What kinds of Predators have taken your birds?

[Jack Speese]

That's certainly doable on a smaller-sized pen and I've done the same in the past. And even though we had a large, fenced-in pasture, I couldn't let my chickens and ducks out on it because of the hawks. I just let my geese out on it. I guess chicken tractors would be the best option, as I don't see how you could make an acre-sized or bigger pasture bird of prey proof.

 

[Sustained]

Dog. It made me so angry because I try to be so responsible for MY pets when other people let there dogs run around the neighborhood and break people's hearts when they kill their chickens. Even if their goods dogs that won't change their instincts. Now I have to be responsible for their dog. AND I'm to nice to shoot the dog

I have the same exact issues. Everyone in my neighborhood has dogs but my elderly neighbors and I are the only ones who don't let our dog roam free. I lost about 10 recently and one killed my little dog. I'm running out of 'too nice to shoot them'.

 

[Lynn Manes]

We just lost 2 wild baby doves to domestic cats. They are always prowling the neighborhood and killing the wild birds. Nothing can get our animals as we have strong secure habitats for them and they don't free range, bc we don't have the room.

 

[farmgirl200]

Opossum got my little girl. She was a buff silkie hen

and the opossum got her!

it was so sad!

 

[WildfireSmitty]

Opossum got my little girl. She was a buff silkie hen

and the opossum got her!

it was so sad!

It's always hard when you lose a pet. No matter if it's a chicken or even a pet cricket. I've lost quite a few pets in the past few years. I have lost a dog, my llama Larry, 4 cats, and 1 of my favorite Buff O hens.

 

[farmgirl200]

Yeah it's really tough, and sometimes it feels like it's unreal, like that it was a dream and they're still alive.

but I have a lot of animals, so I know how it goes...

 

[ConPollos]

You hit it right on the button. You couldn't have said it any better.

I had a llama and a jenny, it's funny. They died to bad hay that was purchased. As soon as they were gone, the dogs showed up.

I'm so sorry about your jenny and llama! How heartbreaking that must have been! I worry about toxic plants and bad hay, too. My vet told me to always smell my hay for mold, so I do that especially when we get down to the bottom of the round bale. I hope you get another jenny and llama, even though they can't take the place of the ones you lost. I bet there are some needing to be rescued. You've inspired me to start looking for some.

 

[ConPollos]

State law is very explicit about livestock fences where I live regarding number and spacing of wires, posts, etc, and my fences do not have to be dog proof.
Being allowed to shoot a dog is not a loophole in the law; it is the law. I am not required to use llamas, donkeys, rakes or sticks to protect my animals.
It's the dog's owner responsiblity to have a dog proof fence.

You can stick to the letter of the law even though laws get passed by bribes and cronyism, so the laws are often the result of corruption. Remember, the laws used to say you could keep slaves and beat your wife with a stick as long as the stick was no thicker than your thumb. Or you can do a better job of protecting your livestock. Instead of focusing only on what's legal, focus instead on what's morally right, compassionate, neighborly, and ethical. You'll be a better person.

 

[ConPollos]

You would need actual "hot" chicken fencing. A single hot wire won't be enough to keep them completely safe. Hot wires are usually to keep something in, not keep a hungry animal out. Hungry enough they will find a way. Especially from an area where the winters were harsh, this time of year is always the worst for preds.

Better yet, you would need a heat sensing robot with lasers  to zap unwanted preds programmed in it's database.  <----- I actually had a dream that I had one of these. 

A single hot wire is often all it takes, but I have no problem running multiple hot wires or doing a six strand hot fence with the wires spaced 6" apart, which keeps coyotes out and is mich cheaper than a traditional fence.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

State law is very explicit about livestock fences where I live regarding number and spacing of wires, posts, etc, and my fences do not have to be dog proof.
Being allowed to shoot a dog is not a loophole in the law; it is the law. I am not required to use llamas, donkeys, rakes or sticks to protect my animals.
It's the dog's owner responsiblity to have a dog proof fence.

You can stick to the letter of the law even though laws get passed by bribes and cronyism, so the laws are often the result of corruption. Remember, the laws used to say you could keep slaves and beat your wife with a stick as long as the stick was no thicker than your thumb. Or you can do a better job of protecting your livestock. Instead of focusing only on what's legal, focus instead on what's morally right, compassionate, neighborly, and ethical. You'll be a better person.

No, I do not remember when when it was legal to keep slaves or beat your wife with a stick and neither do you.
Your opinion of my morals and ethics are irrevelant. Fact of the matter is that in my state if your dog is inside my fence YOU are in violation of the law, not ME. How I deal with it is my decision and subject to Grand Jury scrutiny if my actions are questionable.

I am under no fiduciary duty concerning your roaming dog.
For your dog's safety YOU should do a better job of protecting YOUR dog by keeping it away from MY animals.