Killing predators

[Kaesi2020]

Hi everyone. We have a flock of 5 (was 6 but one was killed yesterday by a bobcat) hens in upstate NY. Before I got chickens, I was always against killing animals even if they caused damage. Now that I have chickens and just last night experienced the nightmare of losing one to a predator, my feelings are changing. My husband is for trapping and killing the bobcat. I am on the fence but leaning towards killing it because I am so disturbed about how it killed our beloved chicken and worried about it doing more in the future.

Just interested in reading the thoughts and opinions of others on this issue: killing predators of backyard flocks. Have you done it before? Chosen not to? Etc.

 

[cherrynberry]

Hi everyone. We have a flock of 5 (was 6 but one was killed yesterday by a bobcat) hens in upstate NY. Before I got chickens, I was always against killing animals even if they caused damage. Now that I have chickens and just last night experienced the nightmare of losing one to a predator, my feelings are changing. My husband is for trapping and killing the bobcat. I am on the fence but leaning towards killing it because I am so disturbed about how it killed our beloved chicken and worried about it doing more in the future.

Just interested in reading the thoughts and opinions of others on this issue: killing predators of backyard flocks. Have you done it before? Chosen not to? Etc.

I don't really. Bobcats are really sensitive animals and don't come close to houses typically. I am more about making sure the chickens CAN'T get eaten than killing what eats them. As long as they have a predator proof shelter, this shouldn't be an issue. It's illegal to kill some preadators as well. I free range, but with free ranging comes great reasponsibility. It should never be a predator's fault. They do what they were made to do. Its our job as the owners of prey animals to protect them. I only let the chickens out if I know I am watching them. I have had several attempted attacks that never took place because I was watching. Predators eat prey. That's just how the world goes, as hard as loss is, that's a fact.

 

[cherrynberry]

I don't really. Bobcats are really sensitive animals and don't come close to houses typically. I am more about making sure the chickens CAN'T get eaten than killing what eats them. As long as they have a predator proof shelter, this shouldn't be an issue. It's illegal to kill some preadators as well. I free range, but with free ranging comes great reasponsibility. It should never be a predator's fault. They do what they were made to do. Its our job as the owners of prey animals to protect them. I only let the chickens out if I know I am watching them. I have had several attempted attacks that never took place because I was watching. Predators eat prey. That's just how the world goes, as hard as loss is, that's a fact.

It would obviously be a different story if a dog came off leash and killed someone else's pets. Otherwise, I would work at making sure the bobcat can't eat them. Otherwise, its sort of like inviting the bobcat back. Electric fencing may work at detering land predators.

 

[Kaesi2020]

Thanks for the reply. What were the attempted attacks with?
This was our first attack and it ended in one casualty. Fortunately the others were OK. It was a bobcat and it happened ten feet from our front door

I don't really. Bobcats are really sensitive animals and don't come close to houses typically. I am more about making sure the chickens CAN'T get eaten than killing what eats them. As long as they have a predator proof shelter, this shouldn't be an issue. It's illegal to kill some preadators as well. I free range, but with free ranging comes great reasponsibility. It should never be a predator's fault. They do what they were made to do. Its our job as the owners of prey animals to protect them. I only let the chickens out if I know I am watching them. I have had several attempted attacks that never took place because I was watching. Predators eat prey. That's just how the world goes, as hard as loss is, that's a fact.

 

[cherrynberry]

Thanks for the reply. What were the attempted attacks with?
This was our first attack and it ended in one casualty. Fortunately the others were OK. It was a bobcat and it happened ten feet from our front door

We had quite a few attempted attacks with aerial predators. But we have had a few snakes, bobcats, and dogs show up as well.

 

[citymeetscountry]

We trapped and took care of 1 predator. A Racoon. It had climbed over the fencing and into the duck run. We previously lost a duck in the run as well to who knows what (but I think arial) when we were a little late putting them up. Our neighbor came to put our ducks up (right at dark) when we were out of town and found the Racoon and our duck decapitated. I know that we need to do a better job of covering their run (still figuring this out) but typically we just make sure they are locked up before dark.

With that being said I’d much rather have the animals protected (coop/run) than go hunting their predators.

We have reinforced the chicken tractor to deter predators (it previously just had chicken wire).

 

[Isadora]

I don't actively look for predators to eliminate, but if one makes itself a problem, the plan is to dispose of it.

 

[Geena]

I don't actively look for predators to eliminate, but if one makes itself a problem, the plan is to dispose of it.

Same here, my motto is - don't bother me and I won't bother you. The only exception is raccoons, if they get close enough to the house that either we or the dogs catch sight of them, then most likely they will be pushing up daisies.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

We shoot predators we see. Only exception are the ones illegal to kill and dogs that are off my property. Racoons, coyotes, currently trying to find a skunk that's been hanging around

 

[GC-Raptor]

I've had chickens for 5 years.
My first attack happened November 2016 inside an uncovered pen by a Coopers Hawk.
I was home and heard the commotion and rushed outside and hawk flew off. Pullet survived.
Both my pens are now covered with Deer netting to prevent hawk attack inside.
I didn't start free ranging till my first Flock was 15 months old. June of 2017.
I only let them out 2 hours before sunset daily.
I lost my first hen while free ranging to a Fox March of 2020 at sunset.
I kept them in their pen for 2 weeks.
I lost my second hen June of 2020 not 15 minutes after I let them out to a Bobcat. I was still outside in the chicken pen.
Again I kept them in their pen for 2 weeks.
After that loss I only let them out for an hour before sunset daily.
No more losses till March of 2021.
This time it was a Coopers Hawk at sunset.
I was doing laundry in the basement when a pullet ran by a window into the cat house.
I ran outside towards the pens and the Hawk flew out of heavy brush. That's where I found the chicken partially plucked, but not yet eaten.

I accept the losses while free ranging and replace with new chicks every year or two.

The only predator I dispatched was a Raccoon that climbed the chickens pen and harassed the chickens several night's by climbing on the coop trying to get in. Deer netting doesn't stop Raccoons.
I trapped and dispatched it promptly. GC