Tell How Predators Got Your Chickens. Save Somebody Else From The Bad Experience

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Hahahaha-packin, I come out packin- I'm too well trained to just start shooting. but there's really no point to going outside unprepared is there? Sometimes just yelling works...but I wouldn't depend on it.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Hahahaha-packin, I come out packin- I'm too well trained to just start shooting. but there's really no point to going outside unprepared is there? Sometimes just yelling works...but I wouldn't depend on it.

No reason to not be prepared for whatever you might have to deal with. I think its great you own guns and know how to use them. Good for you.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Dad was in the airborne.

 

[cuisinista]

There have been both bobcats (more common) and mountain lions in our area. The predator that has been preying on our fowl is something small and sneaky. Like someone said in response to the raccoon, they have lots of motivation to find a way in especially when they have already had a feast in there.

 

[marianne7]

I'm from UK, so we dont have anywhere near the predators that you folks have in USA, Our biggest threat are foxes, really clever little things, and not just at night, fortunately we have a completey enclosed pen with foxproof mesh around the outside so they are unable to dig under....this also stops rats....We also have Alpacas in a field over the pack, foxes are scared of these, so it keeps them at bay......

 

[bruceha2000]

I'm from UK, ....We also have Alpacas in a field over the pack, foxes are scared of these, so it keeps them at bay......

Ooh, one more reason to get Alpacas

But first one needs to find them at a reasonable price. Unless you are breeding AND can find others who want to buy the cria for breeding, they are WAY too expensive, at least in the USA. The fiber from once a year shearing only brings so much and I gather it doesn't cover the cost of feed and vet bills.

OTOH, our neighbor lost their entire flock to a fox and they have 3 horses and 2 alpacas. This was at night though, when the 4 legged animals were in their areas and the chickens in an apparently not "Fort Knox" coop. They had 2 that were hatched a month prior (unplanned by them) by one of their hens. They were in a different area and survived. They thought they had one pullet and one cockerel. But they are both crowing now! So much for the 50-50 odds. Yeah, I know, those are the LONG RUN odds, not the individual egg odds.

OK, so Alpacas as guard animals. Now what guards the Alpacas? Some people use BIG dogs, some use Llamas. We don't have wolves or mountain lions so maybe they are OK being outside during the day without protection.

 

[RaeRae2]

I in fact stated clearly that my job is to PROTECT MY CHICKENS, not to kill anything that might set a foot on my property. If you kill 1 predator, 10 more will take its place. You have to PROTECT YOUR FLOCK with a strong, sturdy, predator secure run and house. That's what we did. We built Fort Knox so we have a 99% chance of the chickens staying safe.

You feel "horrible" for my chickens?! You jest, right? LMAO! Yes, they are so abused and neglected. Daily watermelon, meal worms, 4 types of feed, tomatoes, lettuce, apples, cucumbers, 2-3 hours of freedom every evening with me in the yard watching them to guard against hawks or dogs, a 24x27x6 foot predator secure run, and a 12x14x8 heated, air conditioned chicken house. Feed and water both in the run and in the house. Permanently installed fans both inside the house, and in the run. They are total pets. Sit on the ground and you will have a lap full of chickens. Two of them fly up and sit on my shoulders every day. One of my hens just had a visit to an avian vet over 1 hour away for a calcium deficiency. She received treatment for $140. One week after her treatment she was doing excellent, and today is completely back to normal. When my chickens are ill beyond repair, they are humanely euthanized at the vet's office. Not heads chopped off in my back yard (NOT that there's anything wrong with that - there's not! That is perfectly fine! I just can't do it.) My oldest hen is 7 years old and is a family pet. That is her in my avatar at the vet's office for a general wellness check about 6 months ago. Yeah, that's horrible isn't it.

But yes, do go on feeling horrible for them because I won't kill a raccoon or stray dog or hawk that sets foot or wing on my property.

Look, I don't believe it's my right or my reponsibility to KILL predators. My right and my responsibility is to PROTECT my flock with secure fencing and supervision. If that's abusive, and horrible, then so be it.

And no, I do not eat meat or consume animal products. Haven't in many years.

There are other ways to protect your flock than flashing a gun around. This isn't the Wild Wild West and I don't feel the need to be a rootin' tootin' shootin' cowgirl. Instead my husband and I have built a facility that we feel is safe and adequate for their protection. Nothing is 100% of course, but we have done all we can do. We have 3 big dogs who make their rounds multiple times a day, and they help deter predators as well.

Yes we own a gun, and yes my husband shot and killed a fox 2 years ago that killed one of our hens (before the secure run was built.) But the reason was because he was extremely mangey and ill and was suffering badly. He was bald, it was the middle of winter, the poor thing was so weak and cold he was shaking, and he couldn't leave the barn. I called a couple of rescue places and a vet and they all said if he's that bad, it would be almost impossible to rehabilitate him. So my husband put a .22 shell between his eyes. Ended his suffering instantly. But he wasn't killed because he was after my chickens. He was killed because he was miserable and suffering and a bullet was faster than starving and freezing to death.

I truly can't believe the post above,"I don't feel that it's my place or right to kill predators which might set foot on my farm". Their DNA tells them to "Find food, and eat it.",lol that's the funniest statement I ever heard.Its your job since the "chicken" depend on you for protection!!! It says in the Bible~Man shall have dominion over all animals wild and domestic",God give you the authority to do so,,DNA tells them to eat,NO their STOMACH tell them they are hungry NOT DNA. I feel horrible for your chickens.What has this sorry world came to???? People that do NOT think ANIMALS need to be killed? What about the chickens? Do you eat meat? what about Cows "Where do you think hamburger come from? Someone had to kill it so you could eat it??? That's some WILD WILD thinking!!!

I assure you anything trying to kill my chickens is going to get shot period.If you have animals THEY BECOME your responsibility period!

 

[marianne7]

Ooh, one more reason to get Alpacas

But first one needs to find them at a reasonable price. Unless you are breeding AND can find others who want to buy the cria for breeding, they are WAY too expensive, at least in the USA. The fiber from once a year shearing only brings so much and I gather it doesn't cover the cost of feed and vet bills.

OTOH, our neighbor lost their entire flock to a fox and they have 3 horses and 2 alpacas. This was at night though, when the 4 legged animals were in their areas and the chickens in an apparently not "Fort Knox" coop. They had 2 that were hatched a month prior (unplanned by them) by one of their hens. They were in a different area and survived. They thought they had one pullet and one cockerel. But they are both crowing now! So much for the 50-50 odds. Yeah, I know, those are the LONG RUN odds, not the individual egg odds.

OK, so Alpacas as guard animals. Now what guards the Alpacas? Some people use BIG dogs, some use Llamas. We don't have wolves or mountain lions so maybe they are OK being outside during the day without protection.

Alpacas dont need guarding here, they can run like cheetas, if you go near them they spit at you like lamas....ha ha....they are quite tall, so not many dogs will take them on....

 

[aprophet]

Alpacas dont need guarding here, they can run like cheetas, if you go near them they spit at you like lamas....ha ha....they are quite tall, so not many dogs will take them on....

http://www.skinnymoose.com/bbb/2008...lation-in-massachusetts-takes-on-alpaca-farm/

 

[marianne7]

http://www.skinnymoose.com/bbb/2008...lation-in-massachusetts-takes-on-alpaca-farm/

Thanks for your link....forntunately we don't have coyote's in the UK, but the alpaca's here, (the fully grown ones) are really tall.....
- by the way I love your profile pic, so made me laugh...- Marianne