predators

[fowlsessed]

How are peafowl against pest. Out here in the sticks were I am, there is everything that could be a potential danger to a chicken or guinea. Are peafowl just as vulnerable? Because they are a heap more expensive.

 

[MinxFox]

Well let's just say that we figured we wouldn't have to worry much about predators especially since the peafowl roost off the ground at night and are in a pen, but two big boar raccoons broke into the pen and on two seperate occasions killed an adult peacock and an adult peahenI think foxes can get them too sometimes. Peafowl have strength in numbers and will scare off predators together but at night they are more vulnerable. I am sure a huge owl could kill one. I am not sure if a hawk could get an adult, maybe a young one. I think stray dogs are perhaps one of the worst predators though so I would say they are kinda vulnerable. Probably not as vulnerable as a chicken though. I think my birds fought when the raccoons attacked because feathers were all over the pen oh and my other peacock was attacked too, but he survived. He had bite marks on his neck and he is just now starting to grow the feathers back there. I think in our case, we unknowingly attracted the raccoons when we used an automatic feeder for the peafowl when we went on vacation for a few days and the feeder put out a bunch of corn and the peafowl barely ate any of it so the raccoons probably came for corn and then noticed the birds and snatched them off the roost. We greased the poles the perches are on so the evil coons can't get the birds at night.

 

[trailchick]

I free range some of mine and they roost in a large tree that is very close to the house. I have not had large predators get into my pen, although I had some young go missing in it. I did haul a very large bull snake out of it this summer. So the snake or rats were getting young stock in the coop. I had one of my cats bring a very large rat to the house that she caught, this summer, & and she carried in up from near the coop.

I lost one blue hen that had gone to nest over 4 eggs-I think that loss was due to a fox. The fox met his demise, from, I think, my dogs, about 2 months ago.

You can lose them from, predators, your own or neighbor dogs, disease, environment, running away, etc. There are risks of loss, in the strangest of places.

We are in an area that has prairie rattlers. The peas are known for eliminating small snakes and
the peas alerted us to this snake that is no more either...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=7294757#p7294757

I have not seen them eating them, but word is they do. Beside the prairie rattler, we have buul, red & green racers.

You can pen them to protect them, or free range. I keep the new ones penned until after breeding season, or I may keep my most cherised ones penned until I feel they may be safe. The ones that roostin trees may fall victim to owls or hawks.

I love seeing the ones I have out and about. There are 6 that are out, and there have been times that I couldnt find them, but towards the end of the days they do wander clsoe to the house.

I am a couple of miles from a small town, and I often hear coyotes nearby at dusk, but I do have dogs, but they do sleep in the house at night.

Like MinxFox says, there could be trouble no matter what you do. Life is a risk, and you just have evaluate the risk of loss with them. Good luck.

 

[AndysPeafowlSanctuary]

Speaking Of Predators lol

 

[Frosty]

Ummm... what is the story behind that picture?!?

 

[Bigcreekpeafowl]

Predators, bad word. Your location plays a role on what type of predators are in your area.
I know from talking with other peafowl owners I have heard about big cats being a problem or even bears.
I think to myself wow, we are fortunate not to have something as big as that to contend with in south Indiana. But there have been sightings of big cats in our county.

Many nights we routinely hear coyotes, and they are fairly close. But we have not had trouble with them.

Here our deadliest predator has been raccoons. Don't underestimate them, they are killers. Crafty and agile they often hunt in pairs or even groups. Many nights we have sat in wait inside the peacock barns and here they come. One night four came in together. Me I hate to kill anything, it bothers me and I just can't help it.
But after seeing what these varmints done to our junglefowl hens I know they have to go. Otherwise they come back again and again.

Skunks have been real bad. They have never bothered the birds but steal any egg they can get. Lost a lot of peafowl eggs to skunks.

Horned owls got many of our young geese while they are on the water at night. And they are protected, against the law to kill. Conservation officer several years back told us how to deal with them when we had some snow geese wintering on the lake.

It is a huge job fighting predators in my opinion. It seems to be always something. Guardian dogs such as Great Pyrenees are a answer for some. We got a young male who is trying. We'll see how that turns out.

Peafowl are at risk like other fowl, you have to be on guard and build your pens with that in mind.

 

[jbourget]

Quote:
x2....????????? never in my life seen a wolf that huge.

 

[Bigcreekpeafowl]

Quote:
Me 3, have never seen such a large wolf. Or should I say dead wolf.
Yeah I know I will be slammed for it but....why (unless it is necessary at the time) must some people kill every wild animal they see?

 

[jbourget]

Quote:
Me 3, have never seen such a large wolf. Or should I say dead wolf.
Yeah I know I will be slammed for it but....why (unless it is necessary at the time) must some people kill every wild animal they see?

lots of reason, sport, security ect...would you want that beast roaming in your backyard! plus not to mention what an awesom photo this is to hang and show people...

 

[AugeredIn]

I have seen some big wolves ,but that is monster if real.

Looks more like some of the european or eurasian wolves instead of eastern timber.

Come on where were you? Whats the story?

I am just guesing that ain't Louisiana!!