IA here

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Thats horrible Craig. I would be enraged too and most likely want to catch the thing with my bare hands ( yes, I know that is unwise), and stomp on it's head!
Has it been opening the door by manipulating the latch?

No I closed the door but the latch must not have caught. I think the wind that came with the rain we got last night blew it open. The coon did the rest.

Now the coon pays when it comes back tonight.

 

[karimw]

I discovered this morning that I must not have actually latched the door to my shop when I closed it last night.I figure when we got our rain came the wind blew it open. I found coon tracks in my shop. I had a EVERY one of my Black, Partridge,Silver Penciled chicks were killed last night. All of my birds under 5 weeks old are dead. At least 35 dead. I do have older Columbians and Buff Columbians in another place.

That coon will find out tonight that a mad old man with a good rifle is a deadly combo to mess with.

Now I have to hope the Blacks will lay again. The rest are laying well . I still have 60-70 older Columbians and 9 older Buff Columbians. Now I have to hatch much later into the summer than I hoped to.
Craig

Oh Craig, that is just terrible. Good luck hunting! I have seen a lot of coon sign but so far they haven't managed to get at any birds. For some reason the trap has not been working, so I guess we'll have to do a stake out.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Oh Craig, that is just terrible. Good luck hunting! I have seen a lot of coon sign but so far they haven't managed to get at any birds. For some reason the trap has not been working, so I guess we'll have to do a stake out.

Traps work great. put out what ever bait (I like dry cat food) for 3 nights with no traps. If the bait is all gone each morning then on the 4th night set the trap. I like a large live trap in case I catch the neighbors cat but have used #2 coils with great success also. I have caught a mother with 3 young in a live trap and the other 2 young played around the outside of the trap till morning.

Oh the coon that got all my chicks is dead.
Craig

 

[karimw]

Good deal Craig! I have some hunting to do as well. Someone ransacked my feed room last night and made a horrible mess

 

[wtpoperator]

Hello everyone. New to the site and new to chickens! Found a nice coop on the site that I really liked and just finished building it. I am looking to stay small for now with 4-5 hens and a cock. I have been looking at different birds, and have determined I would like an Americana, Barred Rock, Buff Orpington, Deleware and a cuckoo muran. Just kind of wanted a variety of birds. Is that reasonable or should I try to stick with one or two varieties. Also, where can I find some for sale? I have been looking everywhere and haven't had much luck.
Thanks!
Brent

 

[mrheinz77]

Welcome Brent. Where are you located? I have Cuckoos and Ameraucanas.

 

[wtpoperator]

Pella, about 40 minutes southeast of Des Moines. Do you have young chicks or are they getting older? It is tough to find some of them in this area. A friend told me to go to the rutledge market but I'm not convinced I would be able to get the ones I want.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Hello everyone. New to the site and new to chickens! Found a nice coop on the site that I really liked and just finished building it. I am looking to stay small for now with 4-5 hens and a cock. I have been looking at different birds, and have determined I would like an Americana, Barred Rock, Buff Orpington, Deleware and a cuckoo muran. Just kind of wanted a variety of birds. Is that reasonable or should I try to stick with one or two varieties. Also, where can I find some for sale? I have been looking everywhere and haven't had much luck.
Thanks!
Brent

I am not a big fan of mixing breeds unless raised togather. Mixing mature birds I suggest placing them all in the new home at the same time so none is "protecting their coop" from interlopers. Even my Cochins which are among the calmest breed battle new birds when they are introduced. Just my opinion for what it is worth.
Craig

 

[wtpoperator]

Never thought about that but I am trying to find as many of them as I can at one time so they will be going in together. I just liked the variety of colors and personalities and of course different eggs of the various chickens I listed. I am thinking the Iowa blue would be a nice addition.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Never thought about that but I am trying to find as many of them as I can at one time so they will be going in together. I just liked the variety of colors and personalities and of course different eggs of the various chickens I listed. I am thinking the Iowa blue would be a nice addition.

Trish told me that when she had Iowa Blues they had great dispositions.