Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[ErieSpurs]

All my losses have been from raccoons. Except one mystery disappearance during the day.

 

[n2cork]

neighbors dogs, neighbors, dogs!

 

[Wifezilla]

Lost 2 ducks to a hawk a few weeks back.

 

[chicktwit]

Coyotes & hawks tied for 1st. Got my babies a 6' fence now. Working on hawks.

 

[karen71]

Mine losses are to hawks - so far knock on wood - no others aroud .

 

[babyblue]

I put down dogs because the deaths from dogs could 99.9% of the time be prevented by the dog owner controlling their animal. the rest of the preds on your list are mostly hungry wild animals that are only doing what nature tells them to do.

 

[Funky Feathers]

Cat was not on the list. I lost a ton of birds, chickens and ducks (full grown) to feral cats.

 

[PoultryPedia]

Raccoons seem to be the most brutal in how they kill. They have a good enough grip to reach through wire and grab chickens and start eating without actually killing the chickens first.

I'm thinking this is a good reason to not use wire-bottom cages without a floored area and/or plenty of perches that are high enough but still easy-for-chicks/chickens to reach for a safety retreat during an attack (Even with small wire mesh, the raccoons could likely munch toes). Also to not use narrow cages, at least without a good, solid hutch/house area, and maybe not even then unless mesh is small (1/2" x 1/2" hardware wire).
Sorry to be graphic, but gotta be careful and protect our guys!

 

[Camelot Farms]

I picked man for a different reason. I chose it because with man it is a choice, everything else is prey driven.

But, which predator ticks me off the most...

dog
coon
skunk
fox
coyote

would be my top 5.

 

[kawonu]

Skunks, coons, and cats - lost chickens and ducks