Zazouse: Gracie is awesome!
We are on 10 acres in west Florida. I have lost a chick to a hawk. We saw the hawk return and try the same trick. I fortified the coop to thwart it's efforts. It has returned, but no more losses, thankfully.
I prefer not to kill anything. However, I also refuse to allow my chickens to be "free picking" for predators. We have tons of rabbits, squirrels, mice, rats, skinks, snakes, etc. for the predators to dine on. If they threaten my chickens or chihuahuas it is a done deal.
Two mornings ago I had a coyote on my property. I don't know how it gained entry, but my dogs alerted me to its presence. I got my 22, but couldn't get a clear shot before it disappeared in the brush.
I was ready for it yesterday morning, but didn't see it. Hopefully it was just passing through. If not, I will shoot it.
We have a 4' fence around the property. The chickens are in coops. The dogs are a good alert system, but until my LGD grows up I can't expect them to eradicate any predators.
I enjoy having the wildlife and am willing to coexist, but the "live and let live" motto applies to my chickens, too.
We are on 10 acres in west Florida. I have lost a chick to a hawk. We saw the hawk return and try the same trick. I fortified the coop to thwart it's efforts. It has returned, but no more losses, thankfully.
I prefer not to kill anything. However, I also refuse to allow my chickens to be "free picking" for predators. We have tons of rabbits, squirrels, mice, rats, skinks, snakes, etc. for the predators to dine on. If they threaten my chickens or chihuahuas it is a done deal.
Two mornings ago I had a coyote on my property. I don't know how it gained entry, but my dogs alerted me to its presence. I got my 22, but couldn't get a clear shot before it disappeared in the brush.
I was ready for it yesterday morning, but didn't see it. Hopefully it was just passing through. If not, I will shoot it.
We have a 4' fence around the property. The chickens are in coops. The dogs are a good alert system, but until my LGD grows up I can't expect them to eradicate any predators.
I enjoy having the wildlife and am willing to coexist, but the "live and let live" motto applies to my chickens, too.