for me buckeyes are - personality, personality, personality. I am new to poultry - have only had gold sex links, australorps & buckeyes. It took no time at all to determine that buckeyes are all I need.
From my limited experience - chickens have two strong drives (not having roosters, I am...
thanks! - I wondered if my info was correct. We had a pygmy goat & ram torn up next door some years ago - you're right it is not at all pretty. That was a half wolf, domestic 'female dog' -- teaching her litter to hunt. Don't you need to keep more than one for company for each other?
edited...
for clarification, the catch & release that annoys me - is when city folk think it's cute to feed raccoons, or the invasive gray squirrel (non-native) -- then OMG the animal becomes a pest because it is habituated to people- comes in the house - terrorizes their pets & teaches their young to do...
Had a coyote - mid-day - while we were outside - take a chicken yesterday. I am not happy! -- My brother sent me a link to the WA state wildlife info sheet on coyotes - it's quite informative. Thought I'd share with my fellow WA staters.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/coyotes.html
interesting...
my brother sent me this -- - http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/coyotes.html
it's a WA state bulletin on coyotes -- they have some interesting fence ideas, not all just electrified solutions. Also they say if the population is just diminished, the remaining population should become more people shy...
take a look at this website I found yesterday for LGD. She doesn't agree they have to live with the flock 24/7 - but they do have to be bonded to them.
http://www.lgdnevada.com/
She also believes you need more than one - as one dog, even a large one, can be overwhelmed by a pack of coyotes...
just lost my second hen to a coyote today. The last one was a few months ago - made some changes to where they were free-ranging - but this coyote jumped over a 4 foot wire fence, next to my house & next to the coop. The chicken was within 10 feet of the house & coop & within my 'safe' zone...
I second your applause for Dr. Crespo! - she gave a talk/seminar at the Mother Earth News fair in June & I learned a TON! And she really loves chickens, you can tell. It's great to have her as a resource here.
Good to have the vet recommendation also!
Thanks for the update -- another...
One of my hens was overly anxious when the treats come out in the afternoon & she'd occasionally give me a solid pop on the kneecap. Even through jeans I'd have a blood blister.
I solved it by picking her up & holding her under my arm - but facing forward. Then while holding her I'd give the...