Gotcha! Well, hardware cloth would definitely help with that. Here in the USA, it's very expensive. Do the snakes climb? If they aren't climbing snakes, maybe just a bit around the bottom edge would work.
I love their personalities and their cute faces. Their pretty eggs are nice too. They are also quieter than some of my other chickens, for some reason. Over all they have been healthier than some of the other breeds I have kept. Nice birds!
I had a silkie disappear once, and found her inside a cinder block. The goofy creature was hiding and couldn't find her way out. I hope your girl turns up.
So sorry for your losses. And everyone else's too. I have heard more baby raccoons this year in people's barns and trees than I've ever heard before. My extra protection for my flock consists of a hotwire strung three strands high, starting at about a foot high around the outside of their...
Definitely post a photo! If you don't have any mature roosters, its possible she is just the dominant hen. If you do, then yes, she may be both.. it happens sometimes in chickens. I have had a couple hens in the past that were just that dominating over the flock too."
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Here are a few pics...
Ok all you experienced folks, I"m hoping you can help me with a puzzle. I have a Naked Neck that was supposed to be sexed as a pullet. It looks like all my other pullets, comb-wise and tail-wise. Everyone is laying now, so I can't tell who lays what. But this particular bird I have observed...
I paid $70 for a free ranged turkey that weighed around 14lbs. from Moody Meats 2 years ago. It was pricey, but worth it in flavor and being humanely raised.
You should read this thread from the beginning if you haven't already done so. There's a lot of helpful info in it. To me, your chickens' injuries don't sound like peck injuries. They sound very similar to the rat bites my frind's hen had.Only you can decide when to give up or not. Good luck...