Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[Silkies for life]

Hawks and Raccoons are my main problem...

 

[MichelK]

Here in germany the raccoons are not that bad. I'm more afraid of martens and hawks.

 

[RabbitGirl]

If I could I would put hawk as my #2
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-got-impaled-by-a-hawk-while-saving-my-chicken.1288380/
I put raccoon because we've had so many pet deaths from them

 

[Vhope77]

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

Marten but it’s not on the list took 30 chickens in two days hid in the hay in the coop

 

[Erba]

I lost 2 chickens in one go to hawks in December. The very first time. All that was left were the feathers where they had been taken and the other day I lost a third to the beasts. This time the I found it dead with a chunk taken out of it's throat. The hawk was interrupted by the neighbor. I have to keep the rest in a covered run now. I think winter is the worst time for for hawks, with very little rodent activity and not enough to eat.

 

[Brahma27]

I have always had a major problem with coyotes.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I wonder what will bother me.....

 

[webbysmeme]

Defiantly the opossum! I have a thread " A possum Clawed one of my old girls! Help!" If you want to see the damage a possum can do with just one swipe with his long claws, take a look at that thread.
I documented from day one till now. It's been three weeks now. She's taking antibiotics from the vet and I'm putting ointment on her twice a day. I had to cut most of her feathers off of that side of her body. Thank goodness they are coming back in. I have had her in the house in a dog crate since it happened. And she'll be inside till her feathers fill back in completely or she will get pecked and hurt again.
Here are just a few pictures I've taken to get advice from all the good people here on BYC. I didn't have a clue what to do! She is doing so good.
Oh, BTW, I shot that possum that night!

 

[cluckmecoop7]

So glad you shot it! Poor little chicken..glad she's still alive!

 

[Ra_]

Hawks are my biggest predator. They used to swoop down and snatch Serama from right beneath my feet. Not near as bad the last few years. They only get a supervised free range at days end.

All my birds are locked up at night when a larger variety of stalkers abound.
The only thing to get my large breed birds so far was one big hawk and one fox.
I've got one girl with gouges in her head where she must have escaped a hawk attack.
Scarface is doing great.