Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[stefzbiz]

I have lost a few to dogs, then hawks, and now we have a fox in the neighborhood

 

[hannahselby94]

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.

Yessssss. I’ve lost 3 so far

 

[cscarney]

Believe it, rooapalooza. I've lost more birds to raccoons than to all other predators combined. Mink would be a distant second, followed by foxes, rats, and hawks in that order.

 

[Kellow1]

As everything is relative, it depends on where you live as to what would be the worst predator! I live in central Illinois and have experienced loss from #1 Opposum, #2 raccoon, #3 weasel/ferret, #4 Hawks, and possibly a fox (never seen). I have since built a coop and run that has Fort Knox style security including wire over the top as well as buried in the ground.

 

[pasdechat73]

Here, I would have to say coyotes and mountain lions. In fact, its so foggy out that I haven't let the chickens out yet because both animals love to hide and seek for prey in this weather

 

[cscarney]

I'm grateful I don't have to deal with anything larger than coyotes here in Ohio....

Had to patch the run roof wiring this afternoon--a raccoon got in (fortunately the coop itself was empty while I'm poisoning the rats), dug into the floor after the poison, ate it and died (I HATE poison because it's so non-specific, but the rats are pretty trap smart). This is probably the same raccoon that got at the pigeons through the aviary wire a couple of nights ago (they made the mistake of roosting next to the 1" wire) so I had to recover it with 1/2" hardware cloth. Grrr.

 

[Fluffyflufffluff]

I was curious as to which predator the most chickens have been lost to.

Humans... I lost more chickens because of humans, compared to other predators. its actually called neighbor.

 

[Jerimnz]

Starting new flock due to a raccoon raid. They found a seam in my hardware cloth and ripped the wire open. Lost 30 hens and a couple of roosters. Nothing but legs and feathers left. It’s spring so raccoons are out and hungry.

 

[sniper338]

Coons will get in, and kill em all just for fun, not even eat em. I hate coons. Possums are 2nd for me. I kill em all.

 

[Cwestlake]

No predators here where we live thankfully