I want a gun to kill the things that are killing my chickens.....

[Marc Alverson]

If the animal that is killing your chickens is a raptor (hawk or owl), then the birds are protected and you can get into trouble if you try to shoot them. Work on your cage to secure it better rather than trying to protect your chickens with a gun.

 

[nick22]

I would as suggested start with the heavier duty chicken wire/ good structure. Followed by traps I would also suggest to the noob a double barrel 20 gauge of some sort with 6 shot at close range anything that's trying to kill chickens will not appreciate it if he's shooting in the dark (predators preferred time to work) shooting the shotgun will be much easier to hit with and less chance for neighborhood damage. If it's something bigger than say raccoon teach him when to step up to buckshot for Coyote.

 

[DustyGmt]

Maybe it's already been gone over in this thread, but a 12ga or 20ga pump shotgun? Good for any number of things.

 

[CapnMac]

My wife breeds chickens and as other members already posted, solution to your friend's brother's predator problem starts with a secure enclosure/coop for the chickens. (Or does he plan on guarding the coop every night?)

Send him to Backyard Chicken forum, world's largest online forum on anything chicken related, to learn how to "predator proof" coop for chickens (Or Google "How to predator proof chicken coop") - https://www.backyardchickens.com/threadloom/search?keywords=predator+proofing+coop&tab=0

We initially enclosed 12'x12' corner of the pole barn and had to deal with predators, mainly racoons and after learning about predator proofing chicken coop, built 24'x8' coop with 1/2" wire fabric and no more predator issues.

This ^^^^^^^ x10

Also, he probably needs top netting to keep out predator birds.

a raptor (hawk or owl), then the birds are protected

As this ^^^^^^ is especially true.
And, being a noob to the country (no matter how comfortably "Green Acres" he feels) there will also be State protected species, too. Which could include certain "buzzards" (which are raptors, too).

If he has the wallet out and is looking for answers, he likely needs some game cameras. How deep down that rabbit hole he wants to go, more power to him.

Especially if it turns out to be a predator cat the State Wildlife Agency insists has not been seen for a century . . . (which also cannot be shot).

Also, dude needs to chill, chickens are cheap and replaceable (if dear to those who husband them). So, maybe he needs some geese, they are more territorial than some dog breeds.

 

[Howland937]

We've established by and large, the first thing this guy needs to do is secure his chickens.

Correct, but if his predators are of the flying variety, his enclosure would need a roof. And a gun would just get him in serious trouble. Until the fella understands what is killing his chix, he'll never know which solution suits his needs best. Unless he goes with an actual coop (why he hasn't already, we may never know).

 

[Remington1911]

If he hasn't identified the actual predator, how does he know it's not a protected species that would be illegal to shoot no matter how close his neighbors are?

Around here unless it flies chances are it is not protected. However I have seen a cougar in my back yard, not sure on them as they are not common at all.

 

[12Bravo20]

I have to agree with everyone that said to secure the chicken coop first and foremost. And if the predator is a protected bird, then he can't legally shoot it.

That being said, a good shotgun works well for this situations (outside of city limits) A lot of single shot shotguns of every gauge has been used successfully to protect chicken coops. Even a 410 loaded with #4 bird shot or larger shot works well.

My grandma use to use an old single shot 410 to protect the chickens. She was quite good with that thing.

 

[AJC1]

If a person has no gun experience I would recommend a rifle or shotgun. If the area beyond is important than a bullet that self destructs is key. A 17hmr might not kill instantly but will not have big chunks bouncing off rocks and killing livestock. A 204 ruger would also be good but the delta in cost is probably not justified. Obviously practice before the big moment is highly encouraged.

 

[bdickens]

Exclusion is the proper solution.

Killing the predators is an exercise in futility; remove one and another just moves in. They come around because there's food. The only two possible solutions are to remove the food or make it too hard to get ahold of.

 

[Appalachiannative]

Get a live trap. Buy more chickens to replace the stupid ones. Natural selection with my ducks. The stupid ones get eaten, the smart ones live for ages.

I release skunks and opossums. They're harmless. I'd gladly accept live catches of either. They keep mice populations down, and wipe out yellow jacket nests.

Raccoons get shot. Chipmunks, squirrels, and mice get released in an open field, with a dozen eagles watching. They dont last long.

Opossums will eat eggs and chickens harmless hell. I just had another thought. If he secures the coop but chickens still go missing with no sign on forced entry this could be the work of a snake in which case a square shovel, pruning shears, bush axe ect will be fine

 

[tark]

Good grief. Guns are not the instant "go to" solution he requires.
He needs secure and excellent quality enclosures for his animals.
Problem solved. Sheesh.

Guns are cheaper and quicker than expensive fancy new security buildings. If you are against killing, buy some traps and catch the culprit.

Then you can shoot it

Tannerite is that part of the equation that guarantee's those chickens will never lay another egg!

Some people don't know a joke when it bites the in the butt.

I was being facetious...

 

[LiveLife]

Killing the predators is an exercise in futility; remove one and another just moves in. They come around because there's food. The only two possible solutions are to remove the food or make it too hard to get ahold of.

Wife says, "When the buffet is open, they will be back"

solution to your friend's brother's predator problem starts with a secure enclosure/coop for the chickens.

the best idea is secure the chickens

Yes.

I would as suggested start with the heavier duty chicken wire

Chickens behave differently at night and remain still and racoons can reach through opening size of chicken wire (Wife says rats and weasels can actually go through the chicken wire opening and prey on chickens with weasels reported to kill the entire flock) and why smaller 1/2" wire fabric is preferred.

He is a [Doctor] ... From what I understand typical Dr. type person before the divorce, country clubs kind of thing ... new to this "country" lifestyle.

Well, if money is not an issue, he should get a predator proof Carolina chicken coop - https://carolinacoops.com/chicken-coops/

If you want something less costly, then something like this - https://largechickencoops.com/store/Quaker+Style-c12206013

You can even use something like Tuff Shed to convert to chicken coop if the doctor is not handy enough to build a coop - https://www.tuffshed.com/one-fancy-coop/

 

[JeeperCreeper]

When people ask me for advice and are rookies, I always invite them out shooting.

And if you're a rookie, you need to sit there my hour long lecture in my living room before you get to use my guns and ammo at the range.

As a doctor, I'm sure he appreciates being educated and informed.

Once he gets basic training and safety stuff, he can decide himself with some guidance.

So basically, I would take him shooting then probably suggest a pump shotgun or Ruger 357/77.

 

[N555]

Yes electric fence, traps, ect first.

 

[DeepSouth]

This is why they make shotguns.

 

[jmorris]

I wouldn’t have a problem using a 243 if Mrs. Morris isn’t home. It’s more than necessary to dispatch a dog but I don’t eat or wear them, so I have never killed one too dead.

I wouldn’t be welcome in my home anymore if I popped one off the balcony though. Leaves me generally using a suppressed, 22 or 9mm most of the time.

They don’t even run away to die.



Unless he’s always watching them or already has alerts, I wish him the best of luck. Everything likes the way chickens taste.

 

[LiveLife]

things that are killing my chickens .....

I don't think OP stated what exactly are killing the chickens ...

 

[rust collector]

While I believe that someone living in the country should have and be familiar with long guns, I agree that the first thing to do is harden the coop. Next might be a live trap or two for a census of things that come and go in the night (golf balls and canned cat food are hard to pass up). Game cams are ridiculously inexpensive, as are wi-fi cameras. The one thing doc can't afford is ignorance.

 

[Handshaker]

Exclusion is the proper solution.

Killing the predators is an exercise in futility; remove one and another just moves in. They come around because there's food. The only two possible solutions are to remove the food or make it too hard to get ahold of.

The food is the chickens, so if he removed them, no more problem, but no chickens either. I highly doubt the predators are eating chicken scratch.

 

[bdickens]

The food is the chickens, so if he removed them, no more problem, but no chickens either. I highly doubt the predators are eating chicken scratch.

Well, duh...

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Of course, a gun is not "the" solution, but "a part of a comprehensive plan" solution.

Eliminate a predator and more move in to fill the empty space, generally.

Like self-defense, protecting livestock is a layered approach. Keep the chickens defensively protected first and foremost. Add to that from there. Outdoor pets help (provided you don't end up with one with a taste for chicken blood). A bullet for the occasional difficult bugger that seems to outwit all your other protective maneuvers.

As for the gun...I'd rather simply get a guy like that into actively shooting first. You learn by doing on many levels, and shooting skills are just a part of it. The laws, the safety, the practical and impractical aspects, etc. Then he's more likely to not only make a smart choice, but wisely utilize it.

 

[230RN]

The cheapest 22 rifle he can find and a box of Velocitors. Sounds like that might not be sexy enough for him though?

*** Best In Thread nomination. ^^^

I had a similar situation. as the OP's brother in law's sister's uncle's cousin's best friend when I had my little farm back in the seventies.

We came home from a family day trip to find a pasture littered with dead (free-roaming) chickens. Must have been killed for sport, since no signs of them being eaten or carried off. I had noticed loose dogs from time to time, but after that incident, I took kind of a pre-emptive "protecting livestock" position according to State law and no loose dogs were safe any more.

I used a .22 usually, one was always kept (safely) near the back door but I had my own rifle range facing unpopulated north and popped one with a .243 when a loose dog showed up down range.

"Out in the country" or not, don't let your sweet little "my dog doesn't kill chickens" and "my dog doesn't crap on your lawn" run around uncontrolled or you may end up putting up telephone pole signs that start "Have you seen Poopsie?" with a pic of the sweet little dog.

That doesn't kill chickens and doesn't poop on other peoples' lawns.

Terry, 230RN

 

[doubleh]

Spend the money and build a secure inclusive that nothing can get into. That's the first thing to do.

Easier said than done. I grew up on a farm and we kept quite a number of laying hens. It amazing what a determined critter can get through, around, over, or under. We handled it pretty well but once a skunk made it in and killed 52 hens one night.

A 22 will take care of anything up through a coyote at close range but a 12 guage with #4 shot would be easier at night.

 

[dh1633pm]

Sometimes you need a combination of things. Traps, guns, and/or preventative measures.

 

[Gerd33]

Around the house, fairly rural but the neighbors do have horses in an adjoining pasture, I use a Benjamin multi-pump .22 air rifle for any nuisance critter needs. From experience I know it'll work on anything up to Skunk size with 8 or so pumps behind it and I'd imagine it would work for a raccoon as well.