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Use squirrel live traps. We have more opossum issues, especially youngsters here. Sardines work great, canned cat fish type food. Rats will eat about anything. Even a fresh egg cracked over the trip peddle will work well. You want the critter to be actively walking on the trap.
He is just stunning! They are very slow maturing. The other fella is finally crowing, my DDIL adores him. I believe both factors apply. I keep breed coops normally and the roosters don't abuse the hens. In a large free ranged mixed situation, every rooster seems to be "rapey" and less concerned about the hens well being.If the roo is the only guy, he is going to step up. If he doesn't he should be culled.@Faraday40
I'm having a really good experience with my new cockerel. This is the first time I've had Buckeyes so I'm not sure if it is just the personality of the breed or not. HOWEVER...
I'm doing something different with this boy because I have the space this year to do it. He was not mature for breeding before the snow and cold set in. My birds pretty much stay inside the barn when it's snow out so I didn't want him to be coming of age while the ladies were confined in close quarters with him. So...
I put him in his own 6x12 area that is penned off from the girls but part of the larger kennel pen. He's been in there by himself in communication with everyone else, and sleeping on his own little roost with one of their roosts just across from him on the other side of the kennel fence.
Since it's been warmer, they've been getting outside and let him out with them. I thought he might be just crazy and want to mate constantly, but he is actually rather 'chill". He's not mating constantly. He does in moderation, but not like other cockerels I've had that were mating every minute!!!!! (literally)
So I'm wondering if "forced abstinence" has helped him with being more laid back about it all...he knows he can live without it! Or if it's more like a Buckeye personality. I'm leaning toward thinking it's because he's been penned and is having to communicate with the girls through the fence and hasn't had free access. I'll see how he does as spring comes in.
They are handsome in their own way for sure. But I am like you, I love to see that beautiful rooster tail.
THANK YOU! For offering a chicken train. We have had several folks do this in the past. I am not adding anything else this year, but its so helpful for folks like me that can't leave the house often.If any one is interested, I contacted this person to see if they have/can get speckled Sussex.
https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/grd/5973395272.html
He said he can order some for me for next week! My plan now is to make the 1:45 min drive to Liberty when he says it's time. He said he knows a hatchery about an hour and a half from him and he goes periodically to pick up 1-2 hundred chicks at a time. I have been seeing his ads for a long time on CL, and now he has a Facebook page.
Does anybody in the Indy/north Indy area want me to pick up anything from him when I go? Heck, is there anyone who would like to go on a road trip with me!
Agreed, thanks to you for being willing to travel. I have a porters shipment coming this year for turkeys and my planning started last November for it. Some breeders will not allow pickups due to bio security. I knew it when I purchased the poults, and my post office calls promptly when birds arrive. Usually around 430 am, ugh!
