[Casey76]

Crowing at night is usually an alarm call.  Maybe something was prowling around int he garden?

[Kathie]

Thanks for that Casey, we have had a lady, Mrs Speckeldy hen, disappear recently.  We are not sure if she was taken by a fox or a red kite, while we were out.  All our chickens are completely free range and often take themselves off across the lane into our neighbours paddock for a picnic, especially when fresh haylage has been delivered.  If Sid has been disturbed at night I can only presume it's been a fox. I'm at my wits end as to how to keep them safe.

[compostqueen]

You have to confine them then when you can't be with them. I lock mine in a 12 foot run when I go out, and it's completely covered roof and sides to keep out foxy

They reckon if you put a perch above the cockerel's head so that when he raises his head to crow then it'll be in his way and deter him. Don't know if it's true though as I've not tried it myself as I only have girls 

[hendreary]

This thread has really worried me.  My hens free range and we have Red Kites in the area one took a Pigeon from the bird table once. I assumed a hen would be too much for them but obviously I am wrong.

[Kathie]

Hi Hendreary,
we have since found Mrs Speckeldy hens body (RIP little one) in the hedges and it would appear to have been a polecat or mink that took our little girl from us, so maybe kites do not pose a threat but I'm not too sure.  We have 2 bantams that we fear for when kites and buzzards are around as a neighbour of ours saw their bantam taken last year, luckily she was dropped and made a full recovery so maybe larger hens would be too big