Identifying and Dealing with Predators (Episode 2)

All Creatures Great and Fabulous

Dealing with predators is on of the most difficult parts of running a poultry farm. In this episode we discuss how to identify which predators are getting your birds and tips how to reduce your predator risk.

A larger version can be seen here:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5936519

Or download via iTunes

Some of the tips we discussed:

• From October – March keep your birds under a run until Noon-ish. Hawk attacks are much more likely in the morning.
• Fox hunt the most heavily around March, when they are feeding pups, and late fall when newly mature fox are setting up new hunting ranges. During these time the deadly hours are dawn and dusk. So don’t let your chickens out too early and close up your coops as early as possible in the evening.
• Trapping an releasing small mammals (raccoon, possum and such) seems to keep them away. My belief is that a trapped animal is likely to leave scent markers (pheromones) warning other animals to keep away.
• Predator urine seems to help too. You can purchase some or just pee along your fencelines (or in a bucket if modesty is required).

Links from the show:

http://www.predatorpee.com/