There are several choices available for protecting your hens from predators, even though it can be difficult to keep them safe from all dangers!
The easiest and most effective way is to keep your birds housed in a secure run and coop. If predators can’t get in then they can’t kill your birds.
However, if you free range your birds you may struggle to find ways to reduce losses. As more people get into homesteading and raising poultry, livestock guardian animals are becoming more popular.
Apart from the standard practice of using dogs as security on farms, larger varieties of poultry are also used to protect flocks of chickens.
Dogs are intelligent, trainable, good companions, and quite frightening to a lot of different kinds of wildlife. There are many different breeds out there and they’re becoming easier to find.
The Great Pyrenees is a great option for anyone that is looking for a guardian for their chickens. They are smart and can effectively patrol a large yard.
They are friendlier with humans than a lot of other guardian breeds, which is fantastic if you need something that won’t try to run away from your friends, family, delivery staff, or clients!
Though they are far more distant than Great Pyrenees, those who live in hotter climates may find these commanding dogs appealing.
They are not very friendly and are quite territorial, so a lot of training and socialization is important.
The Polish Tatra Sheepdog is one of the sweeter guardian breeds and is considered to be very gentle.
They are also known for “alert barking” and placing themselves between a predator and the flock they’re protecting.
The best course of action is to talk to breeders and find out which breeds are popular in your area because there are a lot of other breeds of livestock guardian dogs available.
Contrary to popular belief, these dogs won’t automatically come to guard your hens; the real work begins at the breed selection stage!
Finding a breeder whose dogs have a history of protecting poultry is your best bet if you want a dog that will actually protect chickens.
Not all dogs will protect birds and many were actually bred to protect other livestock like sheep.
Puppies are also prone to play with objects; on rare occasions, this can even extend to playing with chickens until they pass away.
Due to their size and slow growth, livestock guardian dogs require careful supervision and training in order for them to succeed during their formative years. Training should take two to three years.
Keeping chickens can be a rewarding experience, but it also comes with the responsibility of protecting them from predators. Many chicken keepers turn to guard animals like dogs or even turkeys for this purpose. But can a turkey really protect chickens?
This article delves into the world of mixed flocks, exploring the potential benefits and drawbacks of keeping turkeys with chickens. We’ll analyze the evidence, consider real-life experiences, and provide insights to help you decide if a turkey is the right protector for your feathered friends
Can Turkeys Protect Chickens?
The answer is a bit complex. Turkeys, especially toms, can exhibit protective behaviors towards chickens. They are large and intimidating, which can deter predators like foxes and hawks. Additionally, turkeys are known for their vigilance and loud gobbling, which can alert you to potential threats.
Real-Life Experiences
Several chicken keepers have shared positive experiences with turkeys guarding their flocks. Some say their turkeys have successfully scared off predators, while others value their alertness and deafening calls. Backyard Chickens user Marylamb explains how her tom turkey merged into her flock naturally and shields her hens from danger.
Potential Drawbacks
While turkeys can be valuable protectors, there are also potential drawbacks to consider. Tom turkeys may act aggressively toward hens during the mating season in an effort to mate. This can lead to injuries or even death for the hens. Furthermore, turkeys can be very large and noisy, which could stress out your chicken coop or cause damage to it.
Another user of Backyard Chickens, FarmerMac, draws attention to this issue by describing how, in a fight, his tom turkey almost killed one of his roosters.
Making the Decision
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to keep a turkey with your chickens depends on your individual circumstances. If you have a large, secure coop and are willing to separate the turkey during breeding season, a turkey could be a valuable addition to your flock. However, if you have limited space or are concerned about potential aggression, it might be best to choose a different guard animal.
Additional Considerations
- Choose the right breed: Some turkey breeds are known to be more docile and less aggressive towards chickens than others. Bourbon Reds, for example, are often praised for their gentle nature.
- Gradually introduce the turkey to your chickens to allow them to adjust and establish a hierarchy.
- Monitor their behavior: Keep a close eye on your turkey and chickens, especially during breeding season, to intervene if necessary.
While turkeys can be effective protectors for chickens, it’s important to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks before making a decision. By considering your individual circumstances and taking the necessary precautions, you can create a safe and harmonious environment for both your chickens and your turkey.
Other Poultry Can Protect Chickens
Since dogs aren’t always the best at watching over chickens and not everyone wants to keep roosters, some people decide to keep other kinds of birds!
The most common one to use to protect chickens is the goose.
Geese are very territorial and can be quite aggressive. You don’t need to train them to protect poultry like a dog, either.
Even if the predator is too big for your goose to ward off, they can still make enough noise to get your attention!
They can detect hawks and other soaring predators with precision, allowing the chickens to seek shelter in time.
People usually decide to raise one goose with the chickens in order to get the goose to accept the flock of chickens as “their” flock. Geese will often group together and protect each other instead of the chickens.
A whole flock of geese can be very intimidating to predators, even though they won’t actively defend the chickens. In fact, they can be more than a threat to any predator.
Turkeys are sometimes used to protect chickens, but there can be some complications. Chickens can carry blackhead which turkeys are susceptible to and some turkeys have been known to kill chickens.
Guinea fowl are sometimes considered as a guard animal, but they really are more of an alarm animal. They are exceptionally loud normally and are even louder when there’s a predator!.
The peafowl is another entertaining, but noisy, bird you can use to protect your chickens. In addition to being gorgeous, these birds also eat a lot of pests, including snakes!.
Considering how they like to roam and how good they are at flying, there’s a chance your peafowl will take off and leave your chickens exposed.
Roosters Are a Good Flock Guardian
The classic chicken defender is a rooster and many people that free-range keep one for this purpose!
They naturally defend hens from predators, and many will lay down their lives to keep their ladies safe. It might be wiser to select a game cock or a large breed rooster, like a Brahma, or something extremely aggressive.
But roosters can be aggressive toward humans as well as other animals, including dogs, cats, and even other livestock.
Pick one that is polite and kind to your flock because they have the power to make the hens a little crazy if their desires take precedence over the hens’.
You will also need to get a new rooster if the current one dies because some roosters choose to live independently. Even if a rooster is killed a predator could still go after the hens.
While it’s common to find roosters for little to no cost, it might be harder to find quality roosters or certain breeds.
Adding Turkeys to Your Chicken Flock
FAQ
What is the best bird to protect chickens?
What is the best animal to guard chickens?
Do turkeys and chickens get along?
What animal will protect chickens from hawks?
Do turkeys protect chickens from predators?
If you are planning on raising chickens, you might wonder if turkeys can help protect them from predators. The answer is, sadly, no. Turkeys are not known to be particularly good guard animals, and they will not chase away hawks or other birds of prey to save a chicken.
What are the health benefits of ground turkey?
Ground turkey has multiple benefits. It is a good source of minerals, and B vitamins, rich in proteins, low in fat and it is lower in calories than common turkey.
Can you keep a Turkey with a chicken?
For those of us who want to keep a pet turkey with their chickens, be sure you introduce mature turkeys into your chicken flock. Young turkey poults are fragile, and an infection of histomoniasis is usually fatal. If you do have blackhead in your flock, mature turkeys have a better chance of surviving an infection.
Do turkeys kill chickens?
Despite not actively defending the chickens, they can be more than what any predator wants to confront. Turkeys are sometimes used to protect chickens, but there can be some complications. Chickens can carry blackhead which turkeys are susceptible to and some turkeys have been known to kill chickens.