Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[Churkenduse]

I have had my girls for over three years, once a hawk got one and my dog, a pug no less, jumped him and saved her. He is now the king of the chickens. ) Last week I lost my first little girl she was half bantam and half Polish, she was so cute.
I live on a wildlife preserve an never had a problem, 4:00 Am a fox got in somehow and took my girl right out. She was my favorite.
I fixed the door, but it is very upsetting. some become our pets this one used to jump up on my lap o shoulders.
Now one gal will not go in the coop to sleep at night.

 

[ray2310]

Killed this mink and a sick raccoon this morning - trying to keep our girls safe!

 

[Churkenduse]

Oh what a shame, but you did what you had to do to keep your girls safe. It is sad they are only tryng to eat.
Can you do something with the mink pelt so it is not a total waste.
I understand why the fox and the hawk came after mine but it still is upsetting. Mine came in the middle of the night so I could not do anything.

 

[HAL_9000]

to me dogs are the worst... Raccoons are bad and sneaky.. but I can kill them without hesitation.. my problem with dogs is that it is usually my dogs that do the damage.. and I love my dogs and I love my chickens so I have a large pen with electric fence all the way around itll keeps the dogs out.. but if there is any chance of an encounter I know that 2 of my dogs are programmed to attack anything smaller than they are (bird dogs) so if if it happens it happens.. it all comes down to what is more important to me.. the dogs are companions and are the defenders of the property.. the chickens are the chickens I expect them to stay in the pen and be chickens.. if the dogs get a chicken i get mad and yell at the dog.. but it passes and you move on.. so to me dogs are the worst predator because I can't just kill them and be done with it..

 

[sharol]

I would be very careful disposing of that raccoon. If it is ill, it could be rabid. Rabid animals are as dangerous dead as alive if you have a cut on your hand or somehow ingest some of their blood.


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[Churkenduse]

That is too bad Hal, I have a dog and he is my girls' protector he saved one from a hawk once, the hawk had the chicken in his grip.
He is now the king of the Roost so to speak he goes out on the deck and looks around as if he is the top dog, he is a pug. He eats all raw meat and his favorite is actually chicken but he doesn't not understand.
When he comes out they move out of the way but he wants to play with them. Have you ever considered spraying im i water, I had to do that when my dog was agressive with other dogs and it works just do not spray too much. Just spray his neck not his face, it might be worth a try.

 

[HAL_9000]

the dogs do more good than harm.... they will kill straying chooks.. but they also keep the big bad stuff out.. we had coons before the dogs... haven't seen one in 5 years...there are cougars,bears and coyotes which all stay away.. their service protects not only the chooks but my family as well... and living in the woods with kids i truely appreciate it

 

[Churkenduse]

Hal, even though I have a small Pug dog, I feel a little safer also, I live on a wild life preserve so i get my share of animals trying to enjoy the chicken feed etc. Problem is I cannot kill them they are protected by law. I think not only the baking but the urine and feces and hair that out dog sometimes deposit on our ground deters the ctitters from coming over the line so to speak. After I got my dog the deer started to saty away, that was sad. I actually have a family of mice that would come in a clean out the chicken poo, until now, I just secured the coop better, I never cleaned the poo out. Now I have to , so have animals running around does have its perks sometimes. So now it is to the compost bin, it all works.

 

[skydivingchickenman]

I went into the chicken house to find bodies and body parts in the nesting boxes and in the chicken house......Last year a coyote got me for about 30 chicken dinners.....Mr Mossburg took care of him but this time I think a raccoon is my culprit. I found where it seperated the pen cover(chicken wire over the pen) and came in the house and got everything that wasn't on a high roost.We had mostly silkies and a few easter eggers. I set a trap but got nothing so far.....Little varmits make a living being smart...keeps em alive....I'm thinking about putting an electric fence at the top of the chicken pen to keep the varmits out....If anyone has a REALLY NICE silkie Roo we need one.....we ordered 3 adult hens and are basically keep these in a prison like environment........Not really but it will be max security for the newcomers.....

 

[Churkenduse]

Can't you put all of them in your "Max Security"? I would think if you lose all those birds at one time it might be cost effective to do so.
I have only lost one hen since I started and that upsets me, I cannot imagine losing 30 that must be terrible on you. Whether of not they are slated for eggs or roasting.