Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[redsoxs]

I pick the dog. Mainly because they just show at a time when my guard is down (or I'm at work) while most on the list do their chicken stealing at low light or at night. Plus they aren't content to swipe a chicken and be done with it - they have to tear through the flock and kill every last one. It happened to me when I was a kid. A stray pug (of all things!) showed up about noon and wiped out my ten 1/2 grown chicks.

 

[hulufarms]

MONGOOSES !! I lost over 60 chicks

.

 

[Melbourne12]

Here in England we have very few predators, thank goodness. No raccoons or skunks. There are a few mink, but only in limited areas. Our big problem is foxes. Within the last few years, the hunting of foxes has been banned, with the predictable result that we're now overrun with them, especially in suburbs where they live mainly on trash. You're not allowed to kill them without a special licence, so oridinary people just have to pt up with them.

But many of our neighbours have lost their entire stock of chickens to urban foxes. My daughter's small flock were killed a few months ago. It's now commonplace to see a fox walking down the street at night. They have no fear of humans at all.

 

[Aimless Farmer]

Melbourn12, have you heard of "SSS"?

(Shoot, Shovel and Shut up)

Don't know whether you're allowed any firearm which would effectively take out a fox.

They passed the same sort of protection for beaver around here in MA. Now they're creating flood plains and ponds where there were once homes, yards, farm lands, pastures, roads, playgrounds, and parking lots.

According to DH:
What is the only poison that is safe and effective for coyote, beaver and fox, which won't harm pets or other wildlife? Lead poison
How far do you need to relocate such nuisance wildlife to ensure it won't return, yet not cause it or anyone else any suffering? 4 feet (underground)

Foxes, in my experience, are so incredibly smart and wary of people. They become so accustomed to us, they can live and move around our properties, fearlessly. They are notoriously untrappable. They can become boldly aggressive toward people, as well.

Pity, short-sighted conservationists sometimes do more harm to nature than good.

 

[TheChickenCameFirst]

Quote:
I agree this was not a good idea! They are wreaking havoc! (They are protected here in NH as well...)

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Huh. Funny that's what My DH said as well

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They are only trying to protect certain species from extinction.... but maybe they ought to look at how the population becomes almost uncontrollable and dangerous to humans (Especially with something like fox) when they are totally protected.

I can imagine that the fox is the worst predator where you are in England Melbourne12!

 

[ChickiKat]

Neighbors dog was our worst predator til he got a butt full of buckshot!!!

 

[Rohnasmom]

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Sad to say my dogs are chicken chasers too, to date they have chased but not actually attacked any.Recently I have had a day time killer getting the girls, lost three in as many weeks. Finally spotted a racoon. Never have I seen anything so brutal, looks like they pulled one of the girls apart thru the fence. Terrible sight. I have eight foot cyclone fence wrapped in wire, mesh 1 inch spacing. I hate the thought of killing the racoon, they have to eat too....but not girls!

 

[ozark_chickies]

I pick dog. The last flock I kept, was eaten by skunks, coon, opossum, owl ,and snake, but dogs done the most damage. They killed for the the fun of it, not to eat. I've been keeping birds again since April, and have lost one to a crow, and one to a dog.

 

[chicknmania]

I chose raccoon, mostly because they are so bold and very difficult to discourage without killing. As far as numbers lost to predators,
I would have to say we probably have lost the most chickens to hawks. Followed by raccoons, possums, weasel, skunk, cat, fox, coyote, dog.

 

[marilyn15]

lost nine last year to a coyote, and 3 more this year to raccoon. Definitely raccoon. And I agree with aimless farmer, get rid of them, my husband and his gun will do the job. Raccoons are awful here.