what predator do you hate most?

[CMV]

Irresponsible dog owners. I have never lost any birds to dogs, but friends have lost about 3 flocks (including 3 birds as gifts from my flocks) to roaming dogs. So upset for them.

I live in the middle of the woods and have only lost a handful of birds over the years to predation. Frustrating, but expected. My friends live in the middle of the nearby city and have lost 3 entire flocks. All due to someone else's stupidity and irresponsibility. Ridiculous. They have since given up on poultry keeping. So sad.

 

[terrilhb]

Dogs.

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
YOU ARE RIGHT ON!! Can not blame animals for owners not doing the right thing and being responsible.

X3 and humans in general.. have seen too many people lose birds to other people who decide to show up in the dead of night and steal the birds.. i mean.. whatever happened to ASKING for one or offering to buy one?

critters are just doing what they do.. be it a raccoon or a fox who is hungry or a dog who thinks the birds are toys.. but people are a whole different story...

 

[woodmort]

I've lost birds to skunks, possums, weasels, hawks, foxes and dogs. The first 5 were doing their thing to get a meal. The last had everything they needed in the way of shelter and food. I don't know as I "hate" them as much as dislike and fear having them around my birds.

 

[Manningjw]

Quote:
I always wonder how people lose so many chickens to dogs? Do they have a fenced yard where they free range? Mid day attacks?

So far we have been lucky, have yet to lose a bird to domestic or wild animals. We probably would have if we hadn't completely enclosed their run when they were younger. Several cats in the neighborhood were eyeballing them as chicks, now not so much. Now they are able to free range during the day within a fenced area and are locked up at night because of raccoons.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Coons above all else. The only animal I kill on sight at my place.

Then dogs.

Everything else is a distant third.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
Dogs can be relentless. I've had them take free ranging chickens but also have had them go over a 6' high fence to get at birds and then bust through the netting covering the pen. Most wild animals aren't the desperate but will take what opportunity allows. Consider yourself lucky--but it depends on where you live and how long you have been keeping chickens--sooner or later.....

 

[dawg53]

Snakes. This place crawls. I've lost quite a few birds to them over the years.

 

[Dutchess]

Quote:
x2

 

[Mattemma]

I hate hawks because you are not allowed to kill them when they are killing off your flock. I can kill all the rest so they don't bother me so much.