Predator balance

[TeamChaos]

We've had chickens in our barnyard for over three years. We've got multiple coops the various groups get time to free range during the day and they are counted and locked up at nite. Up until last week, we had no losses to predators. Last week, something slipped into the banty house via a gap in the vent and killed all of my daughter's birds. The scene matched the description of a weasel killing but I haven't seen a weasel to date... (we have a creek that runs through our coop camp and a spring/pond that's about 30 ft away so we meet the water requirements for weasel living).
I digress, the first nite after the banty killings, I caught a shockingly huge raccoon in a live trap in the banty house. Every nite since then, I've caught several 'coons and opossums in the live trap and I've shot two 'coons out of a tree. We're going on, what, eight nites now of me stalking the darkness and dispatching vermin.
My question is this: for how long should I set the trap and kill the 'coons and opossums off? We're on 80 acres of woods and I'm using fish for bait, I think I could pack that trap every nite if I wanted to, but why draw them down if they aren't already checking my coops and barn? Aren't new critters going to move in and take the territory over? We've got coyotes all over, but so far they haven't cared to come down near us because they are well fed up on the hill (we see a lot of carcasses up there)- am I risking coyote encroachment by taking out the vermin buffer zone?

 

[zazouse]

When someone starts clearing large parcels of land or go in and do a bunch of logging i have an influx of wild critters move into my parcel. my dogs take care of the ones that get to close, poor critters don't know better but i have also noticed alot of vocals from fightinmg in my woods for a couple weeks, i figure they are trying to establish a new territor here that is already taken.
This poor critter was very young most likely tring to find a new home after being booted by mom.
Gracie brought it to the pups for some paws on training i guess, she did the same thing with the snake she caught a couple days before, gotta love that dawg.

I don't know why but i was thinking you had dogs to watch the territory.

 

[TeamChaos]

We did have dogs watching the territory and didn't have a bit of trouble. Starla Jane, the trusted leader, passed away last week and since then the dog duty has gone down the tubes. I've got two additional dogs but they are useless without Starla there to tell them what they *should* be doing. My big guy, Jack, sits on the porch all nite and can't be roused to go out on duty. The little terrier, Boo, is eager and will go out on patrol but I won't let her chase anything without another dog for back up. Your dogs are beautiful, what a great pack you have there!

 

[furbabymum]

Looks like it's time for you to invest in a great pyr puppy!

I can honestly say we have no predator problems. Our dogs keep all the smart ones away and they eat the stupid ones.

 

[Oregon Blues]

My rule of thumb is that I only trap and kill the ones who are killing chickens. Not all predators will come after your chickens, so get the chicken killers and leave the rest to work on the mouse population.

You get the problem animal by setting your trap in an area where the predators won't be unless they are specifically after chicken.

 

[Mike Winters]

only good ones are dead. if ya get rid of any shrubs and low cover, leaf litter and other habitat you wont have to worry about rodents and snakes. no habitat for a predators main prey then the predator animal may not even bother going near your house, even more so if ya have a dog or other deterrent

 

[Mattemma]

I just caught another coon last night. I started setting my trap last summer. I will ALWAYS keep the trap set. Just a part of the yard routine now.

 

[motherofmolly]

if you are trapping and catching in your yard, you are getting those that would be around you anyway. i dont think you are necessarily bringing more in unless newbies come to spread out into the newly unoccupied territory. think of it as keeping the population down so as not to get too many racoons.

we have a few racoons. mostly they are at the lake which is not near my coop. if they come up closer, then they have to go. but, i also have a resident red fox that roams my back yard. i like that the fox keeps the smaller critters in check this in turns keeps the coyotes out of my yard also as there isnt food here for them. it is a give and take. but what do racoons do that would be beneficial? same with possums? i know the racoons are eating all the turtle eggs.

i guess what i am saying is you do need to think of it as how is it hurting your area...but then take into consideration how is it benefiting you and yours?

 

[Mavrik]

Your concern is valid, if one throws off the balance of nature it could just shift to a different predator (coyote) problem. I would just predator proof the coops and shoot critters that show harmful intent.

 

[aprophet]

We've had chickens in our barnyard for over three years. We've got multiple coops the various groups get time to free range during the day and they are counted and locked up at nite. Up until last week, we had no losses to predators. Last week, something slipped into the banty house via a gap in the vent and killed all of my daughter's birds. The scene matched the description of a weasel killing but I haven't seen a weasel to date... (we have a creek that runs through our coop camp and a spring/pond that's about 30 ft away so we meet the water requirements for weasel living).
I digress, the first nite after the banty killings, I caught a shockingly huge raccoon in a live trap in the banty house. Every nite since then, I've caught several 'coons and opossums in the live trap and I've shot two 'coons out of a tree. We're going on, what, eight nites now of me stalking the darkness and dispatching vermin.
My question is this: for how long should I set the trap and kill the 'coons and opossums off? We're on 80 acres of woods and I'm using fish for bait, I think I could pack that trap every nite if I wanted to, but why draw them down if they aren't already checking my coops and barn? Aren't new critters going to move in and take the territory over? We've got coyotes all over, but so far they haven't cared to come down near us because they are well fed up on the hill (we see a lot of carcasses up there)- am I risking coyote encroachment by taking out the vermin buffer zone?

Unless you are using skunk musk for bait you are not really "drawing" anything you are only trapping what is there because of your chickens most folks do not believe what preds are there and they know nothing about them coyotes WILL eat all the coon possum etc that you are catching the less food available for them at your place................