Bears got my flock

[bakerjw]

I'd be baiting me a bear. It'd be the last place it'd ever ransack.

 

[Cindy in PA]

That's why it is so vital to have the bear hunting season in NJ. Wasn't last year the first year they finally left it proceed? Bears are not cute when they are in populated areas. We do not live in bear country, but 4 years ago we had a male travel through in the spring. My father had one around last year & he is even further from their breeding grounds in the Blue Mtns. Best of luck keeping the bears at bay.

 

[panner123]

Quote:
It would take a BIIG PACK of dogs to handle a hungry bear. A bear can rip the door off a car or open the trunk with NO trouble at all. I watched a bear pick up a freezer full of meat at a neighbors house and walk away with it. Carried about 300 yards away from the house before he opened it.

 

[Equus5O]

I've got to say that in the time we've lived here we haven't had any problems with bears. Of course, we know they're out there. We see them all of the time, but we've been in the lucky group. We actually have more problems with deer LOL I have a German Shepherd and my mother has a Jack Russell. But, the windows are closed and televisions are on. The crazy part is the time frame. Between 7 and 8am! My husband went out to check the wood boiler at 7 (and I was out on the porch with the dog when he went out). He says his routine is to look at the chicken door when he walks past, and swears it was intact. He debated letting them out, and chose not to as the waterer wasn't out so he left them for me. I was out with the ATV at 8 and at the coop at 8:13 (that's the time on my cellphone when I called my husband immediately). So I was in the house getting my son ready for school when it happened. My kitchen window looks out onto the area where the coop is. Had I looked out that window at the right time .... We're not done with chickens. My husband didn't even ask me if I wanted to get more. He just said he would get to work on repairing and reinforcing this weekend. He's not even "into" the chickens. I haven't called Fish Game and Wildlife. I'll do that today and give them a heads-up, for what it's worth. If nothing else, at least they can document the incident for this area. And, the chickens were recycled. I took them up the road to Lakota Wolf Preserve, and they will feed their bobcats and foxes. And thanks again for the kind words. I didn't post here looking for anything, really. I just wanted to tell chicken folk what happened.

 

[justmeandtheflock]

Quote:
It would take a BIIG PACK of dogs to handle a hungry bear. A bear can rip the door off a car or open the trunk with NO trouble at all. I watched a bear pick up a freezer full of meat at a neighbors house and walk away with it. Carried about 300 yards away from the house before he opened it.

Especially around here where we have some big males coming out of hibernation weighing over 700 pounds. Even a 150 pound dog doesn't stand much of a chance against one of the big ones when they are hungry.



If anyone is putting in an electric fence make sure that you get the thick round wire, not the wide strips. I'm told that the jolt from the strips won't get through their fur.

 

[justmeandtheflock]

Quote:
If you are looking for chicks or started birds when you are ready I will probably have some to give you.

 

[Equus5O]

Quote:
If you are looking for chicks or started birds when you are ready I will probably have some to give you.

Thank you so much! That's really sweet

I was going to skip the poultry show May 21 because of a family obligation, but I think my sister-in-law might understand my missing her pinning for RN (her pinning for LPN was 1982!). But maybe she won't LOL I don't know yet. And last night I saw on Craigslist started pullets in Sparta for $10- each.

 

[emmalynn]

What kind of chickens did you have?

 

[Equus5O]

Quote:
1 gold Polish, 1 white Leghorn/RIR, 5 Red Stars, 2 Barred Rocks, and 2 Langshans (sp?).

 

[justmeandtheflock]

Quote:
If you are looking for chicks or started birds when you are ready I will probably have some to give you.

Thank you so much! That's really sweet

I was going to skip the poultry show May 21 because of a family obligation, but I think my sister-in-law might understand my missing her pinning for RN (her pinning for LPN was 1982!). But maybe she won't LOL I don't know yet. And last night I saw on Craigslist started pullets in Sparta for $10- each.

I saw that add too

I have speckled sussex in the brooder and the bator right now and if my Marans roo starts doing his job I should have some nice dark brown and olive eggers to put in after this batch is done.