I hope I'm not jinxing myself

[bald Rooster]

I have been keeping chickens and other fowl about 2 years now. and several of my distant neighbors also keep all kinds of livestock, including goats and pigs.
We also have foxes, coyotes,Raccoons , possums and I'm sure some things I've never seen.
I live on 5 acres and have a couple Horses a load of fowl serial dogs and a bunch of grandchildren.

I have never lost a chicken to a predator and most of my neighbors have lost dozens. my coops and runs are not secure . I am very open for raccoon or possum. I do have a double 4 foot high fence around everything due to the horses.
I hate to analyze a good thing but why do I not have problems?

 

[CCUK]

Pure luck?

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

sounds just like my place..I have goats too. And no fence at all. It's probably all the dogs. I have more than any sane individual should have, but I don't have coyotes come on my place,and they are here, we hear them, they just stay away. Same with coons and such.
Your dogs are the only thing I can think of that may be keeping predators away.

 

[MillersFarm]

Could be luck? Do you own any large dogs? Maybe the predators are just fine with the neighbor's livestock.. Maybe they're just picky?

 

[bald Rooster]

I know for sure no animal of any kind is safe with my horse Red. Nothing can trespass in his fields with out him chasing it and attempting to kill it. That includes my Dogs.We are very careful not to let them near him.
The dogs know also!

 

[MillersFarm]

I know for sure no animal of any kind is safe with my horse Red. Nothing can trespass in his fields with out him chasing it and attempting to kill it. That includes my Dogs.We are very careful not to let them near him.
The dogs know also!

Then there you go Our foxes seem to not care about my horses unfortunately

 

[Folly's place]

Sooner or later we all loose birds to predators, regardless of what we do, or have. Enjoy it all while you can!
Mary

 

[GldnValleyHens]

I'm not superstitious, don't believe in that stuff like jinxing, only in God's truth. But every time I've mentioned or planned to show a bird, they end up dead. I said it with 3 Polish, who all died, a silkie rooster, dead too, and some chicks which I might have wanted to show if I remember correctly. They all died! So weird. I've decided no poultry shows for me.

On another note, predators aren't always the killers. I had a young Polish pullet ( one of the deceased) who was old enough to be outside, as it was warm. The gnats were ferocious, but I failed to notice at first.

Then, few hours later, I checked on the babies in their pen, and Lottie did not look so good. She had bloated, blood filled gnats all over her face and embedded in her crest. She was loopy and weak for a couple days, then died. I was so upset. The evil, horrendous, despicable gnats had killed her! I assume from blood loss.

All the other chicks were fine, even the other Polish, who later died as you can assume. Ugh.
How wonderful you have no incidents! Of course, be wary of an airborne attack, something that doesn't have to be scared of Red. I love horses like that. My dog used to chase my Thoroughbred, thought it great fun, until Memphis sent a simply smashing kick into his ribs. Now he is too scared to go in the pasture, even with me.

 

[Folly's place]

Chickens look for ways to get injured, or sick, and die, almost like horses.
Mary

 

[sourland]

I had the same situation for nearly ten years, and then while we were on vacation, a dog showed up and killed 50 + bantams. My animal caretaker caught the dog, called animal control - turned out he had come from 5 miles away. I'm with @Folly's place , eventually it happens.