Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[galanie]

I just wanted to point out that you people are taking way too much time away from my "Who else loves pink heart printed diapers?" and other social threads with your real knowledge practical information. Gosh!



Disclaimer: I do in fact spend, er waste, time on social threads. I am, in fact kidding.

 

[Beekissed]

Hey, Galanie, if you see Al over there on the pink heart diaper thread, could you tell him we miss him, Walt and Fred over here and hope they come back over here...even if they want to bring the diapers with them. We won't laugh at them......much.

 

[chickenlover89]

I don't know where you live, but when the mean, grey, cold days of Jan., Feb., March, strike, and they huddle up, you will see why. I'm assuming that your run attached to your coop by a poop door is uncovered since you let them out for a few hours a day. Then the more room you can give your birds, the healthier they will be. Crowding causes stress. Stress causes sick birds.If your run attached to your coop is covered and dry, include that space in your figuring. Too many people crowd too many birds, and wonder why they get sick.See my page for very healthy birds.

thank you, it does get cold, but we are going to cover our run up, and they will start to be allowed to free-range more and more, to the point where we can free-range them the whole day.

 

[Kansas Prairie]

Hey, Galanie, if you see Al over there on the pink heart diaper thread, could you tell him we miss him, Walt and Fred over here and hope they come back over here...even if they want to bring the diapers with them. We won't laugh at them......much.

Seems like several of the OT's haven't been posting on this thread much since you announced your own website on chickens.

 

[chicken curious]

Sounds like a predator but not a cat....usually a dog will snatch the tail feathers out and also will try to grab other birds as they run by. A cat usually tries to stalk and corner one bird. Anyone with small dogs in the neighborhood? Coon?

Doesn't sound a bit like flock disputes. The hen should be fine...they are tougher than we think.

Something hemmed up your birds. Sounds like a dog, or a fox, or even a hawk. Time for hot wire!

Thank you. I'll leave them locked in the run until I have time to figure out the predator issue. We live in a neighborhood, but have seen foxes, bobcats, hawks, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, and, of course, there are dogs and cats in the neighborhood. Whatever it was got over 6 foot fencing without leaving marks.

The flock seems subdued, but happy. Injured hen has been limping heavily, but has eaten and been drinking. She also made the hop/flight into the hen house and up onto a roost. You are right, stronger than I thought.

 

[bruceh]

when you get back invest in a .22 cal rifle . with all those type of preditors i would sure have one locked and loaded.

 

[galanie]

Seems like several of the OT's haven't been posting on this thread much since you announced your own website on chickens.

I've noticed they haven't been around too. Dangit.

Oh and Bee, I haven't seen them on those cutesy threads either! MIA!!

 

[Briezeechicks]

Bobcats, raccoon, 'possums, foxes and skunks can all climb just like cats! We had a 5' cinder block fence in San Antonio. We would put a harness on Fat Cat and let her out in the back yard occasionally. One day, she was frantic to get in the house, so we went to oblige her (as everyone should with cats - they think they are superior beings, you know) and there was a huge skunk in our back yard! We all stood inside the house and watched him climb straight up and over that fence without the slightest problem or hesitation. We were amazed!

Whatever got your hen and upset your flock, chicken curious, is sure to be back now that they know your chickens are there and tasted blood. I'm a pretty good shot with a .22 rifle, but would sure hesitate to use one even out at our pens. There are neighbors closer than the range of a .22 bullet in case I missed...a 410 shotgun, however, would be just the ticket. You might pepper a neighbor's house, but after that distance, there wouldn't be much behind those pellets.

Best of luck to you,
Brie

 

[thedragonlady]

Bobcats, raccoon, 'possums, foxes and skunks can all climb just like cats! We had a 5' cinder block fence in San Antonio. We would put a harness on Fat Cat and let her out in the back yard occasionally. One day, she was frantic to get in the house, so we went to oblige her (as everyone should with cats - they think they are superior beings, you know) and there was a huge skunk in our back yard! We all stood inside the house and watched him climb straight up and over that fence without the slightest problem or hesitation. We were amazed!

Whatever got your hen and upset your flock, chicken curious, is sure to be back now that they know your chickens are there and tasted blood. I'm a pretty good shot with a .22 rifle, but would sure hesitate to use one even out at our pens. There are neighbors closer than the range of a .22 bullet in case I missed...a 410 shotgun, however, would be just the ticket. You might pepper a neighbor's house, but after that distance, there wouldn't be much behind those pellets.

Best of luck to you,
Brie

.22 cal rat shot works well too!

 

[Beekissed]

Seems like several of the OT's haven't been posting on this thread much since you announced your own website on chickens.

Nah...they are occupied on the Heritage Bird thread. They'll be back around. It's not really a website...more like a personal webpage and doesn't have any interest to the OTs~they already know all that info so no need to cruise my pages at all.