Any suggestions: I've lost all but 7 of my chickens (out of nearly 60)

[birdnutz]

Thank you Ivan 3, maybe I took it too personable.

 

[rufus]

Birdnutz, you can't shoot bears, mountain lions or other predators that are killing your livestock? That is plumb crazy. This must vary from state to state. Remember the guy from California that shot the bear with an arrow? Now he is going to eat it.

Rufus

 

[birdnutz]

Nope,if I had cattle or sheep the feds would pay me for the the price of the animal. There was a man that was attacked by a grizzly bear in Rawlins Wyoming,he was bow hunting, the bear attacked,he killed it with a pistol,off over a year from injuries from the attack. Wyoming suied him from killing a Wyoming resource.

 

[chicknmania]

You all are way off topic. I never said anything about not killing predators who are attacking your livestock; neither did I say anything about calling the SO out to shoot your problems for you. What I said was...POISONING IS INHUMANE!!!! These predators are not out to do damage to you personally. If you people are unwilling to take appropriate steps, however much of a pain in the rear it is, to take care of your livestock problems in a humane way, then you have no business owning livestock, at all. Furthermore, not only is poisoning inhumane, but it is dangerous to other innocent animals, or even people, as was said before. You all refer to "Feral" as if it's some sort of bad word. It simply means wild animal. And they have as much right to live on this planet, as we do. This is a topic that has been discussed by many people on this website, over the past year or so, and it is always a heated topic of discussion. But I stand by what I have always said. Attempt to discourage or barricade out the predators first, and if that doesn't work you will have to resort to humane methods of disposal. And we have lost a lot of chickens too and have shed a lot of tears over them, but never would I ever look at any wild animal on our property as an "enemy". God put all of us on this planet together, and actually he intended chickens as a food animal. nuff said.

 

[chicknmania]

But not quite enough said...I just have to comment...shoot on sight????WHAT??????? This list generated by the State of Wyoming I have to see. What in the world are you "shooting on sight" for????" Seems to me maybe you're confusing it with...open season? They're not protected in your state??? That still doesn't give you the right to shoot em for no reason. I better shut up before I get really hostile.

 

[Chellester]

I guess I'm lucky as far a predators go... my main problem is with dogs that run come on my property that are either stray or neighbors who don't properly restrain their dogs.

I didn't read the whole thread, so exuse me if this has already been mentioned: if this is mainly a nighttime problem, I would consider building a coop in the barn (not the whole huge coop/run combination; just the coop itself) that is enclosed top to bottom and completely predator proof. Train your chickens to go in there for the night, lock them up and let them out when it gets light again.

A dog in the barn is a good idea as has been mentioned. Even if it's not the type of dog that would kill a coon, as long as it barks and puts up a fuss the coon isn't going to hang around to find out. I have a small dog who will bark her head off if she so much as hears an ant fart in the middle of the night... sometimes it gets annoying, but I haven't lost a chicken yet, so I take it as a tradeoff.

I don't see what is cruel in a poison that would kill a predator instantly, unless you are the type of person who thinks killing a predator is in itself cruel... would you rather the predator eat a less potent poision and thrash about in pain for a while before it dies?

 

[ivan3]

I'm well aware some folks won't even poison the headlice on their children as the little bugs have every right to live...
I respect that.

However, I'll simply refer to the guidelines posted in the sticky at the head of this subject line:

Although some ways are not considered ideal to some, it serves the purpose of removing the offending predator. If you have an idea or a helpful comment, please do reply. If it is a sarcastic comment about the disposal or capture of a predator, please keep your thoughts to yourself. We are not here to judge one another on methods or ways and means.

Keep those girls safe!​

 

[TransplantedTexan]

I have been told by the DNR here in Wisconsin that all coons and skunks are considered rabid and to shoot on site.
Also hunters are asked in the guideline book to shoot any Feral pigs.

 

[chicknmania]

There haven't been any "sarcastic comments" made...except the one about the headlice. I could say a lot of things about people who think they don't have any resource except poison; however, in respect to the guideline, I choose not to. I do, however, have every right to point out the risks and downsides of using certain methods, that some people might not know. And, in respect to the guideline re being off topic, I'm dropping out of this thread. Might be best if we all did the same, who don't have anything to add about the original question.

 

[cgjsmith]

Ok so I got my neighbors big trap he gave me a cake to put it in. I just put it by the entrance of the run, threw the cake in there then covered it with an old sheet. I didn't really expect to get anything that night I already was planning on putting marshmellows and stuff. low and behold the next morning the kids come running from checking on the animals and are screaming you caught a cat. Sure enough we cought what looked like a cross between a bob cat and a domestic cat (was a pretty grey color.) I think it was the one who would come back and strew all the dead parts all over the barn not the original killer so we are going to set the trap again. My main worry is that was the reason why we were rat free. If we see signs of rats though i guess we will just get a kitten. My husband too the cat up to his work and let it go. Crystal