Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[Trish1974]

I know this poll varies by area, but for me the worst predator is fox. They are just so brave and smart, can attack anytime day or night, and are very hard to shoot because they don't stand still. I have all predators except bear and bobcats but have had the most problems with foxes.

 

[zami]

100+ pages so I haven't read all the comments. But I gotta vote DOG! Neighborhood dogs.

Hen & Rooster loss tally

Dog - 5
including a wiener dog that got in through my yard fence, then the chicken house fence, then killed three hens in a matter of seconds *while* I was yelling at this dog and actively chasing it out of the yard. A cuddly, bouncy, goofy, lovable, maybe 3 lb wiener dog. (Always the ones you least expect!)

Hawk - 1

Mink - 1

Unknown - 3
likely fox or opossum. Something that takes the bodies, and is bold enough to take on a huge aggressive duck. We have coyotes come into town as well, but I don't think they'd get through the yard fence without a lot of clamor.

 

[HeiHeisMom]

We have two Labs, a Doxy and a Yorkie and I have to say the Labs have taken to roaming at night since we've trained(shock collar)for our flock. They will sit and watch coop from a distance but not wander to close.
However, I found beautiful Red Roo feathers out behind one of our stables and almost killed dogs immediately! Not our Room, thankfully, but sadly some neighbor is missing a gorgeous bird.
Now I have to lock dogs up at night.
Been searching neighbors and no one is missing any Chooks. My babies are all fine, so now I'm really confused.

 

[kriz the farmer]

in my eyes the biggest predator for newly shifted chickens in coop is racoons because some racoons are smart enough to open coop gates

 

[Trish1974]

in my eyes the biggest predator for newly shifted chickens in coop is racoons because some racoons are smart enough to open coop gates

The man who built my chicken coop said "if a toddler can open it, so can a raccoon." So yes, you really have to invest in complicated locks and latches.

 

[kriz the farmer]

The man who built my chicken coop said "if a toddler can open it, so can a raccoon." So yes, you really have to invest in complicated locks and latches.

right bro or sis

 

[pjsfarm]

Last spring I lost 5 ducks and 2 chickens to Raccoons! I thought I had our pen improved enough this year. However they have taken 2 turkeys (10 weeks old at the time) and now one of my appleyards. We have always had a problem with them getting into our feed bins if we dont have the barn latched properly. However I've had enough, the traps are going up again.

 

[Srgra237]

I'm in south Carolina in a neighborhood soooo I'm going with that big fat yard cat I seen the other day or a possum. Not sure what got my babies the other day. We have turned the coop into fort knox and bought 6 "teenage" chickens. Mama chicken knows they are not her babies and pecked at them a few times so I separated them.

 

[sfgwife]

I'm in south Carolina in a neighborhood soooo I'm going with that big fat yard cat I seen the other day or a possum. Not sure what got my babies the other day. We have turned the coop into fort knox and bought 6 "teenage" chickens. Mama chicken knows they are not her babies and pecked at them a few times so I separated them.

They will get pecked a bit. Just supervise a d make sure no blood is drawn. Peckin is part of chicken heirarchy and it will happen. Every time you separate them it just makes it keep happenin cause they didnt get it figured out who is top dog. And it keeps everyone stressed out longer. Let them do it amd it will settle down shortly.

 

[336White Phoenix]

I don't know if this is relevent but I know that lambas kill foxes so great if u have space,time,money for them
Guennia hens are supposed to keep rats away
Swans Geese especially ganders keep man away
And peacocks my personal fave are one of the best alarm systems out there if anything come near ur place then they have no prob a 1 in the morning letting u know I've got many foxes baggers people because of peafowl