FINALLY get to put netting up to deter hawks and realize I left it in a bucket

[chickchoon1]

and its rained since and of course is frozen solid. Can't take me anywhere. SO I can't leave to get the junkfood sandwich at Subway. Poor me. Anyhoo-will have to watch/check chickens every 1/2 hr until dark and then go to work and MAYBE get the bucket in the house so it can thaw(5 gallons of ice and had a log in it so probably weighs 40 lbs) and it will take forever to drag to house and even then its only 45 degrees so it will take forever to thaw. Hurry up spring! 5 weeks 1 day until peepers is my prediction. Off to check on hawk food.

 

[attimus]

Just finished putting netting up around my house for the same reason. Have you considered putting the bucket in a hot bath.

 

[chickchoon1]

Just finished putting netting up around my house for the same reason. Have you considered putting the bucket in a hot bath.

I could ramble all of the unnormal living conditions at my home but NO I can't soak it or I would. Its by back door and I underestimated its weight and I remembered this bucket has a crack in it so just putting on hardwood will be a mess. Probably won't thaw until sunday(getting warmer outside this weekend) then maybe I can take an ax to the remaining ice. Our hawk seems to hit between 3-5 pm so am on guard fiercly right now trying to eat.

 

[attimus]

@chickchoon1 Hey no worries. If its outside you could try just periodically pouring hot water on it. I already lost a hen to the hawks. My construction was asap.

 

[chickchoon1]

Am beyond heartbroken-have checked religeously every 1/2 hour and heard chics fussing and went out to see the hawk IN shed(went thru holes) eating Redstar(who was still alive). If I could have handcaptured hawk would have. PERIOD. Have never broken a chickens neck and it was excrutiating. I am so angry.If I can just get thru until dark(when hawk won't strike) I can go to work with no worry but am staying reven tho, apparently, I am useless. Hen was literally disemboweled(which I didn't notice initially-she was awake and gasping in my arms and I finally had the gonads to turn her over and saw the damage
and had to kill her.Had landline in pocket and called my mom who got an earful of sobs(TY MA)and I am feeling whatever. I hear melting, at least, outside but won't get netting loose until tomorrow a.m.OMGosh. Just occured to me I have a heated 10 gallon bucket to water horse and if I can get this clump of ice in THAT(horse will need watered but it shouldn't freeze quick tonight) then maybe by morn it will have melted(just can't plug it in while gone because the outside outlet is of questionable value.) I defended these dang hawks Am just angry. I am an easy target.

 

[attimus]

I'm terribly sorry to hear this. My sympathy it must have been hard to see. You could also pour hot water onto the bucket periodically might help with the process. I'm sure my neighbors thought I was a crazy man when they passed by while I constructed the chickens existing enclosure.

 

[chickchoon1]

I'm terribly sorry to hear this. My sympathy it must have been hard to see. You could also pour hot water onto the bucket periodically might help with the process. I'm sure my neighbors thought I was a crazy man when they passed by while I constructed the chickens existing enclosure.

TY and I know y'all can't understand my apparent neglect but I am still heartbroken. Covered their openings to run area with cardboard so I can at least go to grocery store w/o feeling terrified. And the girls are fairly calm and a few cleaned up some of the mess hawk left. Life just gets better. Glad they're all enclosed now but they will smell tomorrow from the extra poo.

 

[attimus]

Keep your head up. Its hard to stay positive after something like this. Learn from the experience and improve upon what you have. Im still working on my space. It will take time. Good luck with the coming morning. Onward and upward.

 

[chickchoon1]

This is like keeping a journal-TY for letting me ramble. Now that I am calm(and chix are running around their yard until I leave then they will be chased into the 8'x8' section of shed-poor kids) have discovered deer netting for $21, 7'x100', that I managed to scrape up to get. Netting I was going to use is still frozen solid even though I got it in last night(46 degrees in here!). Another 'pain in the butt" thought is NOW if we have rain/hard freeze the plastic netting I am putting up will become heavy and fall. So I assume I have to put it up so it can be VERY easily removed if rain/freeze is predicted.Onward tho. TY.

 

[attimus]

I used the same dimensions of deer netting for mine.Coupled with some treated 10' tall posts to give them space around my house and I'm not sure if the rain and freeze would be an issue if it was secured well. It is very thin tho. I also have a running thread on here " my very own micro farm " to keep track of my progress with my flock. Everyone needs a soapbox.