Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[JJSS89]

Opossums are not exactly tasty. Sorry to ruin the surprise.

I've eaten them a few times in a few different ways. Stringy and smelly meat.

Raccoons taste much better and even they aren't that good.

 

[Bert2368]

Oh, I don't eat possums and coons- My chickens do!

This time of year, when the chickens can't catch bugs & etc., the extra protien from a varmint or two is very welcome- Plus things like the liver and heart from my deer, any old freezer burned venison from more than 2 years back, the bones, scraps and veggies from making stock with culled chicken carcasses , old canned food and any other such things as we would not want to eat are all tasty snacks to the chickens.

(Edit)

http://www.ethicurean.com/2006/10/14/joy-of-cooking/

I have seen the recipes for "milk fed opossum". And have eaten YOUNG raccoon as a teenager, it was pretty good (and I was VERY hungry...)

Squirrel is very tasty, if prepared correctly. Anything that lives on nuts is gonna be good- Like "peanut fed ham"

 

[gusthebrowndog]

When I lived 40 miles out in the country never lost a chicken. Had a of coyote and some coons. I had a big brown dog and he did guard the coop most of the time. He got rid of two coons. Also had a very strong around the coop. When ever I went out side the house had my 410 with me . Here in Missouri we had a bounty on coyote, and the people used dogs on the coyote. Dogs never did any harm to my chicken. Build a well made coop and the will help you and your chicken. I did put up my chicken at night. PP

 

[ChickenCanoe]

From reading these replies, it seems like it has a lot to do with geography (here in the Willamette Valley it's raccoons and weasels). We have a good fence (with electric hot wire at the top) and a guardian dog, but an impenetrable nighttime coop has proven to be our best defense method.

Good plan,
I have every predator found in MO except cougars and black bears. In fact, my property is a wildlife habitat certified by the NWF.
When I trap and kill coons, possums and mink, I say "it's a wildlife habitat, not a wildlife refuge.

Oh, I don't eat possums and coons- My chickens do!

...

Same here.
If I lived in the country, I'd eat the coons but in the burbs, there's no telling what dumpster the coons had been eating out of.

...Build a well made coop and the will help you and your chicken. I did put up my chicken at night. PP

X2

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I wish the poll would let me change my vote.

I've had chickens killed by neighbors' dogs, hawks, raccoons and opossums. It was almost a tie between dogs and coons until last summer.
Mink killed more in one week than all the other predators have in my whole life.

 

[alica31]

In GA we have many chicken loving predators too. I voted 'hawk' because I see them often. We lost 5 chickens this month while we were away. Whatever killed them didn't eat them or rip them open. Now I want a HUGE covered run & not free range.

 

[alcoto]

Raccoons have been our worst taking 20+ in a single night it doesn't help that they kill for fun. Next would be domestic dogs. Between both I have lost over $500 worth of chickens.

 

[JJSS89]

I had pitbull get into a run by way of tearing chicken wire. He is no longer a problem... he dead.

I will say that the worst predator is the one you are currently dealing with.

Some folks will say that raccoons and coyotes are the worst. They are the most widespread probably but in my opinion they aren't that bad because I have a relatively easy time killing them off.

 

[dahlinminers]

Bobcats and raccoons tied for first. There are so many bobcats and they'll just come right up to my house, but the raccoons will just rip the chickens necks off and through wire.

 

[Bert2368]

Weasels are everywhere...

Bet this one was surprised.