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Pages collated by
Jill Bowis of
started November 1999
These pages are being made up from the wealth of practical and technical knowledge that can be found on the newsgroup. None of the topics are finished - they probably never will be - we always have something to learn. If there is something you wnat to know that is not here - get on the group and ask - they are a really friendly group and no question is too simple - and hopefully if it is complicated someone will be able to help find the answer. The group is made up from all walks of poultry keeping from 2 birds in the city to commercial egg and meat producers - and from all over the world.
PREDATORS - identification - usual M.O - prevention methods - legal
USA (states reported)
Raccoons - California
Bear
Skunk
Dogs (and protective breeds)
Oppossum - California
Hawks - difficult to protect
from with free range birds as the attack is swift and from overhead.
Owls - plucked carcass
UK
Foxes - all UK (except some
islands) becoming very tame in urban and southern areas - most times will
take one or two but keep coming back, occasionally will frenzy kill and
destroy everything. Electric fencing net and well positioned strands are
good prevention, as is shutting in EVERY night and a secure pen with a
secure top - they climb well. Usually don't take carcasses too far away
to eat so remains may be found (wings and legs). A big strong fox can take
a goose, but a good sized flock will usually deter.
Otters - usually near flowing
water and coast - rarely in populated areas or poluted water, usually only
take one but will return, usually take carcass well away from 'scene of
the crime'. Mostly chickens and ducks.
Mink - usually near flowing
water
Pine Marten - usually near
woodland
Dogs -
Australia
Q- There are no foxes where
I live, but a couple of the chickens have been killed in the last month.
All the evidence left is a pool of feathers where something has plucked
the chicken clean. I suspect a cat.
Is there a difference between
a cat and a dog attack on a chicken? I haven't been able to find any blood
at all anywhere near the feathers (probably indicating the chook was dead
and was carried to the place it was plucked in), just a neat pile of feathers
around a spot where whatever did it was sitting.
A -Owls pluck all the feathers
they can, then consume the whole chicken if they can--if not, they eat
the head. Raccoons eat crops and necks (one or two heads) Dogs
(domestic and wild) take the carcass away and bury or eat it, often leaving
but a trace. Cats will maul the bird and try to take it to a safe
place to eat, sometimes up a tree. Hawks will also pluck their prey,
often not killing it first. Often they will fly away with it if possible
and pluck it in a secluded place up to 1/4 mile away. If a hawk eats
the bird at the kill site, they usually leave the ribs and big bones intact.
Possums usually only eat the entrails (if they kill one at all).
Weasels kill, but usually are unable to eat the birds, because it is their
habit to swallow the prey.
Most predators can go on a killing spree and leave dead ones scattered
all over the yard, but still leave telltale signs.
Q -This morning I found one
of my Cochin chickens dead with a wound on the neck. Could this be
the work of a weasel?