Am I a crazy man with a gun?

[townchicks]

Inedible male hogs? Didn't you ever read "Old Yeller"? I doubt Disney thought it appropriate to elaborate in the movie, but it was in the book.

I thought I might be the only one still alive that read the book. Nobody I've talked to even knew it was a book first.

 

[centrarchid]

I thought I might be the only one still alive that read the book. Nobody I've talked to even knew it was a book first.

I read it several times.

 

[Howard E]

I thought I might be the only one still alive that read the book. Nobody I've talked to even knew it was a book first.

OK......the real test is who has read the sequel to Old Yeller?

Test of knowledge will be what happened to Jumper?

 

[Member 482121]

Well, those fences are made of two strands of metal wire. They were meant to hold cattle inside, so I assume a hog can find a spot where the lower wire is high enough off the ground for it to squeeze under. The upper one is about belly high to a man. I can assure you that the voltage is very high. My wife and I have experienced how high it is... On my tester it registers 7,000 volts. Maybe it's higher, but my tester does not go any higher than that. The wires were not broken when the hogs came in. I am sure that a four-strand fence would keep the hogs out. But I am not about to purchase enough wire to surround 19 acres of property with two more strands of wire just to keep the hogs out. In Kodiak, where I lived, some had electric fences able to repel Kodiak bears, a lot larger and more aggressive than any hog. Some of these were portable and used to surround a camping tent and the adjacent area--a great idea, if it works. People used them during their fishing and hunting expeditions in remote areas reachable only by serious ATV's and/or amphibious vehicles. If I remember correctly, they were one strand or maybe two connected to a large 12 Volt battery which, in turn was connected to a charger fed by solar panels. Certainly not a backpacker's model! I camped in bear country before, carrying all necessities and a tent on my back. The important thing is to keep a clean camp completely devoid of food smells. In Kodiak, when you camp near a salmon stream, at night (most of the real night is not much longer than three o four hours and the rest is dusk, not dark) you can hear the splashes of bears diving for salmon and the occasional roars when fishing rights conflicts arise. During the day, when you are fishing, there are bears on the other side of the stream, doing the same. Generally they leave you alone, but now and then some fool brainwashed by Disney into believing that bears are just like stuffed animals, warm and fuzzy, gentle and benign--and end up in serious trouble, especially now that the cult of the selfie has spread...

 

[Howard E]

OK, thanks for clarification. Didn't want to leave readers with the impression that a properly designed e-fence was not effective against hogs. A "high" fence designed for cattle and horses is not going to work on hogs, dogs or other varmints that can simply walk under it unscathed.

Good news is if you really want to keep them out.....you have the knowledge and means to do so. Even if that is only a greatly reduced area around the chicken yard.

 

[janiedoe]

You aren't crazy yet, but if you sit out there day in and day out just watching your birds, you will probably be so by the end of the year.
If you are going to free range you will have to accept some losses no matter whether they are pets or farm animals. Some predators kill before you can get to them.
So, you need to decide how important free ranging is to you and to your birds happiness and health.
Good luck with your mental health!

 

[Chickassan]

I read it in elementary school, one of those books that had just enough horrific elements to keep a kid reading.
The movie was such a let down even at that age.
Taught me to always read the book first and THEN criticize the movie for how bad they mangled a perfectly good story.
Flawless plan even to this day.

I thought I might be the only one still alive that read the book. Nobody I've talked to even knew it was a book first.

 

[janiedoe]

No, I keep a close eye on this flock but my approach is quite different.
I have two roosters and 0 border collies.
I let them loose with their girls in the morning and crack a window so I can hear if stuff is off out there.
I have a nice lounge chair under a tree if im needing to hang out and remove a problem.
My weapon lol is a high powered pellet gun, also have one that is just to move things along out of the yard.
Both painted the hottest of pinks because...the world and all lol.
Those roosters save me a lot of hassle, they go off, I go out.
Can't watch them constantly, but having alarms I don't have to.

You know, if you just put those little gnome outfits (like the one in your avatar ) on all your chickens you wouldn't need any weapon. I'm pretty sure nothing would want something that creepy!

 

[Chickassan]

Or plan backfires and yard vermin find chicken gnomes irresistible because felt makes them tangy or some other ridiculous crap.
My luck is just that astoundingly bad ya know .

You know, if you just put those little gnome outfits (like the one in your avatar ) on all your chickens you wouldn't need any weapon. I'm pretty sure nothing would want something that creepy!

 

[maddog7]

Am I the only person in the world that sits outside every day with my AR-22. And my border collie, And babysits my chickens and ducks? I've seen coons, possum, hawks, even a few coyote in the woods behind my house. I see people posting here all the time about attacks and death. I couldn't handle it. From about 2:00 after work until dusk they get range time, if I dont do it I feel too guilty.

Not crazy; maybe not the only one. People have protected their livestock for thousands of years. I lost 20% of my flock before I could adequately protect them as they were dumped on me at short notice. Note: it was only 1 of 5 chickens lost, but "20%" sounds so much more dramatic. I grieved the one and have been working on their security since then.

If I might suggest ... instead of sitting, walk around to exercise you and your dog Or build the e-fence as suggested above.