Harmless Predator Prevention Techniques

The farm animals that are under threat from predators are poultry but most specifically, chicken.

Both wild and domestic predators can cause huge losses to poultry. The most common chicken predators are domestic dogs, foxes, hawk (particularly chicken hawks), rats and snakes that go for the chicks.

Natural techniques can also be used to protect the poultry. Dogs can be used as protection animals but not protect chickens, the dog has to be well trained so that it does not kill the chicken either intentionally or non- intentionally.

Another method would be to use guinea fowl to protect the chicken. Though the guinea fowl are extremely noisy animals, they are effective in chasing away any animals that is a mammal and will also rid the farm of pest and bugs such as ticks thus not only protecting the chicken but also the other animals.

A good natural deer deterrent is to use human hair. It has been proved that deers scamper when they smell humans thus the smell from the human hair will keep the deer away. Soap can also be used to keep deers away especially those that have a strong smell keep of the deer. These are effective ecological friendly method that do not cause any harm to the animal but just concentrates on keeping them far away.

Another natural deer deterrent is use of plants. There are some plants such as hyssops that the deer dislikes and these when planted along the fence of the farm can make a useful prevention method as the deers will tend to keep away once they are able to smell these plants.

Most predators are frightened of noises. This can be used advantageously to keep of predators by using systems that will produce sound. This can be in the form of a radio with a high volume or it can be in the form of pots, pans and metal sheets that will rattle in the wind. The farmer can also attract owls to his farm that may provide the occasional but necessary movement and noise that will frighten the night predators.

Deers can also be kept at bay by use of plants and bushes along the fence as they will not to pass through or pass over them.

Some predators are resilient in their attacks and will wait for an opportunity to present itself for them; it is advisable to use methods that are ecologically friendly so as to maintain the balance in nature. Farmers are advised not to go for the methods that will kill the predators and of they prove to be a bigger method, all the techniques available can be combined to provide effective protection.

To protect chickens, the farmer is advised that prevention is better than cure and has to ensure that the coop is safe from all harm and that the chicken are properly locked in at night. During the day when the chickens are free to ream about, it is advisable to keep an eye on them at all times to keep off day predators such as the chicken hawks.