Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[AthenasOwl]

Like I said on the other thread, I believe that the worst predator to have is a bird of prey (owl, hawk, etc.). Most are protected species, so you can't really do anything about it. At least with the other predators you can take care of business.

I couldn't have said this better myself! Very aggravating! Thankfully, we have a dog that will bark at them, and they think twice when looking at my chickens!

Colette

I make Chicken Saddle styles: Regular, Flared, and Detachable! More expensive, but with heavy denim/Duck canvas, and they are more durable than most!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MagicalEweFarms?ref=hdr_shop_menu

 

[AthenasOwl]

Interesting...I have lost birds to Hawks, Coyotes, Fox, Turkey Vultures...even had a Hereon sit scoping my chickens out. But I have never lost a bird to a Raccoon that I am aware of! Knock on wood!

Colette

I make Chicken Saddle styles: Regular, Flared, and Detachable! More expensive, but with heavy denim/Duck canvas, and they are more durable than most!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MagicalEweFarms?ref=hdr_shop_menu

 

[Laura Dutil]

Neighbors dog. I have a pit mix and a Chihuahua. They are really good with my chickens. Neighbors dog is a psycho Aussie

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Probably grasping at straws, but is there a way to keep my young cats from chasing/killing my bantams? Today, I caught the two male kittens terrorizing Edna mae, a D'Uccle. I will get rid of the cats if it comes down to it, for I love my chickens best. But is there a way besides penning the bantams up? Also worried now for my Calls if the cats are that aggressive

 

[wildone]

DOGS!!!!! oh how i hated it when our neighbors dog got loose and somehow got into our yard. and it kept coming back. it didn't kill any, but would have had my dad not kicked it eventually. sadly, not before it tore off enough feathers to fill a pillow case. I think the most infuriating part, is that those same neighbors are the ones who made us give them away.
our
(please note that my father loves dogs, but not when they are repeatedly attacking our chickens!)​

 

[wildone]

and i think we would have had more trouble with coons, had my mom not grown with one and made our flocks coop accordingly.

 

[Brahma27]

the coyotes in the woods behind my house have killed off all most all of my chickens over the years
but I must say racoons and humans come in close 2nd

 

[RWise]

For chicks, cats!
For caged roosters, dogs! Why do the dogs go after the ones in cages and not the free range birds?
Maybe 1 hen to an opossum, and maybe a chick two to an owl/hawk.
I loose more to sorry pet owners than any other form of predator! And yes I blame the people that own them! I certainly have coons, possums, hawks/owls/crows (use blanks in the shotgun to scare them off) bobcats, snakes.
I am thinking of taking this pet owner to court and suing them for my looses and their stupidity! They really need to control their large vicious bread dogs! Edit add fox, wolf and coyote, but I have no problem with them.

 

[1ADAM12]

I had a fox in the yard last Saturday. Thankfully my dog let me know something was up. The fox was 10 feet from the house and had a hold of one chicken!!!!! Chicken survived but that damn fox came back 3 rimes that day. Wish I was a better shot as he escaped lol

 

[Jrose]

Skunks, magpies, dogs, in that order. Magpies took out about $2000 worth of poults and chicks a few springs back, and ate every egg laid for 2 months until I caught them in the act and finally figured out what was happening!

Skunks take out chicks and eggs, right from under broody hens! Don’t make a sound, fit through a two inch hole, and the dogs won’t tangle with them.

Other people’s rogue dogs are the only other thing that’s gotten my birds. Gr.