I now believe that we’re all feeble half-witted creatures doomed to die before our time, just some creatures more so than others.

I was at work a little while ago when my housemate’s email arrived with the news that Hen died today.
She was found stuck under a bush in the yard, and he wasn’t sure whether she broke her neck while trying to get out, or died of exhaustion…

My landlady and her husband have three hens and there are very aggressive and hungry raccoons in the neighborhood. Landlady’s hubby built a coop that’s big enough for us to stand and walk around in, so it’s palace sized for the hens. Moreover, we let them out into the backyard regularly, but we have good barriers on all sides of the yard and keep the gate closed. Their wings are clipped so they won’t fly out.

Nighttime, we lock em in the raccoon-proof coop. They roost for the night in a small plywood enclosure with plenty of fresh hay bedding, and they lay eggs for us there every day.

A quick google turned up this site, which looks to have sound chicken advice. There are many others.

Good luck, and I hope you get some eggs soon! Fresh eggs from your own chickens are a treat.

Tell you what- get geese to watch your chickens. They’re so badass, they’ll beat up your little rooster and tear his damn feathers out. Granted, they’re just about as noisy as a rooster, but only when strangers pop into your garden, but they’ll probably give your predators more of a run for their money than the hens. ;…;

…But seriously, Facist-Mart? That’s awesome.