Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

Awww Danz I hope they weren't your new ones! I just keep my ducks penned in the winter. There is nothing out there for them to eat anyway. They have a modified hoop coop for shelter that they like & a little room to run around. I would rather have them there than be picked off by something.

 

[rlh1]

ok np if he gets adopted that's great if not let me know and we can meet up

My friend came and got the drake. If I end up with another one I'll let you know.
Ricki

 

[LoveMyChickenBabies]

Sorry for your loss Danz.

 

[chicken danz]

Yes unfortunately they were. One of my East Indies and one of the first two muscovy girls I got. Her partner (I only have female muscovies) , who she has been with since about 5 days old is just wandering around by herself. Those two never joined the other 4 I got later. I feel so sorry for her. I tried to get them in the pen last night but I'd get one group in and another would be out. The predator activity has been really high since it got cold and I've heard the dogs barking a lot but I never know when to check for things like owls. I don't worry at all about anything that travels on the ground. I really don't want to sit up outside all night to watch for them. I've heard from a couple other people who have birds that have been having owl problems recently as well.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Hugs so sorry for your loss Danz we are having major fox issues in my neighborhood thank the Gods you set Vonnie up with Casper and Daisy and that Travis and Blaze were home on Sat at 3pm when two foxes showed up and tried to get our babies. Between the two we didn't lose any but its getting crazy.

 

[LoveMyChickenBabies]

Can you shoot them, or are they protected Dani?

 

[chicken danz]

Too bad the dogs can't fly. I would have no worries then. LOL
You can kill coyotes in Kansas if they are a nuisance on your property in rural areas. But fox are considered fur bearers and can only be killed legally during season which happens to be right now. But you have to have a license to do so....legally. Since Dani lives in a populated area she can't shoot a fire arm legally I'm sure. This is where you use the SSS private rule.

 

[Trish44]

Well I know people in cities do shoot predators. My friend lived in Wichita & they had a horrible problem with predators when she had chickens. They had a raccoon family they finally got all of those trapped & then had 'possoms. They did shoot a possom coming after their chickens. I'm sure they could have gotten into trouble for it but got by that time. I know foxes can be a big problem even in populated areas. I think they're pretty good scavengers & find food in trash cans & things but they will go for easy prey if they find it. They're very sneaky & do come out in the middle of the day if they think there is food. Our biggest problem here is coyotes. If I didn't have 3 LGDs here I wouldn't have any birds left. They challenge my dogs from every side every night. My male GP/Anatolian howls back at them at night to tell them to stay out. They all have been really busy lately all night I think with the predators. We do have foxes, bobcats, 'possoms, raccoons, & skunks here as well. There have been reports at times in the area of cougars & people have caught them on game cams, so we have about everything here. We do have hawks & owls as well but with the tree cover it's not as much of a problem. Plus all of my birds are in pens at night with the dogs right here.

 

[chicken danz]

I know they do. Notice I put the word legally in there. You can't shoot or kill most native animals legally anywhere in Kansas, either requiring a license or not allowed at all. But that doesn't mean it doesn't get done. We have all of the above. I've personally seen bobcats and cougars here as well as all the more common ones. The Wolf Creek lake is so close it has drawn in a lot of predators that one normally wouldn't see. We also have minks and badgers around here. Then there are bald eagles which tend to look for geese. I'm so glad that my dogs chase off the wild geese because that is what brings them in. I'm not willing to go to federal prison to shoot one!!!
I love all animals regardless but I thank God I have the dogs to protect my birds and cattle.

 

[Ralph Moyer]

Yes unfortunately they were. One of my East Indies and one of the first two muscovy girls I got. Her partner (I only have female muscovies) , who she has been with since about 5 days old is just wandering around by herself. Those two never joined the other 4 I got later. I feel so sorry for her. I tried to get them in the pen last night but I'd get one group in and another would be out. The predator activity has been really high since it got cold and I've heard the dogs barking a lot but I never know when to check for things like owls. I don't worry at all about anything that travels on the ground. I really don't want to sit up outside all night to watch for them. I've heard from a couple other people who have birds that have been having owl problems recently as well.

I haven't had an owl problem since I started using solar lights, and motion detector lights. I think the white light messes up their vision. My motion detector lights operate on 3 D-cell batteries and last for several months. They are focused toward trees, that are close to the pens. I was having a problem, before I set up the lights.