Cloudy Days in the Coop - My Adventures with Chickens.

[PioneerChicks]

I can't get over your amazing photography skills! It's like my dream!

 

[Starburst]

Good morning Starbust!

Aww...Jasmine seems to be working hard to replace her feathers. I love Black Australorps. Pretty! How is Boba feeling today? Hopefully she isn't too sad.

Good morning, TwoCrows!

Jasmine almost has all of her feathers back. Black Australorps are one of my favorite breeds. Boba is doing pretty well. She had some fun free-ranging today. (I’ll post a few pictures in a second. )

 

[Starburst]

Today, the chickens came running out of the coop ready for a new day. The rain had come to stop, and they were excited to free-range without getting soaked. Even Boba came out of the coop with a sense of cheerfulness. Letting them out to free-range, I was refilling their feeder at the shed when several chickens, including Minnie, took curiosity to the shed and began to explore the interior. I also got a blurry picture of Minnie flying after a squirrel. I was going to free-range them longer, but then I saw some movement in the forest and spied what looked to be a coyote not far off. That got me ushering the chickens back into their run fast!

 

[Starburst]

I can't get over your amazing photography skills! It's like my dream!

Thank you so much, SoftSilkie! That means a lot to me.

 

[TwoCrows]

Today, the chickens came running out of the coop ready for a new day. The rain had come to stop, and they were excited to free-range without getting soaked. Even Boba came out of the coop with a sense of cheerfulness. Letting them out to free-range, I was refilling their feeder at the shed when several chickens, including Minnie, took curiosity to the shed and began to explore the interior. I also got a blurry picture of Minnie flying after a squirrel. I was going to free-range them longer, but then I saw some movement in the forest and spied what looked to be a coyote not far off. That got me ushering the chickens back into their run fast!
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Beautiful photos Starburst! The birds look fabulous. Love the flying chicken, so fun!


Oh no, coyotes! I don't blame you for running them all into the run. We have a coyote den not 200 yards from the coop, makes for some nerve wracking free ranging.

Glad to hear Boba seems cheerful enough today.

 

[Starburst]

Beautiful photos Starburst! The birds look fabulous. Love the flying chicken, so fun!


Oh no, coyotes! I don't blame you for running them all into the run. We have a coyote den not 200 yards from the coop, makes for some nerve wracking free ranging.

Glad to hear Boba seems cheerful enough today.

Thank you, TwoCrows! I thought Minnie flying after the squirrel was quite fun as well. (Turns out, she doesn't like squirrels. )

Only 200 yards from the coop!? That's terrifying to think about! I have a pack of coyotes in my forest, but they certainly don't live that close!

 

[TwoCrows]

Thank you, TwoCrows! I thought Minnie flying after the squirrel was quite fun as well. (Turns out, she doesn't like squirrels. )

Only 200 yards from the coop!? That's terrifying to think about! I have a pack of coyotes in my forest, but they certainly don't live that close!

I used to see a lot of coyote prints around the coop in the morning. They eventually gave up I believe, I haven't seen any signs in years, my coop is built like Fort Knox. But they howl a lot at dusk, always makes me worry AND triple check the door and lock on the coop at night!

 

[Starburst]

I used to see a lot of coyote prints around the coop in the morning. They eventually gave up I believe, I haven't seen any signs in years, my coop is built like Fort Knox. But they howl a lot at dusk, always makes me worry AND triple check the door and lock on the coop at night!

Oh my! That's very worrisome but so glad they haven't been going after your chickens.
The pack in my area have often tried to kill my chickens - I sadly lost one of my hens, a sweet Welsummer named Saoirse, to a coyote while I was on vacation. The chicken sitter let them out to free-range, she went up to the house to get some water, and then it happened. One of my neighbors saw a coyote run by with a chicken clutched in its jaws. Thankfully, since then I haven't had any attacks - just seen the coyotes in the distance and heard them. When they were younger, they would chase people, but I think as they grew older the learned that humans are not food. It's great that you have such a strong, sturdy coop!

 

[TwoCrows]

Oh my! That's very worrisome but so glad they haven't been going after your chickens.
The pack in my area have often tried to kill my chickens - I sadly lost one of my hens, a sweet Welsummer named Saoirse, to a coyote while I was on vacation. The chicken sitter let them out to free-range, she went up to the house to get some water, and then it happened. One of my neighbors saw a coyote run by with a chicken clutched in its jaws. Thankfully, since then I haven't had any attacks - just seen the coyotes in the distance and heard them. When they were younger, they would chase people, but I think as they grew older the learned that humans are not food. It's great that you have such a strong, sturdy coop!

Oh I am so sorry for the loss of Saoirse Starburst! You must have been heartbroken!! Its pretty traumatic on the heart to know they died from predator attack. I lost my Pearl, a Black Australorp many years ago to what I think was a Red-tailed hawk. All I found was a pile of feathers. I wasn't gone all that long, it happened pretty quick. I haven't lost any others to predators though. And oh how awful your neighbor saw a coyote with a chicken in its mouth. That's the stuff nightmares are made of. Well we do the best we can, keep your babies safe!

 

[Starburst]

Oh I am so sorry for the loss of Saoirse Starburst! You must have been heartbroken!! Its pretty traumatic on the heart to know they died from predator attack. I lost my Pearl, a Black Australorp many years ago to what I think was a Red-tailed hawk. All I found was a pile of feathers. I wasn't gone all that long, it happened pretty quick. I haven't lost any others to predators though. And oh how awful your neighbor saw a coyote with a chicken in its mouth. That's the stuff nightmares are made of. Well we do the best we can, keep your babies safe!

Thank you, TwoCrows. I was (and still am), devastated. But you’re right. We do the best we can. I’m so sorry about Pearl. That sounds so heartbreaking to find. She must have been a very sweet hen.