I have one that's a pet and I sure wouldn't let him near any chicks or banties. Found him about this time last year and bottle fed him. Kept meaning to take him to wildlife rescue, but I kept putting it off and now he's huge and sort of tame. Lesson learned...
he is hanging in a pen now tonight he will meet his ladies w/o a wire barrier.Very cute story...my uncle who lives behind me has them up on his porch eating the cat's food. He also lost about 7 birds to predators this year. I am sure there is a connection but he thinks it is all raccoons.I have one that's a pet and I sure wouldn't let him near any chicks or banties. Found him about this time last year and bottle fed him. Kept meaning to take him to wildlife rescue, but I kept putting it off and now he's huge and sort of tame. Lesson learned...
Here he is last year about a month after I found him:
And no, he did not eat the peachick, though he sure could have.
-Kathy
Not petty at all...those things represent losses. You guys seem to be trying very hard to make ends meet. it is perfectly right and good to have rules for all the kids who come by and to stick by them...I don't know if you are crafty but a cute sign that just says to check with you first would be an easy reminder. Something in a cute font that just says" Remember to check with a grown up before coming in here?" or something like that.Argh! I've just had to lay down the law--no kids in the coop or the greenhouse without an adult (which was actually the rule before, too...) The free-range kids of the neighborhood tend to come by here--mostly because my husband doesn't want our girls running around (in the case of the 5-year-old, I agree, but I think the 11-year-old is responsible enough). First my daughter comes in with a not-quite-ripe tomato, announcing the first ripe big tomato of the year(it really needed about 2 more days...) Then I go out to check for eggs--the bucket of fermented feed isn't in the outdoor cabinet--instead, it's on the ground next to it, and is a *lot* drier than yesterday. That could've been my husband's doing, however--the cabinet doors had a board holding them shut, and he's not here to ask. Anyway, I go into the coop, and the milk crate nest box is out of the temporary pen (not that that pen is anything more than in the way, now, but I've not gotten around to taking it out yet) and lying on its side. There's a bike helmet upside-down on top of the feed buckets (amazingly enough, poo-free!), the pvc feeder has come apart, and oyster shells have been scattered all over in the deep litter--almost a full coffee-can's worth.
Hubby just came home--he didn't take the bucket out.
Anyway, typing this out, this sounds really petty, but still...
I can only imagine what my husband would do if he came home to a half dug duck pond; though I'm sure my daughter would LOVE it!Haha you do though!! You will never think of wild ducks the same! They are an amazing experience and have more personality than cats! Their so sweet and always want to cuddle with you. You won't regret it!
Yes, they can eat chickens. And they can also get huge (see them the size of a small dog before) so you probably have a young one.
...geezz you guys are bad influences!
Rough day! Kids will be kids but that doesn't make it any less frusterating.Argh! I've just had to lay down the law--no kids in the coop or the greenhouse without an adult (which was actually the rule before, too...) The free-range kids of the neighborhood tend to come by here--mostly because my husband doesn't want our girls running around (in the case of the 5-year-old, I agree, but I think the 11-year-old is responsible enough). First my daughter comes in with a not-quite-ripe tomato, announcing the first ripe big tomato of the year(it really needed about 2 more days...) Then I go out to check for eggs--the bucket of fermented feed isn't in the outdoor cabinet--instead, it's on the ground next to it, and is a *lot* drier than yesterday. That could've been my husband's doing, however--the cabinet doors had a board holding them shut, and he's not here to ask. Anyway, I go into the coop, and the milk crate nest box is out of the temporary pen (not that that pen is anything more than in the way, now, but I've not gotten around to taking it out yet) and lying on its side. There's a bike helmet upside-down on top of the feed buckets (amazingly enough, poo-free!), the pvc feeder has come apart, and oyster shells have been scattered all over in the deep litter--almost a full coffee-can's worth.
Hubby just came home--he didn't take the bucket out.
Anyway, typing this out, this sounds really petty, but still...
Quote: Could've been worse--the feeder was empty, since I've been doing mostly FF--I've been putting the FF in the trough part of the feeder, and have been thinking of putting the oyster shells in there--when the neighbors moved a few months ago, they left most of a 50 lb bag of shells on our side of the fenceIt's quite possible that the hens perched on the trough part trying to get something other than shells.
My older daughter was out there with them
Of course, if I'd get around to making the run, no one would have to go into the coop to see the chickens. I just haven't because, while we have stuff that's chicken-proof to make it with, we don't have anything predator-proof. Then again, the coop itself has a concrete floor and hardware cloth over every opening bigger around than my pinkie...
As far as ends meeting, yeah, I'm a 10-month employee with the school district, and my husband quit graveyard at WalMart to concentrate on the ministry and to actually get to see his family...
Yep!
