➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[FortCluck]

They grow fast! I probably could have had it on 2 the first day but was nervous lol

I put Hocus Pocus in there That's what I'm calling the chick that scared me today.

It's kind of funny because you can't even hear the chicks right now and before when we had the red light they would party all night long and I was so sick of it.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I put Hocus Pocus in there That's what I'm calling the chick that scared me today.

It's kind of funny because you can't even hear the chicks right now and before when we had the red light they would party all night long and I was so sick of it.

Yes!! They are soooo quiet with this system whether it’s MHP or a heat plate or whatever. So much more natural and quieter!! Lol

 

[FortCluck]

Yes!! They are soooo quiet with this system whether it’s MHP or a heat plate or whatever. So much more natural and quieter!! Lol

I can't even see the chicks that are under it it looks like I just have an empty brooder

 

[ShrekDawg]

I can't even see the chicks that are under it it looks like I just have an empty brooder

Hahaha they’re so Cute when you peek under lol

 

[ShrekDawg]

It’s so cold outside.

 

[FortCluck]

It’s so cold outside.

I just cranked up the heat I'm freezing. It's 27 here

 

[ShrekDawg]

I just cranked up the heat I'm freezing. It's 27 here

Same here.

 

[Conan]

Hmm interesting. I guess I will never truly know what did it.

My mom said there was a HUGE hawk on top of the older girls chicken coop and they were all inside but it flew off and then the chickens started making a lot of noise which is when she went out there and there was another smaller hawk or owl by the little ones that flew to the tree right behind their coop and stayed there even with her there. Then she was throwing stuff at it and it still didn’t leave. It finally did leave.

Do hawks generally share territory like that? The fact there were two almost makes me think they were trying to scavenge the kill but maybe they really did kill him.

Don’t think I will ever know.

Hawks are pretty territorial within their own species. Larger hawks and eagles will eat smaller hawks, but they'd have to catch them first!

I see all sorts of birds of prey around here. Tons of ponds, and rivers to hunt. We have an absurd amount of bald eagles in addition to red tails, Cooper's, and goshawks. I've only ever had issues with the smaller hawks, as they attack where the birds feel safe — under cover. They do not kill in the same fashion as large hawks. They squeeze their prey to death, or drown them. I have interrupted several attacks, and none had the feather explosion associated with larger birds of prey. I have saved two birds, neither of which had a mark on them. Pretty wild.

Who knows what got your bird. Just be aware that hawks can, and will, kill your chickens through fencing.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Hawks are pretty territorial within their own species. Larger hawks and eagles will eat smaller hawks, but they'd have to catch them first!

I see all sorts of birds of prey around here. Tons of ponds, and rivers to hunt. We have an absurd amount of bald eagles in addition to red tails, Cooper's, and goshawks. I've only ever had issues with the smaller hawks, as they attack where the birds feel safe — under cover. They do not kill in the same fashion as large hawks. They squeeze their prey to death, or drown them. I have interrupted several attacks, and none had the feather explosion associated with larger birds of prey. I have saved two birds, neither of which had a mark on them. Pretty wild.

Who knows what got your bird. Just be aware that hawks can, and will, kill your chickens through fencing.

Huh, fascinating. Thanks. We have tons of hawks/birds of prey here too but I really don’t know what kind. I know we for sure have red tails and ospreys as well as great horned and barred owls and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a peregrine falcon once but idk. Could have been a goshawk. I’m pretty sure we have coopers hawks too. And I know we have kestrels in the region but not on our property. I have heard that hawks don’t hunt in woods or don’t fly well in them but I don’t think that’s true because I have seen one chase a bird through the woods as well as seen them tilt up and maneuver through the pine trees.

But yeah, I’m not gonna drive myself crazy trying to figure out exactly what it was but that is good to know because I thought securing the top was the most important thing with hawks and that that was enough.

I will be putting hardware cloth around the entire thing now though and all of the chickens are locked securely inside the coop for the night including the big girls just to be on the safe side. Will let them out in the morning but not too early.

 

[Conan]

Huh, fascinating. Thanks. We have tons of hawks/birds of prey here too but I really don’t know what kind. I know we for sure have red tails and ospreys as well as great horned and barred owls and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a peregrine falcon once but idk. Could have been a goshawk. I’m pretty sure we have coopers hawks too. And I know we have kestrels in the region but not on our property. I have heard that hawks don’t hunt in woods or don’t fly well in them but I don’t think that’s true because I have seen one chase a bird through the woods as well as seen them tilt up and maneuver through the pine trees.

But yeah, I’m not gonna drive myself crazy trying to figure out exactly what it was but that is good to know because I thought securing the top was the most important thing with hawks and that that was enough.

I will be putting hardware cloth around the entire thing now though and all of the chickens are locked securely inside the coop for the night including the big girls just to be on the safe side. Will let them out in the morning but not too early.