Picture thread of my hens!

[scratch'n'peck]

I'm so sorry. I am constantly on guard for predators, and even after I increase defenses, it seems eventually a predator gets through again. I mostly deal with raccoons and weasels here. I certainly know how you feel. Here in the USA we have what is called hardware cloth, and it is recommended a lot on BYC forums. It is just quarter inch metal mesh that we use staple guns to put in place. And that is what I try to put over the smallest openings. But I imagine it is difficult to secure anything completely against something as small and wily as a rat.

 

[Johnn]

John, I'm so sorry. I had rats get my ducklings a few years ago and it's awful. I found little bodies left with no heads. Why do they go for ducklings but not chicks? I've never lost chicks to rats. And why doesn't the broody deal with them? Surely she will protect duckling babies the same as chicks?
The difficulty is finding somewhere safe to put poison or traps, especially after the accident little Coco had. I was going to suggest the plaster of Paris in peanut butter trick (rats cannot resist peanut butter), but if your hens got into them and ate them you would be even more gutted!
I hope someone else has a good suggestion.....

....... just goes to show that it might look like chicken heaven up there on the fell but there are drawbacks, even to living in apparent paradise.

I really, really feel for you!

Thanks. My girls would have protected them, but because they can't see in the dark, it all would have een so confusing to the poor things. I have started putting poison in safe places now, such as under sheds and put some in a bowl in the closed shed they broke into to get the ducklings.

I'm so sorry. I am constantly on guard for predators, and even after I increase defenses, it seems eventually a predator gets through again. I mostly deal with raccoons and weasels here. I certainly know how you feel. Here in the USA we have what is called hardware cloth, and it is recommended a lot on BYC forums. It is just quarter inch metal mesh that we use staple guns to put in place. And that is what I try to put over the smallest openings. But I imagine it is difficult to secure anything completely against something as small and wily as a rat.

Thanks. I often have problems with weasels and stoats, they're what attacked little Oeflay.

 

[Johnn]

Mabel

Trust Bella to not only lay on the floor, but also block the pop hole so no one else can get in to make use of the nest boxes!

 

[3goodeggs]

Sorry about the ducklings.
rats can be a problem.
I am battling a raccoon at the moment.

..well not this exact moment, but this week is the overly intelligent raccoon and the annoyed woman story.

 

[Danielchicken]

 

[CrazyChickLady7]

Thought I would share some pictures of my hens! I will post new pics pretty much everyday, but it wont be as many as I'm posting now!! Thanks for looking!

Hope you enjoyed them! More pics will be posted throughout the week!

Honestly with the first one I thought you pulled off the internet until I realized that they were all obviously from the same place

 

[freakshow5]

The most interesting thing happened today, while I was raking the new garden area my hens, stood @ my feet and with every stroke of the rake they would look and Gobble up anything that was crawling, worms, grubs and such. I've never had this happen it was pretty cool cause they stayed with me for 2 hours

 

[Johnn]

Mabel has laid me her first egg since I rescued her

 

[3goodeggs]

 

[threescompany]

Mabel has laid me her first egg since I rescued her

So glad she was rescued!