Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[TipsyDog]

Quote:
Good fencing is the only way to protect against "loose dog" attacks. Most people who own dogs have never had chickens and it doesn't necessarily register with them that their loving companions are natural predators to small birds. You can "expect" people to know better, you can expect them to obey leash laws or "have your dog under control at all times" laws, but I've learned not to naively risk my flock based on expectations of what other people understand or are willing to do.

I have dogs. My dogs have always been fenced into a rather large "dog yard" and they have never (in 15 years) left my property. That said, I had a few dogs come through my property which the neighbors just let roam whenever. The dogs were so friendly and just wanted to play (labs) even when I chased them back out the driveway. We finally just fenced our property with over 1'000 feet of fencing and put a good driveway gate up. Cost me money, but I feel so much better in my own home. End of problem. Sometimes you just have to protect yourself from the outside world since many people seem to be irresponsible and disrespectful nowadays.

 

[houndit]

I selected fox but we have lost almost an equal amount to coon.

 

[sdue]

met a maremma recently and was really taken with him...calm, didn't bark at me, doesn't drool, and owner said he is doing a great job of protecting a large alpaca herd. Can you tell me more about yours? How to keep a white dog clean on a farm?? How big do they get on average? The one I met was about a year old but was smaller than most pyrs I've seen.

Maremmas tend to be smaller than Pyrs--about 60--100 pounds. They don't drool. They tend to love children and get along well with other dogs (as long as they aren't stranger dogs coming on the Maremma's territory to bother the flock). They are independent thinkers like most guardian dogs, so can be stubborn to train (making up their own minds whether they want to mind you or not), but very intelligent and loyal partners. In the early pup stage--like now for mine--they need to be taught not to play with the livestock, but their guardian instinct is very strong, especially for whatever animals they live and bond with. Maremmas don't tend to bark indiscriminately--they bark for defense, but if the one you met got a message from the owner that you were okay, it wouldn't need to bark. Their outer coats are thick and course with a soft undercoat. They do get dirty, but then magically white again. And, they're beautiful, noble, hardy, all-weather dogs that LOVE snow. Great Pyrennes (France), Akbash (Turkey), Maremmas (Italy) are related.

I got my pup from a lady in Livermore, CO who has Maremmas living with her pastured flock of sheep. She also has chickens. She has two other 3 1/2 month old males.

Shari​

 

[dunham]

Fox would be our #1 - we've lost only 2 but we only started out with 14.

We mysteriously lost one of our free range BR about 6 weeks ago. No sign of it at all . . . . we thought maybe a neighbors dog wandered over or a hawk. Right around day lights savings time we got home a little after dark and went to lock up the coop and the kids counted one less, did a little walk about the our property and found feathers this time. We then began thinking fox. Our property was surrounded by corn at this point. The next night we decided to put the chickens in before dusk. About 10 minutes after they were all locked up I was looking out in the back yard and sure enough a red fox was walking along the grass line against the corn!!!

The next day thankfully the farmer combine the corn so that has helped and we lock the hens up early. We hate to build a fence but we are definately considering it.

 

[sdue]

A fence won't keep foxes out unless it's electric. OUr yard has a five foot high fence that doesn't deter foxes at all.

Shari

 

[Angel_Feather]

Okay.
Dogs are the first worst. A "innocent little old puppy" named "Daisy", the Jack Russell Terrier (should be Terror) killed seventeen or more chickens from my flock! I whacked it on the head with a heavy metal shovel five times before it heard a cRaCk and scurried off.
Coons are second worst. They got at my chickens while they were roosting, then slung blood everywhere on the walls. It is still there, sadly, as a reminder.

 

[alpinefarm]

Quote:
There occasionally are some deliberate "I don't care about anybody but myself" folks out there, but I've found most folks who let dogs do bad, destructive or rude things just haven't thought thru what might happen or don't know how to deal with/train/supervise their dogs, or that the dogs simply get out by mistake. Just my humble observation!

 

[alpinefarm]

Quote:
No, that is absolutely true. I've seen a fox scale a 6 ft wooden privacy fence with vertical slats like it was a bump in the road. Most wildlife, raccoons and skunks included, don't have any problem getting over fences.

When I free range my flock, I stay home and keep my eye on them. Otherwise, I have a covered run that they can be out in the sunshine in. And at night, they are in "lock down"---a tight coop that I've even weasel proofed the vents in!

 

[sdue]

We were home while our small flock ranged in the backyard. It was 10 a.m., a bright sunny day and a fox came over the fence and took our banty. My son heard the chickens, but the fox had her before they even let out a squawk. By the time he ran outside to chase and yell, the fox was on its way out of the yard with her. So we no longer trust being just inside to listen. In dog we trust.

 

[highcountrychickens]

Quote:
slingshots and marshmallows...