Anyone dealt with alligators as a predator?

[ellieroo]

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Yes! The homes are/were built on stilts, but alligators were not the reason.

Seasonal flooding. Now that's the reason.

Yes I know but as a kid I thought it was for snakes

 

[Godsgrl]

I finally talked to the zoo yesterday, and it turns out I was wrong. I'm sorry.

It turns out that it is very unlikely that an alligator would come up after your chickens. Like everyone else was saying. If you are concerned though, (and with small children, I would be) a chain link or other mesh is the best fencing. Angle it out towards where the alligator would be coming in. I hope this helps, and I'm sorry for my misinformation. I think the best idea on here was the put the coop on stilts.

 

[VI KING RANCH]

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Getr youself a nice gun(with licsense) and you will not have to worry

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

That's the smartest thing I've ever heard. Wait till you get there and make sure you really want to stay. Gators can climb chain link fence up to 6 feet. Gators will go for anything on the shoreline, especially wading birds (who are too quick for them usually). and dogs, and people, froggies lures are very attractive too. Every pond in florida has a gator, which is why you won't see locals swimming in them. Ask around what people do in the area you move to and get chickens that are used to the heat and wet conditions, and fleas and all the other local parasites.
Ps, it's illegal to shoot gators in florida

 

[horsesandboots]

That's the smartest thing I've ever heard.  Wait till you get there and make sure you really want to stay.  Gators can climb chain link fence up to 6 feet.  Gators will go for anything on the shoreline, especially wading birds (who are too quick for them usually). and dogs, and people, froggies lures are very attractive too.  Every pond in florida has a gator, which is why you won't see locals swimming in them.  Ask around what people do in the area you move to and get chickens that are used to the heat and wet conditions, and fleas and all the other local parasites.

Ps, it's illegal to shoot gators in florida

I was just visited by a gator who came onto my property into my pond 80ftx80ftx16ft and killed one of my geese.
By law you are not allowed to kill the gator for poaching, fun etc.
But by law and FWC this is considered a nuisance gator because it has threatened, harmed,bitten and or killed on personal property. You CAN in fact kill this particular gator!!!!!!!!!!! And any other gators who decided your livestock is lunch!!!!!

In FL we have gator problems every few minutes!!!!!
Good Luck on your move OP!

 

[horsesandboots]

Our local zoo uses chain link fence to contain their gators.  If you fence between the canal and your yard, you should be fine.  Gators are bad news to any small animal (and that includes children).

This is not true!!! A chain link fence will NOT keep a gator out!!!
Gators can easily go under the fencing or climb over it. If a gator wants to get in.... By God he will!!!

 

[horsesandboots]

Climbing-  Yes- I had heard alligators could climb, just had a hard time believing it.  Here is a web site http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw230 and an excerpt about climbing.   "Myth #3. Alligators are not good climbers.

Alligators have sharp claws and powerful tails to help them push their bodies up. Young alligators are agile climbers and adults have been known to climb fences to get to water or escape captivity. Low fences, therefore, may not be sufficient protection for pets in areas where alligators are present. Fences should be more than 4.5 feet tall if you are attempting to keep alligators out of your yard."


Sense of smell-  I did a little research on the alligator's sense of smell.  Indeed they have a keen sense of smell- even when submerged in the water an alligators eyes, ears and nose are visible and they do use their sense of smell for finding prey.


Hunting on land-  Here is what I found about alligators hunting on land.   "Although fish and other prey taken in the water or at the water edge form the major part of alligator's diet, adult alligators also spend considerable time hunting on land, up to 50 m (170 feet) from water, ambushing terrestrial animals on trailsides and road shoulders on warm nights." from^ Dinets, V.L. (2011). "On terrestrial hunting in crocodilians". Herpetological Bulletin 114: 1518


I personally think that if an alligator were to have line of sight to chickens they would naturally be considered prey, so I would build an enclosure with that in mind.


Again, for many reasons I have decided not to take my beloved hens from Idaho to SW Fla.  Though i will be forlorn for a time without them, they will continue to live a carefree life in the manner to which they are accustomed.  Once I have gotten settled and experience life there, then I can make an informed decision about keeping chickens safe and happy!

From first hand experience alligators do and will in fact go on land to hunt! As we speak I have one in my pond who came up out of the pond onto land to grab one of my african goslings.

 

[Sjisty]

I think you will be okay if you have a good fence. This is our driveway. This guy was found leaving with a big smile on his face, but no chickens were missing. I think if there's plenty of game around, they won't bother to climb the fence. We never saw this guy again.

 

[gjensen]

A well built 4' fence will exclude most alligators. Smaller, lighter ones climb better than the larger heavier ones. They are not built for fence climbing.

This comes from experience. I have worked with crocodilians in some form all of my adult life.

 

[NEChickenNoob]

Having lived in FL for 5 years, and seen plenty of local new stories, been fishing buddies with a gator trapper, been drinking buddies with a wildlife officer and heard enough stories to give this advice (mostly already advised on here). You defense against gators is 5ft chain link fence buried....NO GAPS. The gator removal buddy has caught a gator living in a ditch behind a gated community that had eaten cats, dogs and peacocks. He also caught one that had bulldozed a screened pool enclosure and taken up residence in a pool. He also say they will eat anything. They have an excellent sense of smell and vision and will find their way into a yard if a meal exists. With that being said, there is a lot of FL property away from water where gators would pose no threat. They will generally not hunt without a water retreat nearby. Places of highest risk are canals, ponds (stocked with fish are worse), lakes and large swamps. They tend to get bolder and braver where there is significant competition for food (high population areas). As they get older, the bigger gators drive the smaller adults to find new hunting ground or risk death themselves. Also, boa constrictors and such are becoming more prevalent in the Everglades. I used to go on camping/hunting trips with the guys (guys camping trip) where we had permits to kill them and get a bounty for them. Only killed 2 in 6 trips but I had fun, but they are there too (In South FL especially). I would agree with others that they will be the least of your worries. But I would still worry about them more so for your family than your flock. Good luck and enjoy the state bird (mosquito). Watch out they will fly away with small children and pets like hawks!