I don't think the OP was exactly picking on free rangers, per se, even if it did sound a little judgemental. I think they were trying to say~and I could be wrong~why do folks think about killing the predator first, before adjusting their own animal safety issues like making the coop stronger, etc?
It may seem that folks go for the gun first but I'm sure that's not the case for most people. We keep our chickens in the style that is comfortable for our birds and our lifestyle. I don't think too many experienced poultry owners just turn some birds loose in their yard and hope nothing gets them.
I have always free ranged and I never fasten my coop up at night~ because I take out insurance....I have two of the best LGDs a person could want. If I did not have those, I would maybe adjust how my chickens live so that they would not fall to predation.
I don't think anyone really blames a predator for being a predator. That's not really the issue, no more than anyone blames a dog for doing what a dog does. The natural reaction is to change the outcome.
For a dog, that might mean intensive training or rehoming. For a wild animal, one of those options are eliminated, naturally, as we can't really retrain a predator without some serious electrical systems, alarms, warning shots over their heads, etc.
The most simple and economical solution, then, is to eliminate the biggest problem. The predator. I'm not saying this is wrong or right, but it is often the most popular choice because it is cheap and quick, doesn't require a lot of work and it is a final solution for that particular animal.
Each to his own. Some folks don't feel that chickens have a real life living in Ft. Knox, no more than a human would. Some folks feel like they would rather have unfortunate chickens than no chickens at all. Some believe they should live free or die.
Keep it light, peeps, or the thread will get slammed shut!
