London, Europe Brief News – Learn about four common homestead predators and what to do to keep them away from your chickens, goats, and other livestock.
1. Hawks
Hawks are fierce predators who typically go after small livestock such as chickens and ducks. If you suddenly find a chicken missing without a trace, it’s safe to assume that a hawk got a hold of them.
Getting a dog or another large livestock animal can work wonders for keeping hawks away. The constant movement and size of the animal scares this daytime predator away. The main threat would come if the hawks in your area are extremely desperate and willing to take their chances.
2. Coyotes
Coyotes will target both small and medium-sized livestock, such as young goats, lambs, pigs, chickens, and ducks. When attacking in a group, they’re even known for going after larger livestock such as cattle.
Many homesteaders have taken to adding miniature donkeys to their property, as they’re known to protect livestock from coyotes. Miniature donkeys will chase and repeatedly kick the predators. Add them to your pasture with your other livestock and keep them near throughout the night. You’d be surprised just how effectively they keep the coyotes away.
You should also consider installing our solar LED deterrent lights. The two red lights displayed will trigger the flight response in nighttime predators, scaring them away.
3. Foxes
Foxes primarily feed on rabbits, rodents, poultry, and young livestock. Similar to hawks, there may not be much evidence of a fox attack. Since they’re so sly, foxes can easily snag one of your smaller livestock and drag them off to a secluded spot to eat.
If you find nothing more than a few drops of blood and some feathers, it’s likely a fox attacked and took their prey back to their den. They also crack eggs just enough to lick the inside, leaving the shells behind.
Though they’re extremely agile and sneaky, foxes are easily startled. Installing some of our solar LED deterrent lights should do the trick. Motion activated lights and miniature donkeys would work as well.
4. Opossums
Opossums are generally pretty lazy predators, and will attack when the opportunity easily presents itself. They’ll typically go for sick, injured, or young livestock. However, their potential to spread disease is high. Opossums have been known to bite larger livestock, spreading the deadly EPM disease.
It is important that you keep all feed safely locked away, as the disease can be passed to your livestock this way as well. Open feed containers would attract various pest and predatory animals anyway, so this is good practice.
The best way to deter opossums would be a combination of installing our Solar LED Deterrent Lights, and keeping your yard clean and free of debris.
