Owning a flock of chickens can be a rewarding and educational hobby as well as a source of fresh eggs. While more often a problem for small and backyard flocks, predators can cause damage and loss of birds on farms of all sizes (Table 1). This damage can range from an occasional bird loss to many birds nightly until the problem is fixed. While some predators will only kill/take birds, others will also cause damage to your coops, barns, or fields. These problems are even worse if the birds are pets or part of a 4H/FFA project. Predation increases when birds roam outside without protection, especially if the farm/residence is located near woods or a forest. Protecting your birds is a full-time job. Losing birds to predators can cause heartache as well as financial losses. If you choose to raise birds, it is imperative that you take every precaution to prevent predation.
Canine Predators Include Dogs, Foxes and Coyotes Dogs are one of the most common poultry predators (Figure 1). This problem can be especially troublesome for those that live close to neighbors or subdivisions. Dogs will often chase and maul birds and leave them lying around the yard. Some will take a bird home with them, making it easier to identify the culprit. Most dogs do not cause trouble unless they are running in a pack. Foxes are notorious predators on poultry farms in rural areas but can also be a problem for those in town. Foxes are intelligent, sly and persistent once they find that they can get an easy meal. Foxes are careful and may stake out a coop for several days before they attack. They are often more of a problem in spring when they are raising young and other food sources are in short supply. Foxes may remove several birds from the coop in a single raid/ attack. Footprints and scattered feathers are often the only clues left behind both in and outside the coop, as foxes usually take the birds back to their den or another safe area. Coyotes will also take chickens and leave signs similar to foxes, making it difficult to identify the predator. A coyote often tunnels under the pen or forces its way in, leaving evidence, while a fox rarely leaves such evidence behind. Coyotes can dig into fenced areas rapidly and can jump fences up to 5 feet high.