- Thread starter
- #41
Quote:
LOL... Key? Did I say we live in the country!
Jason
LOL... Key? Did I say we live in the country!
Jason
Lost half the flock between last night and the night before...
- Thread starter Triggerjay
- Start date
Quote:
yesh occifer, mecidinal porpoises only!
yesh occifer, mecidinal porpoises only!
Beefy has too much weed! Maybe leave some growin for predator who can then slow down and increase chances for being apprehended....
- Jul 9, 2009
- 3
- 1
- 61
Does anyone else just have a few chickens in a suburbia setting? Third acre of grass and trees, maybe an occasional raccoon, neighbor cats, or a hawk to worry about? I want to be able to let the girls roam the yard during the day. Should I be worried?
Quote:
Yes. I see you have one post so far, so take this as sage advice. Keep in mind that I dont want to deter you from owning a back yard flock, but there are a few realities you need to understand NOW.
Premier among them is this: The worst chicken killer is the domestic dog.
There are the others you mentioned, although cats tend only to bother chicks and iimature birds.
And raccoons are clever, determined predators. If you have them in any sort of numbers, you may have your hands full.
But dogs are probably the number one killer of chickens in the suburban landscape. Where the others are eliminated, the dog wll still exist.
They have a high prey drive, depending on the breed, and are rarely trained to avoid chickens. They have no natural outlets for their instincts and they are generally cooped up and hand fed. The flapping ball of nervous feathers that is the chicken is an enticement they can hardly overlook.
Worse, its not just your own dogs - they are bad enough. Trust me on that.
It is that almost everyone in suburbia owns at least one canine "pet." You are literally surrounded by an army of chicken killers in town.
Sometimes they escape, sometimes the neighbors are irresponsible and the dogs are allowed off the owners property. Either way, it spells trouble with a capital "T."
Be vigilant for the hawk and the raccoon and be prepared to handle their threat. But the dog is top of the predator list in the city. Get that idea firmly planted in your mind and have a plan.
Yes. I see you have one post so far, so take this as sage advice. Keep in mind that I dont want to deter you from owning a back yard flock, but there are a few realities you need to understand NOW.
Premier among them is this: The worst chicken killer is the domestic dog.
There are the others you mentioned, although cats tend only to bother chicks and iimature birds.
And raccoons are clever, determined predators. If you have them in any sort of numbers, you may have your hands full.
But dogs are probably the number one killer of chickens in the suburban landscape. Where the others are eliminated, the dog wll still exist.
They have a high prey drive, depending on the breed, and are rarely trained to avoid chickens. They have no natural outlets for their instincts and they are generally cooped up and hand fed. The flapping ball of nervous feathers that is the chicken is an enticement they can hardly overlook.
Worse, its not just your own dogs - they are bad enough. Trust me on that.
It is that almost everyone in suburbia owns at least one canine "pet." You are literally surrounded by an army of chicken killers in town.
Sometimes they escape, sometimes the neighbors are irresponsible and the dogs are allowed off the owners property. Either way, it spells trouble with a capital "T."
Be vigilant for the hawk and the raccoon and be prepared to handle their threat. But the dog is top of the predator list in the city. Get that idea firmly planted in your mind and have a plan.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #47
Found the culprit... well after killing him, I hope he is the one. I'm sure there is more, but this is what we caught last night:
None the less though, even if he did not do it, he would be likley to in the future.
Thanks for all the help guys!
Jason
None the less though, even if he did not do it, he would be likley to in the future.
Thanks for all the help guys!
Jason
Quote:
Yes. I see you have one post so far, so take this as sage advice. Keep in mind that I dont want to deter you from owning a back yard flock, but there are a few realities you need to understand NOW.
Premier among them is this: The worst chicken killer is the domestic dog.
There are the others you mentioned, although cats tend only to bother chicks and iimature birds.
And raccoons are clever, determined predators. If you have them in any sort of numbers, you may have your hands full.
But dogs are probably the number one killer of chickens in the suburban landscape. Where the others are eliminated, the dog wll still exist.
They have a high prey drive, depending on the breed, and are rarely trained to avoid chickens. They have no natural outlets for their instincts and they are generally cooped up and hand fed. The flapping ball of nervous feathers that is the chicken is an enticement they can hardly overlook.
Worse, its not just your own dogs - they are bad enough. Trust me on that.
It is that almost everyone in suburbia owns at least one canine "pet." You are literally surrounded by an army of chicken killers in town.
Sometimes they escape, sometimes the neighbors are irresponsible and the dogs are allowed off the owners property. Either way, it spells trouble with a capital "T."
Be vigilant for the hawk and the raccoon and be prepared to handle their threat. But the dog is top of the predator list in the city. Get that idea firmly planted in your mind and have a plan.
100 % agree. I sometime let my chickens out to range when I am home. 2 time i may the mistake to go to town to get something to eat(gone about an hour) 1st time they were cornish X rock over 50 when i got home over 20 kill by dog.
Same story about a year later 2nd time my game hens and gamecock, this time i got back to a dog eating the gamecock, game hen were all inthe trees.
So if you free range keep an eye on them.
No, I do NOT own a dog. would like to add dogs also #1 predator in the country,and city.
Yes. I see you have one post so far, so take this as sage advice. Keep in mind that I dont want to deter you from owning a back yard flock, but there are a few realities you need to understand NOW.
Premier among them is this: The worst chicken killer is the domestic dog.
There are the others you mentioned, although cats tend only to bother chicks and iimature birds.
And raccoons are clever, determined predators. If you have them in any sort of numbers, you may have your hands full.
But dogs are probably the number one killer of chickens in the suburban landscape. Where the others are eliminated, the dog wll still exist.
They have a high prey drive, depending on the breed, and are rarely trained to avoid chickens. They have no natural outlets for their instincts and they are generally cooped up and hand fed. The flapping ball of nervous feathers that is the chicken is an enticement they can hardly overlook.
Worse, its not just your own dogs - they are bad enough. Trust me on that.
It is that almost everyone in suburbia owns at least one canine "pet." You are literally surrounded by an army of chicken killers in town.
Sometimes they escape, sometimes the neighbors are irresponsible and the dogs are allowed off the owners property. Either way, it spells trouble with a capital "T."
Be vigilant for the hawk and the raccoon and be prepared to handle their threat. But the dog is top of the predator list in the city. Get that idea firmly planted in your mind and have a plan.
100 % agree. I sometime let my chickens out to range when I am home. 2 time i may the mistake to go to town to get something to eat(gone about an hour) 1st time they were cornish X rock over 50 when i got home over 20 kill by dog.
Same story about a year later 2nd time my game hens and gamecock, this time i got back to a dog eating the gamecock, game hen were all inthe trees.
So if you free range keep an eye on them.
No, I do NOT own a dog. would like to add dogs also #1 predator in the country,and city.
- Jun 26, 2009
- 87
- 0
- 39
100 % agree. I sometime let my chickens out to range when I am home. 2 time i may the mistake to go to town to get something to eat(gone about an hour) 1st time they were cornish X rock over 50 when i got home over 20 kill by dog.
Same story about a year later 2nd time my game hens and gamecock, this time i got back to a dog eating the gamecock, game hen were all inthe trees.
So if you free range keep an eye on them.
No, I do NOT own a dog. would like to add dogs also #1 predator in the country,and city.
How awful. Did the neighbor dogs jump your fence?
Same story about a year later 2nd time my game hens and gamecock, this time i got back to a dog eating the gamecock, game hen were all inthe trees.
So if you free range keep an eye on them.
No, I do NOT own a dog. would like to add dogs also #1 predator in the country,and city.
How awful. Did the neighbor dogs jump your fence?
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