Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[alpinefarm]

Quote:
Yes, dogs can be great protectors, but not all are. We lost our "perfect dog" last winter. Even with a good farm dog, though, I have never free ranged my flock unless I was on the place. Our farm is large and there are too many variables.

 

[nancyhacildo]

how come that racoon is the worst predator? I think its the cayote.

 

[LAMchop]

I used to think raccoons were the worst. We've lost too many chickens to count, sometimes 3 in one night, to those devils. I hated them with a passion.

So, when my fiance' was building a new coop, I made absolutely sure it would be totally coon-proof.
A bear came one night, ripped the coop open, killed all 7 bantams inside, and left them. It did, however, eat the food in their feeder.

Cold-hearted pleasure killers.

 

[diamonk]

I built the most bullet-proof chicken coop for the night because we live where there are a lot of natural predators (fox, coyote, hawks, raccoons, etc). I never lost one. But we just had a tragedy this week when a dog got loose from its yard down the road and killed 4 of my 6 chickens who were 10 feet in front of my house in broad daylight. I am still in shock. There was absolutely nothing I could do - happened so fast. I have dogs who could care less about the chickens but careless neighbors' dogs are a problem! BEWARE!

 

[TheGoldenRoo]

Racoon. We have had many losses with them around!

 

[chris_m90731]

RACCOONS.
without a doubt. plus they seem incredibly vicious.
my grandmother had a hen once that was split open; entrails dragging, and a raccoon was gnawing on it while the bird was still alive.

 

[Mixed Chooks]

We have lost one to a wedgetail eagle but we have lost quite a number to foxes - including a beautiful Plymouth Rock Rooster "Conrad" - it was a very sad day when we came home to discover his trail of feathers!

 

[CMV]

I just lost another bird to a hawk. That's the second one this year. A Cooper's hawk got the first one and a red-tailed hawk just got one last week.

I used to love seeing hawks, but they are rapidly becoming my worst enemies. They are the most successful predator I have.

 

[Wifezilla]

So the top 4 are raccoons, dogs, hawks and people. Interesting!

 

[Ibicella]

Coons first. I hate those fraggin things...unless they are cooked properly.

Second would be men. Or rather, children. They kill just because they like it.

Dunno how they taste or how to cook one properly.