| Being a chicken is a dangerous occupation. Here are | | | | away. |
| some of the animals that pose the greatest threat to | | | | Hawk |
| your chickens. | | | | Hawks are carnivores with strong, hooked beaks; their |
| Coyote | | | | feet have three toes pointed forward and one turned |
| They are most active at night but in places where their | | | | back; and their claws are long, curved and very sharp |
| natural habitat is still undisturbed by human settlements | | | | with an eyesight that is several times better than |
| and activities, they are also active during the day | | | | humans. They can see a mouse from a height of as |
| especially during cool weather. There are coyotes | | | | high as one mile. |
| however that have already adapted to the presence | | | | Hawks usually kill their preys with their claws and tear |
| of humans and they tend to be active even during day | | | | them to bite-size pieces with their strong and sharp |
| time. | | | | beak. |
| Coyotes prey on domestic fowl like chickens, ducks, | | | | Raccoon |
| geese and turkeys. Simply shooting these predators | | | | One of the most common predators of poultry farms |
| won't stop them, you either have to trap them or | | | | is the raccoon. They are can live close to humans and |
| better yet, make sure that the area surrounding your | | | | are very adaptable and intelligent. |
| chicken coop is coyote-proof. | | | | A grown raccoon is about 32 inches long (including the |
| Fisher Cat | | | | tail) and weighs between 11 to 18 pounds although |
| A member of the weasel family, the fisher cat is also | | | | some weigh as much as 30 pounds; generally male |
| known as the pekan cat or black cat. Fishers live in a | | | | raccoons are larger than the females of the species. |
| band in the forest are only in the North American | | | | The most distinctive features of the raccoon are the |
| continent. | | | | black-ringed tail and coloration of the face which bears |
| They have short legs, small ears, and a long | | | | a resemblance to a bandit's mask. |
| well-furred tail. The color of their coat ranges from | | | | Skunk |
| dark brown to nearly black. They have large feet with | | | | Skunks pose little or no threat to adult chickens, but |
| five sharp toes which they use for climbing trees and | | | | they usually prey on the chicks and eggs. There are |
| killing their prey. | | | | four types of skunks you should be on the look out for |
| Fox | | | | - the hooded skunk, the striped skunk, the spotted |
| Foxes are quick and highly skilled hunters, preying on | | | | skunk, and the hog-nosed skunk with the spotted |
| mice, cottontail rabbits and poultry birds. Although | | | | skunk acknowledged as more dangerous since they |
| primarily nocturnal, they are active and sometimes | | | | know how to climb. Skunks are nocturnal in nature but |
| come out to hunt also during daylight hours. | | | | they stay away from farms that have geese, dogs or |
| Foxes are the nemesis of chicken owners. They | | | | cats. |
| normally hunt 2 hours after sundown and 2 hours | | | | Discover the numerous advantages of raising chickens |
| before sunup and carry off their prey a good distance | | | | in your backyard chicken coop by visiting my website. |