FLORIDA!!!!!ALWAYS SUNNY SIDE UP!!!

[wayne813]

thanks everytime i go out the door he's their to follow and in the morning when i come to let them out he fly's up to his roosting trunk (part of a tree) and waits for the door he's great...

 

[Bangarang64]

I can meet you at the Tractor Supply in Okeechobee next Saturday, I'll be going to the Plant City swap and can drive through on the way back...if you don't mind holding him til then, that is

If not I can meet you in Canal Point tomorrow....just let me know!

Hey Overoberyl,
sent you a pm, we'll work something out.

 

[tigercreek]

anybody going to the plant city swap this weekend?

Family Feed store Swap Meet
Every month on the second Saturday
8am - 12pm
3669 Paul Buchman Hwy
Plant City, FL.
---> MAP
(813) 752-0011

I'm thinking about it. I have a bunch of blue plymouth rock pullets I need to find new homes for. Is this usually a good place for sellers??? .....stan

 

[wayne813]

the times that i have been they been good to me and usually it is big and with u having the blue plymouth rock u should do real good

 

[wayne813]

i usually see alot of people their though

 

[Overoberyl]

I'm thinking about it. I have a bunch of blue plymouth rock pullets I need to find new homes for. Is this usually a good place for sellers??? .....stan

Stan I would be interested in a couple of your pullets. I am also looking for a SQ BR cockerel or roo.

 

[Bangarang64]

I lost one of my Wheaten Marans today. (it HAD to be one of my Wheatens and not one of the mutts didn't it.) Very sad.

Over the last three weeks or so I had lost 2 chickens when I had let them out to free range during the day. One was lame and the other was a mean old mixed breed and I just chalked it up to a hawk and resolved to be more careful. I stopped letting them out except for one hour before dusk when I could be outside with them and watch them till they all went in their coop on their own.
This worked very well since the last attack (last Wed.) and tonight seemed to be no different.
One of the Wheatens, Isabelle, was getting a bit too close to the pond, and I didn't like it because i thought there might be a possibility (very very slim one) that it was a small undetected gator that was doing the killing. (being that there was a distinct lack of evidence)

I started to walk towards the pond, to shoo the chicken back into the main part of the yard and I got about 25 feet from her when she started to run towards me. I couldn't figure out why the sudden change in her behavior and before i could even think, the biggest BOBCAT I had ever seen jumps out of the trees next to the pond and takes two jumps and with front paws extended grabs Isabelle RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. This is with me walking towards the chicken and also with me yelling after I saw what was about to happen.

I would easily say that this was no bobcat but a panther, except for the fact that it had a bobbed tail. This was in daylight, in my backyard where my kids walk and play, and in front of me!. It is a bit unnerving. I passed by the spot with a big loud tractor not more than 30 mins before, and there had been a lot of activity outside today and that big old cat wasn't scared one bit. I guess he had a taste of good chicken dinner before and he was just gonna sit there and wait for another one no matter how long it took.

I guess my birds won't be free-ranging any time soon.

 

[Overoberyl]

I lost one of my Wheaten Marans today. (it HAD to be one of my Wheatens and not one of the mutts didn't it.) Very sad.

Over the last three weeks or so I had lost 2 chickens when I had let them out to free range during the day. One was lame and the other was a mean old mixed breed and I just chalked it up to a hawk and resolved to be more careful. I stopped letting them out except for one hour before dusk when I could be outside with them and watch them till they all went in their coop on their own.
This worked very well since the last attack (last Wed.) and tonight seemed to be no different.
One of the Wheatens, Isabelle, was getting a bit too close to the pond, and I didn't like it because i thought there might be a possibility (very very slim one) that it was a small undetected gator that was doing the killing. (being that there was a distinct lack of evidence)

I started to walk towards the pond, to shoo the chicken back into the main part of the yard and I got about 25 feet from her when she started to run towards me. I couldn't figure out why the sudden change in her behavior and before i could even think, the biggest BOBCAT I had ever seen jumps out of the trees next to the pond and takes two jumps and with front paws extended grabs Isabelle RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. This is with me walking towards the chicken and also with me yelling after I saw what was about to happen.

I would easily say that this was no bobcat but a panther, except for the fact that it had a bobbed tail. This was in daylight, in my backyard where my kids walk and play, and in front of me!. It is a bit unnerving. I passed by the spot with a big loud tractor not more than 30 mins before, and there had been a lot of activity outside today and that big old cat wasn't scared one bit. I guess he had a taste of good chicken dinner before and he was just gonna sit there and wait for another one no matter how long it took.

I guess my birds won't be free-ranging any time soon.

OMG that is terrible!! First of all to lose birds like that and second of all to a large predator right in front of you?!?!? So so sorry

Do you own a shotgun? Do you have dogs? If not maybe a guardian breed dog might be something to consider. I have two Cane Corso who patrol my property, but I would be totally freaked if a Bobcat were that brazen to be hunting in the middle of the day like that. I wonder if you should report it to fish & wildlife? Sounds like a cat that bold could also be a danger to humans as well, no?

 

[varanisblack]

Cant wait to get the fence finished at the new house our two dogs are great with the chickens and love to chase anything that dose not belong there, we have a boxer mix and an irish wolf hound,
I would also invest in a good riffle if you have a large cat prowling your property or call Fish and Wildlife to find out what options you have for it's removal!

Sorry about your loss I have had to fight the urge to shoot the hawk that was getting some of ours BUT it is illegal to shoot them so we just have to be more vigilant!

 

[Chillychick]

Growing up in Floral City, I've seen a lot of wildlife that would prey on chickens. I let my chickens out every day because I think it makes them happy. I haven't had any problems yet, but I don't think it's a matter of if, it's a matter of when. We have seen hawks circling, two racoons, and one day a neighbor's dog chased them. So far they have always managed to escape. At night they are in a portion of the coup, that is completely secure. Kinda like a dog house with a locked door. We live about a mile from the Withlacoochee State forest. I have heard stories about cougars being let loose in there to see how they would survive. One of my neighbors said he saw one in his back yard.