In our area, there are
many different predators that can easily prey on poultry if given the
opportunity. This list includes coyotes, raccoons, foxes, weasels, birds of
prey, opossums, skunks, rodents, snakes, and domestic animals like dogs and
cats. Chickens are most vulnerable to predators due to their size. Turkeys and
large ducks are less prone to predation. Younger and smaller birds are also
more likely to be preyed upon.
Signs of Predation
Since poultry owners
don’t usually witness an attack, the only clue to the type of predator is the
pattern it leaves on the flock.
Birds are missing —
coyotes, dogs, birds of prey, fox, raccoon.
Hawks will take birds during the day. Owls take birds at night. Coyotes and fox
will remove the birds. Domestic dogs will not eat the birds at the site of the
attack. Scattered feathers in an area may be a sign of birds that have
panicked. Birds frightened by predators may be found dead in a pile from
smothering each other. Raccoons may take several birds in one night. The breast
and crop can be torn and chewed, and the entrails sometimes are eaten. There
may be bits of flesh near water.
Missing heads — birds
of prey and raccoons.
Poultry enclosed in pens made of loose meshing are easy prey. Birds of prey can
scare birds and cause them to jump or fly up, allowing their heads to protrude
through the meshing. Birds of prey will then grab the heads. Raccoons can also
reach through openings grabbing and ripping off the bird’s head through the
meshing and wire caging. Weasels and minks will kill many birds and eat only
the heads.
Missing limbs —
raccoons. Raccoons are known
for their nimble paws and intelligence. If birds are kept in a mesh-style pen,
raccoons are able to reach nearby, unsuspecting birds and pull their legs off.
Missing eggs or
chicks — opossums, skunks, rats, cats, snakes, and birds of prey. Opossums and skunks prey at night.
Free-range birds and birds in unprotected nests are easy targets for these
predators. Rats can carry away day-old chicks and can also bite older birds in
the hock joint, which can cause a swelling and infection. Snakes will consume
small birds and eggs whole.
Birds with
lacerations near the cloaca — weasels, mink.
Weasels bite at the vent region, pulling out the intestines. Some birds can be
found walking around, dragging their intestines. Weasels and their relatives
also kill for fun, which can leave scattered feathers with bloody or torn
carcasses.
Mauled birds, eggs
raided — opossums, skunks.
Opossums will raid poultry houses, usually killing one chicken at a time, often
mauling the victim. Eggs will be mashed and messy, the shells often chewed into
small pieces and left in the nest. Opossums usually begin feeding on poultry at
the cloacal opening. Young poultry or game birds are consumed entirely and only
a few wet feathers left. Skunks will kill one or two birds and maul them. When
skunks raid nests, the eggs are usually opened at one end; the edges are
crushed as the skunk punches its nose into the hole to lick out the contents.
The eggs may appear to have been hatched, except for the edges. Weasels and
minks will raid nests for eggs. They eat the eggs by breaking in on the ends.
Here are some other
signs of predation:
Birds, usually
turkeys, found dead in enclosed corners.
Turkeys will huddle in an area away from open sides to avoid predators that may
be stalking around the perimeter. The weight of the huddled birds is enough to
suffocate and/or crush the birds below.
Birds found with
missing feathers and abrasions.
Cats may prey upon large birds, but are usually unsuccessful.
Birds, usually
layers, with wounds found around the vent region. Although this can be predation of some
kind, this may also be the result of cannibalism if a bird has a prolapsed
rectum after passing an egg. Chickens will be attracted to the bright red
tissue and will peck at it, causing wounds.
Prevention
of Predation
The easiest way to
protect flocks from predation is to keep flocks secure within buildings.
However, for the majority of backyard flocks and organic flocks, this isn’t
desirable. The next best tool for these small flocks is prevention. Build
predator resistant fences and poultry coops/houses. Lock your birds up at night
and maintain a vigilant eye. Open poultry houses should be enclosed by fine
meshing to prevent entry by wild birds.
This all day workshop will be
taught by Jim and Valerie Duever of Jim ‘n’ I Farms, Inc. The speakers have
taught several beginning beekeeping workshops and are very passionate about
educating people on beekeeping. Come learn about how to start, manage and
maintain productive honeybee colonies through an entire year. Also, there will
be doing a hands-on building of a hive. This hive will be given away as a door
prize.
The
Farmers Market of the Ozarks received a MO Dept of Agriculture Specialty Block
Grant and will be holding 5 winter seminars for farmers who sell or want to
sell at farmers market. The seminars
are FREE and will be held at the Bond Learning Center
in Springfield, MO.
The 2012 Missouri LivestockSymposium features something for everyone, according to Garry Mathes, Symposium
chair. This year’s Symposium will be held December 7 & 8 at the Kirksville
Middle School, 1515 S. Cottage Grove in Kirksville, MO. There is no cost to
attend and no registration is required. “Just show up and take advantage of
everything the Symposium committee has put together for you,” says Mathes.
Symposium hours will be from 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday, December 7 and from 8 a.m.
until 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 8.
The sheep and meat goat
sections this year feature talks on “Can Selection Reduce Disease?” “Selecting
Ewes That Reduce Labor,” “Why Hairsheep
are Becoming Popular” and “The Sheep Economy.” 
These descriptions are highly
simplified. Their acceptance may vary by state. Producers must consult the full
USDA regulations to learn whether they qualify for an exemption. And they must
meet all state and local regulations.
1. Federal, state and
local meat processing and handling regulations. See the Code of Federal
Regulations, http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=%2Findex.tpl,
specifically Title 9 Animals and Animal Products, Part 303 Exemptions, and Part
381 Poultry Products Inspection Regulations.
In our area, there are
many different predators that can easily prey on poultry if given the
opportunity. This list includes coyotes, raccoons, foxes, weasels, birds of
prey, opossums, skunks, rodents, snakes, and domestic animals like dogs and
cats. Chickens are most vulnerable to predators due to their size. Turkeys and
large ducks are less prone to predation. Younger and smaller birds are also
more likely to be preyed upon.
Water
Requirements 
Missouri producers and agribusinesses interested in developing or expanding their value-added agriculture operations can now apply for grants through the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA). The Value-Added Agriculture Grant Program is currently accepting applications for funding to assist farmers with business planning expenses for projects that develop, process or market agricultural goods.
This is a reminder that the 2013 NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grant
Proposals are due Thursday, November 29th at 4:30 p.m. at the NCR-SARE office
in Saint Paul, MN.
November 20th is the upcoming deadline for
producers to apply for coverage through Farm Service Agency’s Noninsured Crop
Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). NAP provides financial assistance to
producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented
planting occur due to normal disasters. This deadline pertains to the
following crops:
Do you have a CSA program or
are you planning to start one? Would you like guidance in how legal documents
can help you achieve your CSA goals?
On November 10, 2012, this workshop will address
farm business planning and business management. Katherine Kelly, Executive Director
of Cultivate KC, will outline the basic steps for developing and implementing a
successful business plan. We will also do some interactive activities to get audience
members thinking about how they will develop their own business plans. Nick and
Loretta Rivard of Nick’s Greenleaf Gardens will discuss basics of business management
as well as their experiences developing their own business over the last 20 years.
They will also provide a tour of their farm after the workshop.