Homesteaders

[duluthralphie]

If I know that it is a neighbors pet then I would warn the neighbor first but where we live there are a lot of strays dropped off. I have to neighbors that rescues all the dogs they can. Both of them has so many dogs its unbelievable. Two different time cats has shown up at our house but something laid their stomachs open and killed them or I probably would have kept them. I don't know if it was a coyote, pig or what the heck it was. They were both near one of our ponds.

If it was a neighbors cat they did not warn me before it killed 4 turkeys, 2 chicks and ate 8 turkey eggs a day before they hatched..


I shall give the neighbor the same warning....BTW I do not have a close neighbor, or particularly care for those closest to me.

 

[rancher hicks]

As far as cats go, you have to do what you have to do. You can't have them stealing your food. Though I would try a Hav a hart trap and if I caught them take them to the shelter. Though many will not have room.

Pinky Pie is with DD and hers, but there is a gray and white cat about.

I don't leave my chicks where a cat can get to them though. I've not had one go after the bigger birds.

Now for why i came her.

Molly Green and Grit magazines have articles one "Straw Bale houses" and "Homesteading on a Shoe String" and "Homesteading Start Up". Too an article on cheap cold frames. That was interesting to me.

Not sure which is which as I didn't buy either. I was at the bookstore today.

I would have but I'm in a mood. I asked DW to help lift some fence panels and she couldn't so I got upset and discouraged. There are things here that need doing and I can't do them alone. I've been after her to sell and move into an apartment.

There are too many times I need a second pair of hands.

Well anyhow, take care folks,

TTFN

 

[Beekissed]

They are but us humans have a soft spot for cats and dogs.

Some do, some don't.

If my own animals were on someone's land, harassing or killing animals, I'd expect no less than they get shot for their trespass.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

As far as cats go, you have to do what you have to do. You can't have them stealing your food. Though I would try a Hav a hart trap and if I caught them take them to the shelter. Though many will not have room. 

Pinky Pie is with DD and hers, but there is a gray and white cat about. 

I don't leave my chicks where a cat can get to them though. I've not had one go after the bigger birds. 

Now for why i came her.  

Molly Green and Grit magazines have articles one "Straw Bale houses" and "Homesteading on a Shoe String" and "Homesteading Start Up".  Too an article on cheap cold frames.  That was interesting to me. 

Not sure which is which as I didn't buy either.  I was at the bookstore today.

I would have but I'm in a mood. I asked DW to help lift some fence panels and she couldn't so I got upset and discouraged. There are things here that need doing and I can't do them alone. I've been after her to sell and move into an apartment.

There are too many times I need a second pair of hands.  

Well anyhow, take care folks, 

TTFN

in the picture of the cat there is a have a heart trap.

 

[duluthralphie]

in the picture of the cat there is a have a heart trap.

I have had that out for several days to a week now, when I first suspected it was a cat of some kind. BUT alas the cat does not seem interesting in the trap. I actually have 4 of them out.

I do not want to catch a bird or dog in a leg hold so I am not using them at this time. It is getting trying though. I have to lock up every bird, every night. Normally I do not lock up the large Toms or the Guineas. The Toms hate being locked up, and it can take me hours to get them into a shed. They roost high enough a cat cannot get them and they are too large for owls....

The guineas, well they are guineas, and are just contraries. If I wanted them in a coop, they want to be out, If I do not want them in a coop, they are in.

I am getting so desperate I have thought about building a safe box/cage inside of the trap that the cat cannot open and putting a bait chick ( a cockerel, that I will just have to cull sooner or later anyways). BUT I cannot bring myself to "torture" the chick by having a cat that close to it. I have tried a few chicks that have died of whatever, but the cat does not go for them.

I am open to suggestions, but I am not going to go way out of my way to save this critter any longer. I have been very patient and considerate of it. I have the time stamp on the camera, I had some nights I did not get a picture but I got a time stamp, always around 1am.

I have no idea why I am explaining myself, I am not a mean or bad person, I just cannot have this cat here any longer. It might be my fault he?she is so smart and avoids the trap, about a year ago, I caught a cat in the trap, and released it because I did not think it could be my predator back then. I cannot tell if this is the same one.

If I catch it and the humane society does not want it or wants money to take it. I will "cull" it.

 

[lcertuche]

The cat sure sounds like it knows about traps so it could be the same one. Have you talked to your neighbors to see if it is theirs?

 

[GardenNut]

Although the picture of the cat isn't super clear, it doesn't look likes its missed many meals. Domestic cats love to play and torture their prey, just for sport, as I'm sure you know. I wish I could "cull" my neighbor's cat that poops in my herb bed! Walk out in the morning air, and the stench is awful! But these houses are so close together. But hopefully I'm moving to my little retirement homestead in a couple weeks. Good luck @duluthralphie!

 

[rancher hicks]

in the picture of the cat there is a have a heart trap.

I did see it.

 

[rancher hicks]

I have had that out for several days to a week now, when I first suspected it was a cat of some kind. BUT alas the cat does not seem interesting in the trap. I actually have 4 of them out.

I do not want to catch a bird or dog in a leg hold so I am not using them at this time. It is getting trying though. I have to lock up every bird, every night. Normally I do not lock up the large Toms or the Guineas. The Toms hate being locked up, and it can take me hours to get them into a shed. They roost high enough a cat cannot get them and they are too large for owls....

The guineas, well they are guineas, and are just contraries. If I wanted them in a coop, they want to be out, If I do not want them in a coop, they are in.

I am getting so desperate I have thought about building a safe box/cage inside of the trap that the cat cannot open and putting a bait chick ( a cockerel, that I will just have to cull sooner or later anyways). BUT I cannot bring myself to "torture" the chick by having a cat that close to it. I have tried a few chicks that have died of whatever, but the cat does not go for them.

I am open to suggestions, but I am not going to go way out of my way to save this critter any longer. I have been very patient and considerate of it. I have the time stamp on the camera, I had some nights I did not get a picture but I got a time stamp, always around 1am.

I have no idea why I am explaining myself, I am not a mean or bad person, I just cannot have this cat here any longer. It might be my fault he?she is so smart and avoids the trap, about a year ago, I caught a cat in the trap, and released it because I did not think it could be my predator back then. I cannot tell if this is the same one.

If I catch it and the humane society does not want it or wants money to take it. I will "cull" it.

We do what we have to.

I had a feral tom when we lived in the city. I wanted to catch him so I could get him fixed but he was too smart. Once I caught our own cat.

"Fred" as I named him would come to eat but wouldn't let anyone touch him. Finally I trapped him in our basement and caged him after we got him fixed. Not sure how the vet got him out of the carrier. Anyhow he just never would tame up so I had to let him go. Anyhow cats can get pretty smart and know the trap is a trap. I think cats don't want to be taught so they can drive us crazy. Unlike dogs, cats just don't care what we want them to do.

I know those guineas can be a pain. My neighbor had four and they got out and he couldn't get them back. One never did come back, two did and one he had to rescue off the ice in the creek. Which is why I never got any, even though I like them.

I just keep chickens and lock them up at night. Unless I forget and I have but no harm came to them. I have Christmas lights strung around but I don't think they help 100% . I do have a spot light that comes on too.

Duluth, you do what you need to to keep your animals safe. After all they provide you with food. Me? I like animals but when they take my food they're gonna die.

I hope you get it before it gets more of your animals.

 

[Serenashome]

Yes, we are building a chicken moat around the garden moving the compost bins to inside the chicken moat facing the garden. Our chickens will have the run of the garden fall through winter, the moat (think square run with a garden inside the center) will be divided so they will be in one half spring and then be moved to the other half mid season. This way I can plant in the run itself to supplement their feed, move them to the other half once it is grown up and plant the first half all over again.

So to answer your question directly YES! They are a huge part of the garden plan.