Michigan - Page 4484  

Quote:

Originally Posted by EeyoreD 

 

Yeah.  These things are only a nickel more than the cinder blocks:  http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Materials-Concrete-Cement-Masonry-Concrete-Blocks-Bricks-Lintels/h_d1/N-5yc1vZboge/R-202524813/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

 

On my way to get some of those shortly.  I'll put them on top of the apron (and try to screw the apron into the coop, too for good measure.)

 

I'm upset about the birds but I'm mostly upset with myself for not doing this in the first freaking place.

 

Anyone have any chickens they want to sell me?  I promise I won't kill them... I hope.

What kind are you looking for? We have Seramas, Blue Laced Red Wyandotte Bantams, Millie Fleur Duccle Bantams, Old English Game Bantams, Millie Fleur Cochin Bantams, Silkies, some from our Easter Egger/multi breed largefowl flock. We have some from each breed available.

Eeyore! 

I am very sorry you lost your chickens!   

Are you guys talking about not having floors in your nighttime coops?   

I have a floor in the coop and my run has wire that is dug two feet into the ground. I am not bragging I just wondered if people don't put floors in their coops...........are your coops on dirt?  

Also, tiny mesh / hardware cloth is needed for the run at least around the bottom and into the ground. To prevent weasels which can get through chicken wire.   

For the old timers - why would a predator kill a coop full of chickens and eat one head? I don't get it.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicken grandma 

I am not bragging I just wondered if people don't put floors in their coops...........are you on dirt?

Yeah yeah you're just rubbing it in (I'm kidding).

Yes, I'm on dirt.  I had a hardware cloth apron extended (in various places) from 18 in to 24 in round the coop.  But it had buckled in places (it could get underneath) and also there were some gaps near the corners.

I think (I hope) that if I screw it better into the base of the coop and then put a double row of those 8 x 16 blocks on top right next to the coop (so they'll extend 16 inches out on top of the cloth) it will keep anything else out.  Again, I hope.

theron, thanks!  I definitely need some largefowl.  But I also really got attached to those little bantams, poor things.

I am wondering if it was a CAT/ DOG  that did it. They have a fondness for killing without eating, i don't know of ANY predators that wouldn't have at least taken one out to eat.  Is there at least one missing?

How you find out what it is is by putting a body back out nearby and watching with a .22.....................

Look in the dirt for prints, you may be able to tell then. If not put up a pic of the print and someone on here may be able to help. Whatever it is will definitely be back, they always are. I lost my first flock except for my pet roo to coons...............  :(

Well, In my chuckles coop, solid floor. In my summer coop, no floor, just earth, and in the big coop, has solid floor unless I take out the wood that has the opening... but since it has the summer coop attached right to the front, I don't even close the doors. It is skirted closed in all around the bottom, because all my coops are up off the ground. the silkie coop though that I just build a few weeks ago, its open to its little run, and that does not have an apron because move it... I am thinking of changing that though, making the run 8 feet longer, but going out the back side of it where I open and close the coop to clean... In which case, I will move it over the tree roots also, but surround it with the step stones also...

I am going to go with coon. they are persistent little suckers...

Maybe while I'm out getting my pavers I'll get a live trap and a rifle...  That should tell me, for sure, what it was.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EeyoreD 

 

Yes, I'm on dirt.  I had a hardware cloth apron extended (in various places) from 18 in to 24 in round the coop.  But it had buckled in places (it could get underneath) and also there were some gaps near the corners.

 

I think (I hope) that if I screw it better into the base of the coop and then put a double row of those 8 x 16 blocks on top right next to the coop (so they'll extend 16 inches out on top of the cloth) it will keep anything else out.  Again, I hope.

 

EASY FIX -- GET SOME PLYWOOD AND PUT A FLOOR IN YOUR COOP!   

There is that too. It might be cheaper in the long run too... A few 2x4s across the bottom... and they have those nifty little 2x4 brackets you could use to attach them, and then lay the ply over, nail down. Then you wouldn't have to worry about an apron not working...