Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I'll definitely post here what she says! I like the how big your area is and the extension sounds good. Grapes can be finicky but give it a shot!

I know you're aware of the threat - once a hawk sees chickens they know they are there. They will hang out and study the layout. So I'm afraid that the tall pines might work the other 'way round too, for certain species of hawks - might be how they hide themselves from the chickens before attacking.

Remember my Cooper's Hawk.

Maybe add some bird netting?

 

[BY Bob]

Actually, @BY Bob in a way, you did....but that is a good thing!

You caused it because:
You are welcoming
You are empathetic
You are courteous
You expect others to be courteous
You encourage all to be engaged & share

Hence, your very wordy, talkative, positive group that most want to be a part of!!




So, it's ALL your 'fault'

Well if you have to be blamed for something I guess this isn't the worst thing!

 

[bgmathteach]

lilac, Siberian pea tree

Both of these are on my list, plus a few others (choke cherry & service berry are native to here) and high bush blueberry. But, those are for a hedgerow - my next project, probably next year...gotta work on MY living quarters, too...roof still isn't fixed from tree falling on it last Aug/sept

There was someone on here who has a siberian pea hedgerow...they offered seedlings this spring if I wanted to come down and get them. Now I forgot who it was that had them...and forgot to bookmark the post!! If whoever has that great pea tree shrub hedge reads this...please let me know....sorry I forgot who it was!

 

[bgmathteach]

Remember my Cooper's Hawk.

Maybe add some bird netting?

I might try around the pines, but it won't be easy....however 'not easy' doesn't mean 'impossible' Thanks both @BY Bob & @ChicoryBlue for keeping me 'honest' regarding hawks!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Is the Vitamin D3 approach not good? I thought it was supposed to be better. But I don't think the owl story said if they knew which the rat had ingested - an anticoagulant or the Vit D3 stuff.

 

[BY Bob]

I might try around the pines, but it won't be easy....however 'not easy' doesn't mean 'impossible' Thanks both @BY Bob & @ChicoryBlue for keeping me 'honest' regarding hawks!

A hawk landed in the tree across the street today and crows swooped in after it and ran it off. I was never so happy to see crows.

 

[Kris5902]

Yes those second generation pesticides are nasty news, which is why I prefer Ratak, it's been around a long time. I like to keep the pesticide inside and not outside where vermin can wander away outside - mice and rats in the barn will stay in the barn.

I have been also putting the chickens food away at night and not leaving it out over night.

The hen house has no feed in there at all, the gang only goes in there to lay eggs and sleep.

I will be a wreck until I get these vermin under control, until then I will be on tenter hooks....

Safety first, always. If everyone used pesticides carefully and properly there wouldn’t be problems. It’s unfortunate that too many people are either uneducated, lazy, or don’t care about handling these things properly… even some “professionals”. I’m quite serious in the thank you for properly using them. We had a big problem here with accidentally poisoned owls as well. (Not just the ones with the lead poisoning). Ironically, the more toxic poisons have the lesser impact on unintentional kills. You want the rodent to die really really close to the bait. I prefer snap traps for mice but rats are scary. The most common thing I catch in traps is my own fingers so…

 

[Ponypoor]

@featherhead007 I suspect all will be fine overnight. She may not get the roost spot she wants, but though roost shenanigans seem brutal at times, usually no one gets hurt (other than maybe their pride)

I agree, while it's always drama I find they generally figure it out... Bed time is aways drama here.

 

[Ponypoor]

A hawk landed in the tree across the street today and crows swooped in after it and ran it off. I was never so happy to see crows.

Blue Jays, crows all great!

 

[Kris5902]

Blue Jays, crows all great!

Ravens too!