Need a good protector!

[vivaciouswoman]

We've had problems with foxes, opposums, and raccoons, and now air attacks. I found a massive amount of these feathers yesterday, and they don't belong to any of my birds, so I'm hoping a predator bird came down and got its tailfeathers kicked by one of my roos. There are signs that a Buff Orpington was its target. We have seen hawks try to pick up one of our ducks. Both times, they were unsuccessful. I'm not sure why they aren't targeting the chickens, since the Pekin duck they're aiming for is three times the mass of one of my girls.

Two questions:
1. What's another bird we can get that will help protect the flock? It has to *not* attack our children, small dogs, and cats. I'm willing to raise it socially if it's capable of defending without harming humans and the animals that belong here.

2. Any ideas what predator these feathers might belong to?

 

[Trish1974]

I'm afraid the only way to successfully protect your flock is a secured covered run with an anti dig apron and/or electric fence.

 

[vivaciouswoman]

We're committed to pasturing. It will be a while before we'll have the time to build a tractor system, and I'm not even sure how that would work for 40-50 birds (hoping for some chicks and have some secure locations set up for broodies). Ugh!

 

[Jaguar61]

We use a multi defense approach. We have a roomy hen house 12 x 14 and an outside run 20 x 20. The gang hangs out there at night and when we leave. They range the backyard (15 acres) when someone can keep an eye out. For predators we have the run covered with chicken mesh (aerial attack), a
Great Pyrennese (herd protector), Australian cattle dog (skunk patrol), walker hound (coyotes), an Australian shepherd (round up) and a Jack Russell/chihuahua (snakes). Put them away when not supervised because of the dogs. Skunk and coyote patrols have gotten at prior flocks when left on their own.

 

[vivaciouswoman]

We use a multi defense approach. We have a roomy hen house 12 x 14 and an outside run 20 x 20. The gang hangs out there at night and when we leave. They range the backyard (15 acres) when someone can keep an eye out. For predators we have the run covered with chicken mesh (aerial attack), a
Great Pyrennese (herd protector), Australian cattle dog (skunk patrol), walker hound (coyotes), an Australian shepherd (round up) and a Jack Russell/chihuahua (snakes). Put them away when not supervised because of the dogs. Skunk and coyote patrols have gotten at prior flocks when left on their own.

WOW!!!! That's comprehensive! Man, am I impressed. Could you kindly move next door to us?

 

[vivaciouswoman]

I can keep an eye out from my office, in the loft of our log home. The problem is that by the time an attack is happening, it's really too late for me to clear my desk, load a weapon, open the window, and defend my girls.

I need a sniper.

 

[Jaguar61]

I'm in

WOW!!!! That's comprehensive! Man, am I impressed. Could you kindly move next door to us?

NE Kansas ( near Topeka) Love my big dogs, not so much guns. CrossBow too slow. 40a next door for sale. lol

 

[Jaguar61]

My point is that security doesn't have to look like Ft Knox. The dogs keep the varmits and vermin far from the property. Down side is that deer don't come around anymore.

 

[vivaciouswoman]

My point is that security doesn't have to look like Ft Knox. The dogs keep the varmits and vermin far from the property. Down side is that deer don't come around anymore.

Ooooo, that would cut down on our meat source. And our dogs are too cute to be of any use. Nobody runs away from two spunky little Havanese. Even the cat ambushes poor Pablo (on the left here).

 

[vivaciouswoman]

I'm in

NE Kansas ( near Topeka) Love my big dogs, not so much guns. CrossBow too slow. 40a next door for sale. lol

Too far of a commute. Dang.