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Recent content by tsperry88

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    Free ranging vs Predators; How cautious should I be?

    Foxes and hawks both attach with humans nearby. Twice I have have chased a fox down and gotten it to drop a chicken. Once I ran a Hawk off that was trying to fly off with a chicken. You will have losses if you free range at all.
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    1/4" or 1/2" hardware cloth (or does it really matter)

    I did that over a window, next to where my birds roost. Everywhere else I didn't see the point in 1/4".
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    1/4" or 1/2" hardware cloth (or does it really matter)

    1/2 unless the chickens will be roosting within reach of a racoon. Rumor is they can reach their hand through and grab a chicken causing some damage. 1/2 is a larger gauge, and harder for most creatures to get through.
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    Free range. Won’t stay in yard

    Other than traditional fencing, a single stand of electric fence about 6-8 inches off the ground is the only option I have heard of for chickens. I assume it would work the same with ducks. It also discourages ground predators.
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    How to deter a large fox?

    I dealt with foxes. This is my run. I have 3 runs of electrified Polywire. Look close for the yellow insulators. Over the top I stretched bid netting. It has worked, but I also shot a couple bothering the flock...
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    Moving chicks to coop

    I would let them spend a few days in the coop and bring them back in several hours before dark each day. This will get them used to the coop. If your worried, do this for a couple weeks. Chickens DO NOT like changes to their evening routine at all. I also wouldn't let them in the run untill they...
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    Moving chicks to coop

    I have raised chicks in the coop, with a heat plate like you mentioned. As long as there are no drafts under the plate, it keeps them warm. They will pitch an absolute fit, the first couple times they sleep somewhere new. Move them in the morning and a day in the coop will help a bit. I got...
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    Baby Chicks staying warm

    How do you know they aren't warm? How many watts is the heat lamp? How far do you have it positioned from the chicks? Does it feel warm to you? Do you have a thermometer to check the temperature in the bottom where the chicks are?
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    Automatic door closed on chicken

    "As a person who has worked in communications and has a degree in Computer Networking" I'm not taking anything personal. You just seem like a know it all.
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    Automatic door closed on chicken

    Corporations use both. Cisco has been trying harder to compete in the wireless realm due to the fact. Not everybody feels the need to come on a chicken forum and tout their credentials. I prefer wired where it counts, but dude, its a freekin chicken coop. They are animals that no amount of...
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    Best Automatic Door for Cold Weather and Predator Proofing

    Don't worry about it too much. Automation in a home coup is mostly for entertainment. None of it is particularly useful except automation of the pop door like this thread is about. Lighting is handy if your coop is walk in or you want to supplement light for winter egg laying.
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    Best Automatic Door for Cold Weather and Predator Proofing

    My system works well for me. The safety is functional if I care to install it. It's a switch, so obviously no bird needs to get crushed if I code it that way. I prefer to know the door will close no matter what, hence the 3 attempts before overriding. I can do anything I want with the input...
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    Best Automatic Door for Cold Weather and Predator Proofing

    I just used an Arduino and made a board for it. Just follows a sunrise/sunset table for my region. It also brightens the lights over a period of time in the morning and slowly dims them in the evening. If I wanted to supplement light I have a variable for minimum hours of lighting that can be...
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    Best Automatic Door for Cold Weather and Predator Proofing

    Depends on the goal. I wanted something that followed sunset and sunrise with programmable offset, which I believe some of the commercial offerings can do. The simple methods I have seen are lamp timers and photocells, but I don't consider either of these good solutions. The more complicated...
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    Best Automatic Door for Cold Weather and Predator Proofing

    I have a DIY door and put a decent amount of effort and money into it. I think it's probably better than what's available, but it is relatively hard to do a good job DIY. I'm not up to speed on what's available, but I would certainly lean toward commercial options.
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