Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[suki'smom]

I own and breed Red, Silver and Cross Color foxes and honestly my biggest chicken killers are my neighbor's dogs. They've gotten in my fence and killed my birds more than once. My foxes have even gotten out before (my fault, forgot to latch the pen) and I've found them in the chicken coop (after many hours of searching) without a single chicken harmed with the fox wagging their tail and squealing just tickled pink that I found them lol. I did have a coon come in a few winters ago and take chickens but he was easily captured and relocated.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

That's a tough one where you live is a factor
out here, loose dogs get shot, not a problem
coons are usually blamed for chicken deaths, but we have alot of coon hunters here, haven't seen a coon in a while, they are easy to trick and trap
saw coyote tracks near the pen once, but it's open season on them so they are shy. they are easy to shoot.
saw a mink, mink will kill for fun and leave the carcass, and they can weasel into small spaces, can climb trees and get onto the small branches, and knock the chicken out, and they are fast, too fast for me,and impossible to trap, so I vote mink as chickens enemy#1
For Chickenman, I think a mink is gettin your chicks, or an owlif they are out at night, too bad you have so few left, try a few game cameras. cheaper than night vision and at least you'll know what it is your after.

 

[RunnerWhisperer]

So far I haven't had any evidence of Racoons or any other type of night feeder trying to get at my ducks. We do have a lot of hawks and eagles that fly around during the day. Now that the ducks are full grown I don't worry so much as I did when they were little, but if I do notice them circling above my house I will go put the ducks in thier pen.

Just to be safe, we built an 8' x 8' pen lined the inside and 1 foot in the gorund with chicken wire, and encased the outside with welded wire. For the floor we put in gravel and then landscaping fabric and then a thick layer of gritty sand and dirt. They are in a rual area in the back yard, but we have an empty house next door and have seen evidence of Racoons living there. I think having the dogs has helped to keep them away as well as any hungry kitties.

 

[TheIrishChickenLover]

I'm really lucky in Ireland where I live i only have to deal with foxes but there so scared of my dogs they don't come near

 

[TrystInn]

So far our wost predator was a neighborhood girl (roughly 7) who stomped on one of our rabbits and killed him.

I told her if she stepped foot on our property again I'd have her arrested for animal abuse. I've only caught her sneaking back twice since then.

 

[RunnerWhisperer]

Quote:
Oh my goodness! What a naughty little girl! And you would think she would want to cuddle and hold it not stomp on it! Freaky!

 

[cvwchowell]

We just lost all 6 of our first chickens to a racoon! I had no idea they could be so violent! I feel terrible! We live in NJ and are wondering if we should start chicks all over again or if we should wait till spring? Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[TGreenhut]

Quote:
x2!!!! I've only lost some to a hawk. And I can't do anything about it!!!

 

[chadrodeo05]

Well have lost 2/3 of our flock;(.Don;t know what gets them,buts it seems to b early in am.I did see a hawk/Eagle here lately.WE have busdards aal the time here.I have set a trap hoping its a 4 legger chicken snatcher cause i might just cook him,since i can't eat the eggs

 

[TGreenhut]

Quote:
Buzzards most likely won't harm the chickens. I actually like them because the hawks won't come near if they are around.