Chicken Predator...Information

Note: This is page 2 of our chicken predator information, page one is here: Chicken Predators.

Hawk

Hawks are carnivores with powerful, hooked beaks; their feet have 3 toes pointed forward and one turned back; and their claws are long, curved and razor-sharp with an eyesight that is many times greater than human beings. They are able to see a mouse from a height of one mile.

Adult hawks have dark brown colored feathers on the back and the top of their wings and normally weigh between 2 and 4 pounds with a wingspan that may reach as wide as 56 inches.

Hawks are chicken predators and generally kill their prey with their claws and tear them into bite-sized pieces with their powerful and razor-sharp beak.

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Raccoon

One of the most common farm chicken predators is the raccoon. They are able to live near to human beings and are highly adaptable and smart.

A grown raccoon is about 32 inches long (including the tail) and weighs between 11 to 18 pounds although some weigh up to 30 pounds; normally male raccoons are bigger than the females of the species. The most unique characteristics of the raccoon are the black-ringed tail and coloration of the face which bears a similarity to a bandit's mask.

Raccoons attack their prey by biting the head or upper neck region. They are known to mutilate chickens by pulling heads or legs off. They are also known to prey on wild birds and water fowls.

Skunk

Skunks present little or no danger to adult chickens, however they generally prey on the chicks and eggs. There are 4 varieties of skunks you ought to be on the look out for – the hooded skunk, the striped skunk, the spotted skunk, and the hog-nosed skunk, with the spotted skunk recognized as more dangerous because they know how to climb. Skunks are nocturnal in nature but they steer clear of farms which have geese, dogs or cats.

Adult skunks are approximately 24 inches long (including a 7 to 10 inch tail) and weigh between 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. Normally, male skunks are larger and heavier than the females.

Skunks sometimes kill chickens and consume eggs but they don't climb fences to get at their prey.

I hope you have found this chicken predator information useful. For more in-depth information, I strongly recommend that you check out Building A Chicken Coop.

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