Eastern Tennessee Thread

[Talbott Poultry]

It was good to talk to your dad. He is such a nice man.

And boy, does he really know how to talk, and talk, and talk, and talk. STOP

I could become almost as bad as him.

 

[bairo]

Stang...forgot to tell you how nice the new dog looks. Glad you could talk DH into it. Kim finally did get back with Chloe about 20 minutes after you guys left....I think her ADD kicked in and she almost forgot she was coming back up

 

[Peach2u]

It was a rough weekend here. I been losing my chicks fast. So we set up some traps. We caught a raccoon and a feral cat. Both are relocated far away LOL. Now what to do about a hawk who for 3 days in a row has taken a chick. He always hits around 1pm. So today I am keeping the 2 pens closed up. And just letting the adults and the chicks that a broody had out. Yesterday I watched the hawk pounce down thru the tree to get one. The rooster was making a racket So I went out to see. There it was standing on one of my olive eggers in the shade of the tree on the ground and leaves all around. I ordered some white eagle wind socks. 51 inch long shiney mylar thing to hang up in the yard. I was told they don't like scattered light. Was thinking about finding an eagle statue or something of the sort. Are they a protected bird in TN? Between the dog sucking eggs and the wild life I'm not going to have many babies left. They don't bother my adults. I guess I will just have to keep them locked up till they are not eaten size for hawks. It's a shame all thoses bugs need to be eaten!

 

[Contrastphoto]

Cruley is so cute!

Sorry, I forgot to put text with my above picture. This is one of my 10 wk old Delaware roos his name is Cruley and he likes to ride on my shoulders. He would have been destined for the cook pot because of his color pattern compared to breed standard. But, because he has the best personality and is the most affectionate of all my chickens he is safe! Plus my little girl already said we can't eat him. I just thought I would post this pic of him checking out the camera because I thought it was funny.

 

[bairo]

Nearly all birds of prey are federally protected. You have a good idea with the Mylar strips....besides human intervention and a watchful eye it is hard to come up with any good ideas besides keeping them in a protected run until they have grown enough. Sounds like if they are just taking chicks that you have a smaller one like a coopers, red shoulder, or broad-wing. At least that is a partial blessing in that they cant take a bigger chicken. Wish there was a way to be more help.... here is a picture of a scarecrow from the net with Cd's to reflect light. If it does not work on the hawks, at least you and the neighbors will get a good laugh

 

[Peach2u]

It was a red tail hawk. It looked to be a good foot tall on the ground. A very hansom bird if it wasn't eating my chickens. As for keeping my chicks locked down. That didn't work my 4 year old opened the window and climbed out the house and opened one pen. She defeated the window locks. Guess it is time to put in an alarm system to keep her in, and pad locks on the pens. I was able to catch some of the pullets and throw them in the other pen. I'll just have to wait till dark and split the boys and girls up again. Off to Ace hardware for me to get padlocks. Too bad I don't have a training collar for her. School is out in 2 weeks so my 5 year old tells on her. I'm just glad I live on a private dirt road in the country. Within the 150 acres around me all are related to each other. I moved into the middle of a clan lol. i keep them in eggs and they love my kids so no worries from them but snakes are my concern. I saw a cooper head in the road run over yesterday across the blacktop road. About 400 yrd from my house. I have seen gartners and blue tailed one down by the now dry creek. Found a king snake in the field. The chickens found and ate a little rat snake this week-end. They where fighting over it. I leave them alone. my main coop is snake/rodent proof. The babies are not as secured, but too big now for a snake unless it is a real big one. Ahh the trials of living the the counrty.

 

[librarychicken]

Tnchkn-so I'm not the only impatient one!

barnqueen-yes we have been keeping him on a lead. Last night they were clucking & making some noise & watching banjo trying to figure it out was hilarious

Today I am ordering a poultry nipple to make a better waterer. Our PVC feeder is working great though!

 

[librarychicken]

Peach-sorry about your chicks :/ I like bairo's idea!

 

[bairo]

Peach... I feel for you. An adult red tail if really really hungry will attempt to take even an adult chicken. They are usually not scared by the fake owls either. I think if it were me I would do some of those mylar ribbons around the run area and a scarecrow with some mylar someplace in the yard as well. The good thing about living out there is hopefully he will find another food source easier than if he was in the city. You got to scare him off ASAP before he gets used to the buffet of chicks.
We have a couple coopers and sparrow hawks around but they are content with the little moles and field mice so far.

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

We came home the other day to find our hen very upset and her 3 bitties missing, first thought rats(we have big ones), then we found a possum in another coop with our big roosters and hens. so I guess it was a possum