Coexisting with wildlife-possible?

[JaciesCoop]

Quote:
I "ditto" everything you said. I do not free range my birds by choice but they do get out in the yard between the barn and the house which is fenced with concrete base and only under our supervision. We are the interlopers here. Not the wildlife of which we have a lot. Eagles, hawks, otters in the creek, javelina, coyotes, skunks, bob cats, big cats, raccoons, etc. etc. They are only doing what comes naturally. But I'm also one of those that keeps my indoor cats indoors. We have ferals and they take care of themselves but our cats are not mentally equipped to do that so they stay in. They have a big screened in Arizona room to sun and get fresh air.
Our birds have 3 runs adjoining the coop and have plenty of room. The runs are all concrete footed with hardware cloth and chicken wire and covered with wire. So are the 2 goose pens. The two geese get locked up at night and are in the big backyard during the day also fenced with pools.
I'm too old now to cope with a lot of dead birds. Nerves can't take it anymore so we, DH and I are both over protective.

I envy people who can let their birds free range but I don't think mine are suffering healthwise because they cannot.

So I say "to each his own" as it depends on your circumstances.

We enjoy the wildlife that comes here and are not worried about our birds in the meantime.

 

[NancyinAlaska]

I live in very rural Alaska. In addition to owls, we have eagles, and ravens who have been know to attack and eat young chickens. I also have a resident fox, I feed him and we have an understanding he leaves my chickens alone and he doesn't end up as a hat..
I have a 6' chain link fence around my chickens, with chicken wire around the bottom. I also have fising nets woven together over the top. Nothing can get into my coop area.
It's worked well for me for 2 yrs now.

 

[greathorse]

If I felt it was of any use I would likely trap and rid myself of the predators that hang around, but I dont see much value. I assume if I kill a racoon there will be another to take the place of it. I have a a reasonably secure coop and run and I have a dog that works the perimeter of my property. If I hear coyotes at night and they seem particularly close I will fire a couple of shotgun blasts.

I hope that this is an indicator to the yotes that there are better places to hunt than in this back yard. I think you can (especially with a good dog) create for yourself a bit of a boundary. I have hawks and owls living on my place and I guess I did miss a guinea or two last year, and assumed it could have been one of the two of them.

I really dont begrudge the raptor's their share of the bounty. Breeders, I keep locked up pretty tight I might add. They get to roam outside on days I am home and outside the rest of the time they are in a breeder pen.

The 18 birds I lost a couple of years ago were 100% my fault. I think it was a neighborhood dog but couldnt prove it and my door latch was not strong enough and I knew it.

Now if there was a racoon for example that I was sure was persistent and habitually trying to tear up everything I have around me I think a .22 might help, because that particular animal has become comfortable hanging out. I dont want to run a wildlife refuge right next to the coop either, but I dont worry too much if they pass through.

I think there is no protection like a good dog.

 

[gsim]

Quote:
I suspect you husbands activities have done well to keep the neighbors indoors as well. It is probably all right though, as long as he waves to them as they drive by, just so they do not get the wrong idea.

 

[greathorse]

I suspect you husbands activities have done well to keep the neighbors indoors as well. It is probably all right though, as long as he waves to them as they drive by, just so they do not get the wrong idea.


Now thats funny I dont care who you are

 

[savingdogs]

I should have noted, our home is extremely remote and our animal pens face the wilderness, no one could possibly see him!!!!!! I hope no one thinks I meant anything improper. He would probably be blushing to know I brought this up and now folks are wondering.

The only one who could possibly be looking would be a deer or coyote or such......

 

[greathorse]

I am sure no one was offended and were just teasing you. You must admit it conjures up some vivid images LOL. The keeping predators out and neighbors in comment was just too funny.

I mark in the same way but for me (as most men) its just a good excuse to"go" outdoors, it reinforces our primative nature.

 

[savingdogs]

Well my husband did not balk when I suggested it.....I thought it was just he didn't want to waste the water flushing.......but they do call it "answering the call of nature" after all.

 

[greathorse]

LOL

No its very primal

 

[gsim]

Quote:
It's the pause that refreshes!

(and all along you thought some soft drink company came up with that one.)