I am so sorry to hear about your predator problem. it just keeps you on edge. I only let the birds out while i was there, which isn't nearly the amount i'd like.
oh that's interesting Ron. My birds have ranged in their pasture this whole year and no problems. I figured it may be from winter and a lack of food. My neighbor said it was a smaller raptor and not the hawks around, he saw this bird with my chick. I'm wondering if they will go after my bigger birds too. I will try the cd thing chiqita mentioned and found a 50'x50' foot netting on amazon for $59 (including shipping ) .
**Has anyone had problems with Mac computers crashing on BYC. EVERYTIME i post it crashes and restarts the internet page. I have all my computer updates.
Thanks Ron I actually has this pullet on the cull list, but her bottom line caught my eye. She also is one of the first of her hatchmates to lay. I usually have them start up between 25-28 weeks. I don't have lights in my coops. I was thinking about it, but changed my mine. I have some older hens ( 5 years old) that I really want to hatch eggs from. If I jump start the old hens now, I might not get as many eggs from them later this spring when I want to hatch for my own uses.
Finally got some awake and aware time to catch up on this thread. Working graveyard has been messing with internal clock and brain function.
Congrats for the young layers and first eggs. Since I've been running the heat lamp 24/7 one of my 5 year olds has started laying again, the trick has been getting to it before it freezes. Even with heat my inside waterers are freezing solid overnight.
Sorry for all that are having losses to wild critters, and those who are having health issues as well.
Linda, hope you are still feeling OK, I remember being rear-ended and how sore I was later. You are braver than me for attempting the drive. I have been taking a taxi to work the last 4 days, the 7 miles of packed snow and ice on curvy, north facing, up/down hill roads. I'm not going to put the Prius in a ditch! Actually losing money by working. So looking forward to tonights freezing rain on top of the 4 inches of snow we still have left.
The good thing is that the quail that tried to escape didn't get far after she landed in the snow!
It's been five days and these are new pictures from today.
Finally got some awake and aware time to catch up on this thread. Working graveyard has been messing with internal clock and brain function.
Congrats for the young layers and first eggs. Since I've been running the heat lamp 24/7 one of my 5 year olds has started laying again, the trick has been getting to it before it freezes. Even with heat my inside waterers are freezing solid overnight.
Sorry for all that are having losses to wild critters, and those who are having health issues as well.
Linda, hope you are still feeling OK, I remember being rear-ended and how sore I was later. You are braver than me for attempting the drive. I have been taking a taxi to work the last 4 days, the 7 miles of packed snow and ice on curvy, north facing, up/down hill roads. I'm not going to put the Prius in a ditch! Actually losing money by working. So looking forward to tonights freezing rain on top of the 4 inches of snow we still have left.
The good thing is that the quail that tried to escape didn't get far after she landed in the snow!
It's been five days and these are new pictures from today.
That's what I was thinking, since that's what we think killed the lamb.
@lawatt do you think a bobcat will move on if I lock the chickens up for a while?
I'm not set up at all for containing chickens during the day, so I'm not sure what to do. There is already an electric (rope) fence around the pasture. The chickens go under it to get into the orchard. There is a field fence on the other side of the orchard, so dogs can't get through.
they have territories and should move about. Thy may come back though but confining the flock a few days is the best thing and hope it moves on. A motion light may help as well.
Finally got some awake and aware time to catch up on this thread. Working graveyard has been messing with internal clock and brain function.
Congrats for the young layers and first eggs. Since I've been running the heat lamp 24/7 one of my 5 year olds has started laying again, the trick has been getting to it before it freezes. Even with heat my inside waterers are freezing solid overnight.
Sorry for all that are having losses to wild critters, and those who are having health issues as well.
Linda, hope you are still feeling OK, I remember being rear-ended and how sore I was later. You are braver than me for attempting the drive. I have been taking a taxi to work the last 4 days, the 7 miles of packed snow and ice on curvy, north facing, up/down hill roads. I'm not going to put the Prius in a ditch! Actually losing money by working. So looking forward to tonights freezing rain on top of the 4 inches of snow we still have left.
The good thing is that the quail that tried to escape didn't get far after she landed in the snow!
It's been five days and these are new pictures from today.
Finally got some awake and aware time to catch up on this thread. Working graveyard has been messing with internal clock and brain function.
Congrats for the young layers and first eggs. Since I've been running the heat lamp 24/7 one of my 5 year olds has started laying again, the trick has been getting to it before it freezes. Even with heat my inside waterers are freezing solid overnight.
Sorry for all that are having losses to wild critters, and those who are having health issues as well.
Linda, hope you are still feeling OK, I remember being rear-ended and how sore I was later. You are braver than me for attempting the drive. I have been taking a taxi to work the last 4 days, the 7 miles of packed snow and ice on curvy, north facing, up/down hill roads. I'm not going to put the Prius in a ditch! Actually losing money by working. So looking forward to tonights freezing rain on top of the 4 inches of snow we still have left.
The good thing is that the quail that tried to escape didn't get far after she landed in the snow!
It's been five days and these are new pictures from today.
