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Do Chickens Scare Away Deer? 

do chickens scare deer away

There’s a myth going around that claims deer won’t go near a property with chickens. This has a lot of deer hunters wondering “do chickens scare away deer?

There is no evidence pointing towards deer being afraid of chicken. Many property owners with chickens will tell you quite the opposite because they are often finding deer and deer tracks in their yard. This is because deer are actually attracted to chicken feed.

Are you under the impression that chickens keep deer away? You’ve come to the right page. We’re going to discuss why people believe deer are afraid of chicken. Keep reading to learn more.

Are Deer Afraid of Chickens?

Deer aren’t known to be afraid of chickens. If there is chicken feed that the deer can access on your property, it won’t be afraid of the birds when it’s coming in for a bite to eat. That being said, you may be wondering why people are under the impression that deer are frightened by chickens.

Chickens attract predators, so if the deer can sense predators around your property, they will avoid your land. Some of the predators that chickens attract include:

  • Foxes
  • Owls
  • Raccoons
  • Mink
  • Coyotes
  • Dogs

Many of these predators are also attracted to deer. Deer are smart animals, so they won’t approach a property if danger is present.

Can You Deter Predators So They Don’t Scare Away Deer?

If you own chickens and hunt deer, then you need to seriously consider the steps you take toward predator management. The best way to deter predators is to invest in good-quality fencing for your chickens. While many experts will suggest electric fencing, this could hurt the deer if it’s attracted to the chicken feed.

Since electric fencing will scare the deer away from your land, you should install a mesh wire fence instead. Make sure the openings in the fence are very smaller and never larger than one inch. Make sure you install the fence at least one foot underground so predators don’t come in that way.

You should also limit the amount of feed you’re giving to the chickens. Predators are more likely to come to the area if they smell the chicken feed. For this reason, try to only feed the chickens what they can eat.

Best Ways to Attract Deer When Chickens Are Around

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Chickens won’t keep deer away from your property. Once you have secured your chickens so predators won’t be attracted to your property, you can work on attracting deer. Let’s take a look at some expert tips for attracting deer to your yard.

We recommend using a deer attractant like this one from Amazon. There’s no mixing required with this formula. Simply place it on the ground to help attract deer.

Long Grass

If the grass on your property is long, deer are more likely to be attracted to your yard. However, you likely don’t want a lawn full of long grass, so we have a great compromising suggestion for you. Grow a border of long grass towards the back of your property. This will attract the deer your way.

Plant What Deer Eat

Deer are like most animals, always on the search for food. One of the easiest ways to attract a deer to your yard is with food sources. While deer are likely to feast on most crops, some of the plants known to attract them include:

  • Orchardgrass
  • Chicory
  • Red Clover
  • Kale
  • Corn
  • Alfalfa
  • Soyabeans
  • Peas
  • Turnip
  • Sorghum
  • Nuts

One tip we have is to be aware of what other people in your area have growing. For example, you may think corn is a good idea to plant. However, if you live near a farmer where there is an entire field of corn growing, it won’t stand out to the deer. Try to choose crops that aren’t growing in abundance nearby.

Salt Blocks

Deer are highly attracted to salt, which is why salt and mineral blocks are a great way to attract deer. Many people have had success attracting deer by burying salt blocks a few inches into the ground. Before you know it, you’ll see more deer in your yard.

Final Thoughts

Do chickens scare deer away? Deer aren’t afraid of chickens, but they are afraid of the preditors that are attracted to chickens. If deer are avoiding your property, it isn’t because of your chickens. One of the best ways to avoid this is by making sure you have your chicken secured in a good quality fence.

Once you keep the predators off of your property, the deer will be more willing to come around. However, you may have to put some effort into attracting them.

Deer are more likely to visit a property if the grass is long. Try to grow the grass long around the edge of your property and clear away any brush that could be in the deer’s way. You should also plant crops that attract deer because they are always looking for food.

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