3rd Annual NYD Hatch "Designer" Egg Swap Thread

[mshuey1]

OMG this is my 1st time shipping eggs am nerves but a happy nerves Am going to seprate my silkies so I can send a few of my PB silkie eggs. I love hatching chickies!

 

[runsw/scissors]

I've never shipped before either... I am so excited!! And best of all my June babies are laying!!! Woot!!

Heaven only knows what these darlings will look like! My silkie roo is doing his thang out there.

it's apt to be a mess!

Anywho mine are going a long way so will ship on Mon the 5th.

let them get there on time!!

 

[rarely bored]

Planning to ship Monday... Sure hope the hens keep laying, we are covered with Tule fog. When I got up at 9

my one hen who refuses to sleep in the coop hadn't gotten up yet! And my sun goes down by 3, because there is a hill in the way... Guess it is amazing I get eggs at all!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I was outside putting up roping today and had two bald eagles (a pair, at once) and then later a hawk trying to eat my chickens (they were out free ranging while I decorated). Luckily no one was injured or killed this time, but how scary. I'm getting sick of this predator thing, especially protected predators. And it freaks my girls out, too. I wonder if that affects their laying? Poor things. And the rooster was beside himself, he sounded like he was trying to get rid of a frog in his throat the size of Manhattan.

11 more days til we set these chicken eggs! Four more til ducks go in! I can't wait to see what everyone gets.

 

[mshuey1]

Quote:
How scary! Would anybody know if u shoot them?

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I'm pretty secluded but this time of year I can see both neighbors due to the leaves being down. My neighbors have never once complained about me shooting various critters on the property (even when I don't do a good job and a skunk sprays) or even really complained about my roosters. At one point recently I had 7 roosters that were crowing all day and night. It was even driving me batty. Luckily I can't hear it in the house with the windows closed, but outside? Holy moly.

I once joked that I'd have no problem killing a bald eagle, even one with arrows clenched in one talon and an olive branch in the other if it so made a move for one of my chickens. But they are protected for a reason and the girls run has a cats cradle of fishing line that probably won't stop an attack, but will slow it down enough for them to get to safety now, I think. I haven't lost any more to airborne predators since I put it up, although a few lines have been broken. It was just so awful today that they were outside with no where to go and I'm just screaming at the birds and jumping and flapping. It worked, but it was not my best performance.

 

[anderson8505]

I'm just screaming at the birds and jumping and flapping. It worked, but it was not my best performance.

thanks for the mental picture!

 

[mshuey1]

Quote:
LOL... The fish line totally works I do it too. I also have radios on outside.

 

[BHep]

SCG I would be freaking out !.. I have hawks, when they are spotted one bird sounds the alarm and everyone runs for cover. If it wasn't so serious it would be funny. 100 birds pecking around and BAM..... not a feather in sight.

 

[9Catsz]

Quote:
So these bald eagles were actively hunting, diving at your chickens or simply flying over your property?

You do know that bald eagles aren't a threat to your chickens, don't you? Their primary diet is fish and they primarily hunt for fish. That's why you mainly see them around waterways and not in the middle of the desert. They are great scavengers, though, and will eat literally anything that is dead....I once saw 10 feasting on a huge swollen up dead feral pig in a field......I wish I had a camera...it was fascinating to watch.

To the ppl who believe bald eagles actually swoop down and take chickens I say this..... prove it. Where is the documentation that says bald eagles hunt chickens?

I've lived on the St. Francis River in southeastern MO for 16+ years with many bald eagles - my chickens free range and not once has a baldie went after a chicken.