keeping predators away with no fence

[aprophet]

Quote:
I have a friend that raises them and we constantly see this

 

[cafarmgirl]

I agree that a dog is a better defense PROVIDED: you can end up with a dog that does not slaughter your chickens and one that does not spend it's time off roaming the neighboring countryside, possibley getting into trouble itself. Sometimes that's a lot easier said then done.

I don't loose chickens to fox or coyote and here is why. I have perimeter fencing including hot wire. My chickens have a secure coop/run and the pasture they "free range" in is secure. I have two dogs within that periemeter fencing but with no access to the chickens.

A fourth reason that is not of my doing but benefits me in a big way is that the dairy down the road has a big, male catahoula hound dog who has staked out all their land as well as mine as his own. He takes his job very seriously and has cleared out the fox and coyote. He patrols "his" property every day. We used to see coyote every day in the fields and hear them at night just behind our house but since that dog matured and started working we have not seen nor heard a coyote.

 

[Lollipop]

When I moved my 7 geese from South Florida to west central Georgia in 07 I lost all except 3. Those three seem to be smart enough (or skittish enough) to beat feet for the lake when ANYTHING moves that they aren`t familiar with. I bought 20 guinea keets in July `09 and they were all taken except for three. Neither geese nor guineas can hatch any eggs as the eggs are destroyed within 3 days of starting a new nest. If either was to actually succeed in begining to brood, I`m sure I would lose that bird also. Dogs are the best deterrent, but ya gotta have two and socialize them with the fowl early. Two work together, but one usually just lays around until there is a comotion. Good luck.......Pop