FOGHORN LEGHORN~ "Lookit here son, I say, I say son, did ya see that hawk after those hens? ....

[Meadowchick]

What a great conversation! In Southwest Louisiana, we have dealt with hawks and coyotes, skunks, opossum and raccoons...and don't forget the lowly chicken snake! I do believe I saw a cougar one morning while taking a walk...it was on the railroad across from our place about a thousand yards from my house. Local wildlife officials say there aren't any here...but field cams from hunters say there are. All I have to say about that is I no longer do my walking early in the morning, nor go out to our hen house after dark... and I am not a person who is easily frightened.

We take all the precautions for our hens that are humanly possible...but sometimes you just lose 'em.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

What a great conversation! In Southwest Louisiana, we have dealt with hawks and coyotes, skunks, opossum and raccoons...and don't forget the lowly chicken snake! I do believe I saw a cougar one morning while taking a walk...it was on the railroad across from our place about a thousand yards from my house. Local wildlife officials say there aren't any here...but field cams from hunters say there are. All I have to say about that is I no longer do my walking early in the morning, nor go out to our hen house after dark... and I am not a person who is easily frightened.

We take all the precautions for our hens that are humanly possible...but sometimes you just lose 'em.

EEEKKK so many bigger predators than a hawk! They can destroy a flock in a heartbeat, glad you made that decision about going out! stay safe!

 

[pound4pound]

crows are the vehicles for dreaded bird flu. even the hawks and other birds of prey are also carriers since they scavenge for dead or eat them alive.

i would prefer having a covered run with net then i would install some eagle spinners and make some wind generator myself to harvest power of the wind.

if you see a hawk feasting on your bird shoot it then shoot it in the dumpster. lol

cracking firearms will cause only panic not unless your neighbors are also protecting their birds from nasty predators.


the actual truth lies in the hunters since they came prepared in the wild for predators bigger than themselves.

protect yourself and your pets.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

crows are the vehicles for dreaded bird flu. even the hawks and other birds of prey are also carriers since they scavenge for dead or eat them alive.

i would prefer having a covered run with net then i would install some eagle spinners and make some wind generator myself to harvest power of the wind.

if you see a hawk feasting on your bird shoot it then shoot it in the dumpster. lol

cracking firearms will cause only panic not unless your neighbors are also protecting their birds from nasty predators.


the actual truth lies in the hunters since they came prepared in the wild for predators bigger than themselves.

protect yourself and your pets.

 

[off-grid hen]

We still have lots of birds of prey near my dwelling, for which I am thankful. They fly over multiple times a day, but we have had only one attack during migration early this spring.

The deer ticks are prolific this year, time to get rid of leaf litter under the oaks.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

We still have lots of birds of prey near my dwelling, for which I am thankful. They fly over multiple times a day, but we have had only one attack during migration early this spring.

The deer ticks are prolific this year, time to get rid of leaf litter under the oaks.

deer ticks are prolific! whats up with that, I am in PA and nothing is working on the dogs to repel them!

 

[off-grid hen]

A few years ago I read a publication from the extension office in Connecticut. They said that keeping the grass short, the leaves raked, and mulching the perimeter of the wood line helps keep them in the woods, but half my yard where the coop is is under a stand of oaks. :-/

 

[NEChickenNoob]

A few years ago I read a publication from the extension office in Connecticut. They said that keeping the grass short, the leaves raked, and mulching the perimeter of the wood line helps keep them in the woods, but half my yard where the coop is is under a stand of oaks. :-/

I have a good friend with 2 guineas. He hasn't seen a single tick yet this year. He is a very outdoorsie type as well. It will keep off the Lyme!

 

[NEChickenNoob]

What a great conversation! In Southwest Louisiana, we have dealt with hawks and coyotes, skunks, opossum and raccoons...and don't forget the lowly chicken snake! I do believe I saw a cougar one morning while taking a walk...it was on the railroad across from our place about a thousand yards from my house. Local wildlife officials say there aren't any here...but field cams from hunters say there are. All I have to say about that is I no longer do my walking early in the morning, nor go out to our hen house after dark... and I am not a person who is easily frightened.

We take all the precautions for our hens that are humanly possible...but sometimes you just lose 'em.

Right now, Cougars (or Mountain Lions, Panthers, ect.) have been confirmed by hunters in almost every state except hawaii. I have a friend who is doing her thesis for a PhD proving this and outlining the slow reaction to the confirmation by the state governments. I have actually seen one in FL, NC and WA (some of the places I have lived). Use the three S's for these animals. Why you may ask, if you seem them, they know you are there and choose to be that close. THAT IS BAD!

 

[Meadowchick]

Yeah, I don't understand why the wildlife folks want the stay in denial about cougars all around when people have documented them on field cams...often! What's the advantage of denying they are around us? It's been told to us that they have released 5 mating pairs in Vernon, Beauregard, and Allen Parishes. The Calcasieu River basin is in two of these parishes (counties) which provides ideal habitat for nearly any wildlife...much like the SE Texas Big Thicket... Oh well, some things you just can't "figger out"...LOL! It was nice to hear from a CT citizen with some input on the topic though...thanks!!!