Official BYC Poll: Who’s Your Worst Chicken Predator of All Time?

[swampfox440]

I had to google it. Wow. I am so sorry.

The bad part of this I was told the fish and game com. Brought them over from Pa. I am near the state line.

 

[Sir Sacabambaspis]

There are stone martens in my area, caught a video of one fighting a cat the other night on the road, crazy stuff tbh, and stressful too

 

[Sir Sacabambaspis]

Fisher cat they killed darn near entire flock last year! They can climb good and make some strange vocalizations it only took one of the birds with it. Left the rest lay I came out of it with 3 dicks out of 12. I purchased a dozen ducklings from hoover. They survived and laid well. I found the tracks and my neighbor saw it in back of my land.

That's awful, I'm so sorry! Want any trapping recommendations? I've been trying to kill every last stone marten in my area, they've killed almost all other birds in the valley I live in. One of my neighbors lost everything except for a few of their larger turkeys and male Muscovy ducks. Someone's gotta start takin' em out since no one in my area knows how to. I know a think or two if you want help

 

[Sir Sacabambaspis]

The bad part of this I was told the fish and game com. Brought them over from Pa. I am near the state line.

Really? That's crazy, must've been for fur hunting

 

[MROO]

Over the years, I've lost one pullet to a red-tailed hawk and a runaway cockerel to a dog I was "puppy-sitting," but my biggest nuisance has been foxes. They haven't actually gotten any birds (cross my fingers and knock on wood,) but I credit that to diligence, constant tweaking and my neighbor's trail cam!

 

[Folly's place]

Our rescue pit bull terrier, from a very bad fighting dog situation, got out of our fence (Invisible Fence failed, and she dug under our 'real' fence), and killed 21 of our free ranging chickens, in about an hour! Horrible, she was incredibly 'efficient' and totally not her fault. Two weeks later, we found out that the 'motherboard' of our IF system had died, so that's why she was able to get out. seven more dead birds that day! At least that time I caught her in the act, and we had a 'come to Jesus' discussion with every one of those birds.
And IF replaced everything that was busted, apologized, and no charge. Didn't make up for all those birds, including Solo, my avatar here, but something. And never happened again.
The other time we lost multiples was a mangy sick fox, middle of the day, ten nice hens.
Otherwise, occasional single birds to a hawk, a rare event.
And three to a rat invasion in our coop, once.
We've had chickens here since 1992, and started with them roosting in our barn, as recommended by the friend who gave us our first chickens. Not a good thing at all! Losses to raccoons and opossums at night, we learned...
Mary
And dogs we have raised from 'normal' puppyhood have respected our chickens, no problem.

 

[swampfox440]

That's awful, I'm so sorry! Want any trapping recommendations? I've been trying to kill every last stone marten in my area, they've killed almost all other birds in the valley I live in. One of my neighbors lost everything except for a few of their larger turkeys and male Muscovy ducks. Someone's gotta start takin' em out since no one in my area knows how to. I know a think or two if you want help

The darn thing moved on but I was leaving a friends house late the other knight and she asked me what that strange nois was calling sure as heck fisher cat. She lives near Andover.