Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[vicki2x2]

We have lost a few to coons, fox and dogs, but I think the worst predator problem, if you had it, would be man! At least with the other, the are doing it for food and instinct. Man has no excuse!

 

[larryj57]

dogs are the worst for me and the people who won't control their animals

 

[bluey]

Based on what I read on this site, I'd have to say "dog" but I haven't voted as such. We've never lost a chicken to a predator.

 

[BVChicks]

I chose hawk. I've recently lost my favorite hen to one. Plus two others as well.

So I am sure that has influence my opinion just a little

Mainly I chose hawk because they swoop in from above before the roos can alert the hens. My favorite hen was a mottled houdan with a very bushy crown so when she was pecking at the ground her eyes were shielded to everything around and above. The other two were a buff orphington and a breabranter.

My chickens are free rangers during the day and cooped with protected runs at night. They are very mad at me right now because I am not letting them out until the hawk goes away.
Has anyone had any luck in getting help from their local animal control?
I'm not only afraid for my chickens but I have small boston terrier with only one eye and his sight in the remaining eye is not all that great.

 

[Egg_newton]

Had my first non-pet related casualty last night. We lost two shortly after getting into chickens because of our dog. Lost my favorite spash silkie hen to a coon.

 

[lauralou]

I believe that we have lost more birds to foxes than to anything else. Although I can't be 100% sure. It was a very brazen fox that prompted me to stop free ranging my birds.

 

[TipsyDog]

I vote Hawk. I free range the girls all day and there is just no way I can protect them from a hawk. They are my biggest predator. Everything else I can shoot

 

[Cetawin]

Now Opa you can take mountain lion off that list and you well know it. I have one that walks past my coop every night and every morning and he has never even looked twice at a chicken. Now if one chanced by him on opportunity he might try it but there are bigger things for him to eat around here.

 

[alpinefarm]

Quote:
And bear...we have black bears visiting often and they could easliy rip open the yard fencing for my coop with a little flick of a paw, but never have bothered, in 10 years of keeping chickens here.

 

[drafthorse39]

I went for fox. I've had a cayuga killed years ago and even now that I only have one chicken and it's indoors most of the time. I still have foxes checking out the yard