Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[outdoorsii]

Our rooster Pinky, now about 10.5 months old - just the other day had his first encounter in protecting his 4 GLW girls & his 3 RIR girls...sometimes the hens split up while free-ranging & u can tell he HATES it...b/c he doesn't know which way to go....turns out around 3:30pm in broad daylight this Barred Owl - HUGE thing - musta came down tried to grabbed 1 of the dotte girls & took out all her back feathers almost & he musta come running b/c he had scrapes on his legs & my dad ran outside screaming and scared it off while it was on top of pinky....so my dad saved him and he saved his girls...I think that owl even might of partially grabbed my RIR girl too. It was crazy!

 

[wantbantams]

Those birds of prey are total jerks!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

And hungry.
At least they're native wildlife, unlike the dogs and cats that invade my property.

 

[D Kluck]

Hands down for us it's dogs... we live 30 miles from the city and seems like we get a lot of dogs dumped in the area by city dwellers who no longer want them.... the county will not do animal control in our area.. ..so it's up to us the local farmers here to take on this problem.. we have lost chicken to oppossums and owls too..

 

[nicktide]

I voted hawk but it would be coon if not for the fact I can trap coons. More dead coons than dead chickens.

 

[Chickens R Us]

I have not lost any chickens to predators yet but I am most worried about the raccoon because they can climb fences. I have a covered run but there is a big tree in the middle that I had to work around so it is possible for a raccoon to get in at that point. Hopefully that won't happen. I lock them up at night but when I go out of town the pop door is left open.

 

[12hensnoroo]

up her in wasington we have huge cyote and coon problom time to get that kangal iwant

 

[Ladyhawke414]

I live trap coons but this black weasel has killed 2 of my pet chickens and is still hanging around. I have 3live traps and darn thing avoids them or doesn't trip the traps. What can I do to get rid of this pest. I am not a hunter. Help!

 

[effie]

Have you tried covering the trap with a dark color tarp and disguising it. I have seen good results on here with folks doing that to catch a fox. They just think they are going into a safe area I guess. Some of them use two traps ---one sitting at the end of the other with bait in it and then the trap you want to use to catchit butted up to it and cover them both with only the one opening at the end of the catch trap. I haven't read this whole thread so maybe someone already suggested it. Hope you get it... kay

 

[Ladyhawke414]

Thanks Kay, will be working on your suggestion.