Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[farm_gal]

A lot of predators are pretty bad. We're lucky we have a safe coop for at night. Although, I think dogs are the worst for us because our own dogs will protect our chickens and guineas from anything that travels on the ground unless it's another dog.

 

[Blue Ridge Hillbilly]

So far I have not lost any to preditors. Since getting them back in April, I know that where we live here in the mountains that there are plenty of preditors around that can start giving trouble. I know some of these preditors are protected and some are what they call "endangered species". If they start bothering my hens they will be even more endangered especially if they get within shooting distance.

 

[simplysophie]

Lost an entire flock+ 1 other girl to those stupid raccoons......

 

[dirtydozen]

Caught a skunk in the pen last night. Only way in was a three inch gap between the barn and the fence. I dont know what his intention was but he died anyway. The birds didnt even flinch at the gunshot.

May be the one that left me with a headless hen last month.

 

[The Accidental Coop]

We have lost hens to raccoons and hawks. Living in an oak hammock in Florida raccoons have been our biggest concern at night. During the day we have to keep watch for hawks.

Until......Recently ..... In the middle of the night our roo sounded the alarm. I looked out and saw a fox! The creature returned just after dawn this morning then again at dusk this evening. Any one have a fox dig under a coop? Our A-frame coop is covered in three layers of wire; hog wire, chicken wire and finally 1/4" wire on top. The roof is metal. All the framing is pressure treated lumber with a base that is 2"X6" treated lumber. It seems to be impervious to predators , but a fox???

 

[kenhansen]

I lost 4 to fox, then the fox wound up as road kill. 3:30 am today I woke to losing a free range hen to a hawk. The free range that are to young to roost safely are penned tonight. The .22 is also ready if needed. I guess I should be grateful I don't have many racoons around and I haven't seen any opossum. Both of which would be easier to control than fox or hawks though.

 

[chixx]

The big hawk came down and tried to get my dolly... a little scratched up but she was fine. good thing i was home to hear the noise otherwise i think she would not have made it.

 

[SKIPL]

Raccoons the worst----lost many to them----I live trap them----But belive me if I saw one in a tree ---BLAM with my 20 ga.

 

[dirtydozen]

I killed four skunks the week before. Two of them in the pen and two just outside looking for a way in. I didnt know a skunk could squeeze into a space the size of a gnats butt. They all showed up like clockwork, between 8 and 830pm. The pen is real tight now and I think the skunks are almost nonexistant in my area. Buzzards have been eating pretty well too.

 

[Wingsfan]

Neighbor's dogs...when we free range. Paint pellets send a message to the dogs and their owners. I see less of them now.