Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[mooandmcgee]

I have had ferrets attack my chickens on two occasions.
They can fit through tiny holes.  usually attack them around the head and neck.

OMG FERRETS are you kidding? Please tell me you all live in the country I don't think I would be able to handle the wilds of nature.

We live in a very urban area & thought all I would have to worry able was mice, the occasional rat and maybe other wild birds stealing their food. Going back to Bunnings today to exchange the wire we got for the run to something with much smaller holes.

 

[Fancychooklady]

OMG FERRETS are you kidding? Please tell me you all live in the country I don't think I would be able to handle the wilds of nature.

We live in a very urban area & thought all I would have to worry able was mice, the occasional rat and maybe other wild birds stealing their food. Going back to Bunnings today to exchange the wire we got for the run to something with much smaller holes.

Best decision you'll ever make. The wire needs to be small enough to keep out sparrows. Rat bags bring in lice and mites to your flock. Biggest mistake we made when setting up our coops was going with regular sized chicken wire, and we have slowly been replacing since.

 

[Fizzybelle]

Myhaven, I'm so sorry for the loss of one of your chicks, especially it being one you wanted to keep

Teila, whoops, sorry to freak you out for a moment there Everyone is good here thankfully, touchwood. Just typical chicky mischief.

New chookie is full of beans, but loves to nap on my shoulder. So friendly, though I wasn't sure what to expect with an Araucana. Still mulling over names, I've got a list I'll print out then evaluate. Here's another picture

 

[User395221]

Still mulling over names,

ooh, her hair is the same colour as Dame Edna's. How about Edna?

 

[Anniebee]

I feel the need to share. I found one of my chicks (hatched 20/2/16) dead yesterday. It looks like something got her through the wire (15mm). They are in a hutch, inside the run under thick tree cover.

What did I say about if we'd seen it all and knowing it all before hand. I didn't think they needed the double barrier anymore while I was about. I am so cranky with myself. I should have foreseen this possibility.

And if it had to happen, why to a girl and not a boy that I need to get rid of any way?

So sad to hear of the loss of your young chick MyHaven .... a horrid experience for you to see that.

At 6 weeks old or thereabouts, the chicken is more than a wee fluffy chick, and I am wondering about a small cat - they can squeeze their paws through tiny spaces ( and 15 mm is very small ) .... and could do damage - with a claw not to mention shock to the chicken. A small youngish ( maybe ) snake could get in, but could not proceed further than biting a chicken of 6 weeks old ( I would think ), and the bite would kill. However, I don't think snakes 'work' at night, but you mention you found your chick 'yesterday' so am gathering it was during the day ? If that was the case, I am thinking almost definitely a small snake.

As Fancy said - 'nature can be brutal'. We live and learn - the hard way, so often.

to you.

 

[mooandmcgee]

Best decision you'll ever make. The wire needs to be small enough to keep out sparrows. Rat bags bring in lice and mites to your flock. Biggest mistake we made when setting up our coops was going with regular sized chicken wire, and we have slowly been replacing since.

So we went from large chicken wire to 12.7mm squared wire. Hahaha!!!

Anyone have recommendations as to how deep we should dig it down into the ground??? I want this run/coop to be bullet proof.

 

[sjturner79]

So we went from large chicken wire to 12.7mm squared wire. Hahaha!!!

Anyone have recommendations as to how deep we should dig it down into the ground??? I want this run/coop to be bullet proof.

Ideally it should only be a couple of inches deep but be bent out 90degrees and extend at least 2 feet outwards or aboult half a metre

 

[Fizzybelle]

I chose a name! I went with Mabel, when I saw it meant loveable - which she so is, she follows me around, calls out to me, and wants to fall asleep cuddled up to me

 

[Teila]

Good morning folks

Ash I do not think I have ever seen a live ferret, just in books and on the television .. I am happy to keep it that way

Mooandmcgee another option is to bury the wire shallow and put pavers on it, which doubles as a path:



Fizzybelle Mable is a great name and she is definitely a cutie!

Today I realised the most important benefit of having a raised coop .. forget the no bending, forget the increased security, forget the ventilation etc etc .. there is nothing more likely to guarantee to put a smile on your face first thing in the morning than watching a procession of chickens marching down the ramp!

I woke up before the girls this morning and peeped out the bedroom window in time to see them all come down the ramp … so cute!

 

[satay]

I chose a name! I went with Mabel, when I saw it meant loveable - which she so is, she follows me around, calls out to me, and wants to fall asleep cuddled up to me

That's a very sweet name.