NY chicken lover!!!! - Page 1125

Quote:

Originally Posted by featherz 

Vmdanielson...
My idea for the pad would require running a ground wire from it to a ground stake. I think my run will work fine as it's a welded wire fence with insulators, but the high up wire on the coop is on wood using insulators.
Typing on my iPad, so hard to blather on much Hee Hee.

excellent!  Good luck!

Featherz--mine are all confined to their run/coop while we are at work.  When dh gets home (as he is usually first) he lets them out to freerange with supervision.  They all whine on really nice days but they get over it.  I would rather they be safe than lose any. 

Rotten chipmunk was raiding the silkie coop for feed.  Caught it red pawed as I was refilling the waterer tonight.  Told dh he needs to eliminate it.  Everyone got some time outside today so they were happy. 

Get this, kids.  When I went down to the coop shortly before I left for work, I found two eggshells outside the coop AND outside the run.  They hadn't been there before, so I have a diurnal egg thief.  The lineup of possible suspects:

- The suspected weasel.  Points for - they're small enough to get into tiny spots, can be both nocturnal and diurnal, and like eggs.  Points against - there has been no attack on the birds themselves, and this includes on little birds like the Peeps.  I'd think a weasel would be happy to try to rip up a bird given half a chance.

- Gray squirrels.  Points for - we have a LOT of squirrels around here, they're diurnal, and they're known to be opportunistic little creepers that like eggs when they can get them.  My property is partially wooded, so the squirrels are a fact of life.  They're also big.  I've seen more than one of them make a break for it from INSIDE the run when I've gone out there.  The chickens don't even look twice at them, although the ducks seem offended by their presence.  For all I know, they're marching right up the ramp to the pop door.  Points against - I can't really think of any.

- Birds.  Points for - some species eat eggs.  Points against - I've never seen anything bigger than a sparrow accidentally enter the coop.

I'm betting it's squirrels.  This weekend will feature our lining the ENTIRE run fence with poultry netting inside the chain link, and sealing off vents with hardware cloth.  At least they don't go after the hens, but, dang it, I want my eggs, and I do NOT want to share with a bunch of fuzzy-tailed rats! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henicillin 

Get this, kids.  When I went down to the coop shortly before I left for work, I found two eggshells outside the coop AND outside the run.  They hadn't been there before, so I have a diurnal egg thief.  The lineup of possible suspects:

 

- The suspected weasel.  Points for - they're small enough to get into tiny spots, can be both nocturnal and diurnal, and like eggs.  Points against - there has been no attack on the birds themselves, and this includes on little birds like the Peeps.  I'd think a weasel would be happy to try to rip up a bird given half a chance.

 

- Gray squirrels.  Points for - we have a LOT of squirrels around here, they're diurnal, and they're known to be opportunistic little creepers that like eggs when they can get them.  My property is partially wooded, so the squirrels are a fact of life.  They're also big.  I've seen more than one of them make a break for it from INSIDE the run when I've gone out there.  The chickens don't even look twice at them, although the ducks seem offended by their presence.  For all I know, they're marching right up the ramp to the pop door.  Points against - I can't really think of any.

 

- Birds.  Points for - some species eat eggs.  Points against - I've never seen anything bigger than a sparrow accidentally enter the coop.

 

I'm betting it's squirrels.  This weekend will feature our lining the ENTIRE run fence with poultry netting inside the chain link, and sealing off vents with hardware cloth.  At least they don't go after the hens, but, dang it, I want my eggs, and I do NOT want to share with a bunch of fuzzy-tailed rats! 

Amy,  My first thought about your injured hen was a weasel attack, but the hen got away.  Don't know who eats eggs and leaves shells.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vmdanielsen 

Amy,  My first thought about your injured hen was a weasel attack, but the hen got away.  Don't know who eats eggs and leaves shells.

  chickens rarely survive a weasel attack. I lost 9 in 1 night last year from 1. A friend of mine losst 40 in 1 night from weasels. They are visious killers. 

    As for who eats eggs and leaves shells. Rats. 

I considered rats, but whatever chowed down on these did so in an open spot in the yard in broad daylight sometime between 8 AM and 11 AM, as the shells weren't there in the morning.  Bloody, accursed things.   

A game cam shot of a squirrel stealing an egg would be sort of interesting, actually. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henicillin 

I considered rats, but whatever chowed down on these did so in an open spot in the yard in broad daylight sometime between 8 AM and 11 AM, as the shells weren't there in the morning.  Bloody, accursed things.   

 

A game cam shot of a squirrel stealing an egg would be sort of interesting, actually. 

I am curious.  A cam shot would be good.

I dont tolerate squirrels in my yard just for that possibility.  I have seen them eat other dead squirrels so I know if they got their paws on an egg, they would eat them too.  I consider them tree rats with fluffy tails and eliminate them whenever possible.  Hence the high powered pellet gun.  Quiet but deadly.  Given where you found the shells and the fact that no birds were injured, my money is on the squirrels.  I have seen them running with 1 or 2 black walnuts in their mouth and they are the size of eggs.

I dont know about all of you but I am enjoying this nice cool weather!  I think my cheeps are as well because the girls were very demanding to be let out early this morning.  What I wouldnt give to sleep past 530.  sigh.  I dont think anyone with chickens sleeps in unless they are away on vacation!!!  Tonight I candle eggs and see how many are developing.  Oh please, incubator gods, smile upon me and let me have a good hatch!

Off to the pharm today.  Everyone have a good day!

Quote:

Originally Posted by pharmchickrnmom 

I dont tolerate squirrels in my yard just for that possibility.  I have seen them eat other dead squirrels so I know if they got their paws on an egg, they would eat them too.  I consider them tree rats with fluffy tails and eliminate them whenever possible.  Hence the high powered pellet gun.  Quiet but deadly.  Given where you found the shells and the fact that no birds were injured, my money is on the squirrels.  I have seen them running with 1 or 2 black walnuts in their mouth and they are the size of eggs.

 

I dont know about all of you but I am enjoying this nice cool weather!  I think my cheeps are as well because the girls were very demanding to be let out early this morning.  What I wouldnt give to sleep past 530.  sigh.  I dont think anyone with chickens sleeps in unless they are away on vacation!!!  Tonight I candle eggs and see how many are developing.  Oh please, incubator gods, smile upon me and let me have a good hatch!

 

Off to the pharm today.  Everyone have a good day!

Good luck with the candling.

I found a hidden nest in the hay mow today.  I knew I was getting less eggs than I should've been getting.  We let all but 2 of the pens loose to free range together about a week ago so I know they aren't bad. I'll wash them and keep them for home use.  The past 2 days DH has been leaving the chooks locked up and I let them loose when I get home from work.  Hopefully this will urge them to lay where they are supposed to.

I'm making fresh bread to go with homemade soup.  YUM!