Colorado

[wsmith]

On a sad note, last night one of my turkeys was killed. The two turkeys poults have been going to bed on top of the chicken coop. There is bird netting over the run but it is not very strong. I think a raccoon got up on the fence and pulled the female turkey through the netting. We found the remains about 3 feet away. So sad, this is my first bird to be lost to a predator.... My male turkey was sooo lonely today. I must find him another friend. I moved all 3 coops away from the fence and tonight I insisted that Turkey Lurkey went into the coop with the girls.

Sorry about the loss of your poult.

 

[Pozees]

Do any of you own silkie hens?

Yes, I do, and I think there are a few others, what can we help with?

 

[Pozees]

Thank you Ms. Mtn Margie. Patience and I have a love hate relationship.

Maybe my expectations are too high?

This cracked me up - and I can TOTALLY relate!

 

[Pozees]

Tonight I was planting flowers by the house when this bear walked right up! We got the garage door closed in the nick of time, then I RAN around the backyard and husled all of my girls in to the coop early, they were not happy about going to bed early.
On a sad note, last night one of my turkeys was killed. The two turkeys poults have been going to bed on top of the chicken coop. There is bird netting over the run but it is not very strong. I think a raccoon got up on the fence and pulled the female turkey through the netting. We found the remains about 3 feet away. So sad, this is my first bird to be lost to a predator.... My male turkey was sooo lonely today. I must find him another friend. I moved all 3 coops away from the fence and tonight I insisted that Turkey Lurkey went into the coop with the girls.

Wendy, that looks pretty scary - nice pictures though! Sorry about the Turkey, that's a shame.

 

[Pozees]

LOL. I was thinking that as well.

But then, I am cheap, and would NEVER pay that much. Personally, i think its WAY too much to charge.
But hey, if they get it, good for them.

I thought it sounded high too, and long! But yes, if they are able to get that to teach processing, good for them. We've largely surrendered our food production to large corporations the last few decades, and re-learning skills our parents and grandparents relied on for survival will take some time and sometimes cost some money. I am one of many very grateful to you for teaching us how to process birds.

 

[WendyGeisler]

Well some time last night the raccoon returned. He/She tore up my bird netting and entered the run. We don't leave any food out over night, and everyone was locked up tight (including my male turkey). But I can tell from the size of the opening that it was a smaller animal (definitely not the bear). Nothing was harmed or even moved. But now I am worried. 2 nights in a row, means we have to change something.
SO now... this morning we are trying to decide what to do. I am thinking recovering the whole top of the run with something stronger, hubby is suggesting we go the electric fencing route. Any suggestions?

 

[P-Funk]

Hi kids! It's been a while since I've been online, so I just have to chime in.
Wendy, when I built the new coop I used the 2" x 4" utility wire and buried it 12" down and 12" out. If anything tries to dig it's way in it will just find more wire. Granted it was a royal pain with the rocky soil around here but nothing has managed to get in. There was a bad experience with electric wire for me as a child so that wasn't an option.

 

[WendyGeisler]

Hi Preston,
we have two layers of wire on the fence, and buried under ground too. This raccoon climbed the fence and then tore the bird netting that was the top cover. Hubby is at Home Depot right now buying chicken wire and we are going to replace the whole top cover with that. Not what I planned to do today

 

[Ginger Assassin]

Yes, I do, and I think there are a few others, what can we help with?

yes I was thinking about hatching some next year in my homemade bator. And I want to know if the eggs will fit in open egg cartons tilted in the inqubator?

 

[Pozees]

Hi Preston,
we have two layers of wire on the fence, and buried under ground too. This raccoon climbed the fence and then tore the bird netting that was the top cover. Hubby is at Home Depot right now buying chicken wire and we are going to replace the whole top cover with that. Not what I planned to do today

Wendy, a raccoon can tear chicken wire, too - it might not, since you didn't leave access to anything it wants, but it is possible. Have you thought about the step-in posts and polywire/polyrope and a charger? It isn't too bad expense-wise, and other than stepping in the posts in hard soil, here at least, it wasn't too difficult to put up. It is a pain in the neck to step over it every time you want to go in the chicken yard, although the way yours is set up you might want to wrap around to the house, if your chicken yard is accessible from your back door without going through a gate. For the top, you might look at the higher strength netting they list at Cutler Supply - not inexpensive, but should be more resistant.