Groundhogs aren't a threat to chickens are they?

[Country4ever]

I'm thinking they aren't. I just saw one outside the run, eating weeds, and the girls were just standing there watching it. I think I need to worry more about my garden. (Plus, the girls are in a good solid run).

 

[The Chicken People]

I dont think they are meat eaters! They like my plant bulbs! Yes worry about the garden!!

 

[Country4ever]

Thanks the chicken people,

I guess I should expect it to ruin our garden.........since its the nicest garden we've had in a long time. Plus, this morning I found a bunny nest under the beans!

 

[Love my Critters!]

I think your chickens will be just fine.

Sorry for your garden, but BUNNIES

How cute will that be to watch!

 

[bryan8]

They can hurt them if they want to. I had one go after my bantie. I would get rid of them if I were you, there a pest

 

[Country4ever]

Yes, they are somewhat of a pest. We used to have a big problem with them, but then hadn't seen them around for many years. I'm afraid it lives in the barn. Their holes can be dangerous too, if you don't see them.

Love My Critters..........I've had bunnies grow up in the garden before, and they are adorable!! There's no way I could ever throw them out of the garden. I'll put a fence around the pole beans, and share the bush beans with them. They are so cute. I had a nest of them under a zuchinni bush one year and I got to watch them run around most of the summer. Nothings cuter!

 

[CMV]

Woodchucks/groundhogs are usually not a danger in themselves, but the extensive burrow systems they build could be dangerous if they dig near your coops. They have been known to undermine structures causing damage to the structure from shifting foundations. More importantly, the burrows sometimes allow access for other pests/predators. If they are nowhere (and I mean nowhere) near your coops and you don't mind them eating your garden then they probably aren't worth dealing with. Remember though, this year you have 1 woodchuck, next year you'll have a handful from that 1, the next year you'll have a handful from each one of those, and so on. What starts out as a pesky critter can rapidly become a problem.

 

[Country4ever]

Supposedly they have several exits, so the last time we encouraged them to leave, we used smoke bombs and fire crackers. We don't want to kill them. We just want them to move on.
There holes are dangerous just to accidentally step in! You could easily break a femur doing that.
Several years ago they had babies in our woodshed and something was wrong with one of them. She was always falling over. One day I went outside and she was up at the house hissing at me. Needless to say, we disposed of her.

 

[archerobx]

They have undermined the concrete floors in the barn and sheds. Huge sections have cracked and sunk. Plus several cows when we had them broke there legs by stepping in holes.

They are covered in ticks and fleas.

 

[eggsited chickens]

They are a pest...big pest. They make huge holes under the house or barn or even chicken coop ;( . If my husband sees them he will shoot them. Nothing will really eat them either, that I know of. They are vegetarian, so I don't think they will bother chickens, but if they are threatened they are MEAN so watch out!!!