Illinois...

[Molpet]

Oh WOW thank you!

That would be so awesome I would really love another couple as back ups for my lone calico jenny I have right now.

Unfortunately little Christmas (we couldn't make ourselves call him little Chrissy) was in the tractor and so was the juvenile calico jenny.

I wonder if we locked them in our coop if they would get the idea. We had some guineas we got grown once do that.

I would just hate for them to teach our turkeys that don't get in our ample trees to roost in trees.

Last year I had 14 turkeys and an hour before sunset I would stand out there and knock them out of the trees with a ten foot pole. When the snow flew they were content to be in the coop.... After this year brood could get in the trees, they started going back into the trees. The Tom and 2 hens from last year go in the coop. 2 eight ft roosts are empty so it's not a lack of room

 

[homeschoolin momma]

@Faraday40
I'm so sorry about Digger. She was such a pretty little girl. I know you loved her so as you do all you sweet chickies. She will be missed.

Since the ccl has gotten so red, I hope she has hunkered down somewhere. Maybe finding a quiet place to lay her eggs. I know with all the predator issues you have its a long shot, but will say a prayer for her tonight. You know I'd give you my backup one if she hadn't been killed by that hawk. Maybe we can try again in the early spring. I hardly ever see my ccl . She immediately jumps the fence with 2 bb's to join Taji.

 

[chickendreams24]

I've got to ask who's Taji and the bb's?

 

[Faraday40]

@chickendreams24
Relieved to learn it wasn't Buddy.

As far as the remaining turkeys, you could try keeping them contained in a tractor during the day & then "escort" them back into the coop as it's getting dark. (They'll want to get to safety as the sun is fading, so just walk behind with a long stick to guide them toward the coop- and to whack at tree branches to discourage them from roosting there. ) Reverse commute in the morning.... but may have to carry them for the 1st couple days. After a week (probably less), they should understand the routine. When they pretty much walk to the coop on their own, you could probably skip the tractor. I also had to clip wings. If you don't think they'll fly away from your property, you might be able to skip the whole tractor thing and just spend some time persuading them into the coop each night. My 2 turkey hens got along with the chickens & even allowed the roosters to mate them. Confused yes, but at least not lonely. LOL

The turkeys pretty much followed the chickens' lead. It was funny when it snowed. The flock only came out to the shoveled patio, stretched a little, & ate some snow. As soon as I was done cleaning & headed inside, they also went back inside the coop/run.

 

[Faraday40]

I've got to ask who's Taji and the bb's?

Taji is a laced orp roo from me. (He's gorgeous & will be getting a girlfriend soon.)

"BB" is short for Bowling Balls. The lav orps this year all look like they swallowed bowling balls. I was thinking of naming my lav BB some name starting with "B"s. First thing that popped in my head was "Beautiful Bella." I quickly changed my mind.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

First thing that popped in my head was "Beautiful Bella." I quickly changed my mind.

Aww, come on Bella is a lovely name. It's French for beauty after all......
Well, there's Beatrice, bellatrix (If your a Harry potter fan), Barbara, Brianna, Brooklyn, Bethany, Bailey, Becky, Belinda, Bernadette, Betsy, Bitsy, Bridget, fluffy buffy......

 

[Tortoise]

So very sorry for everyone's losses. It's never easy.
Wildlife must be flourishing as I had to deal with a few.
In the city of Chicago and I have what I am 99% sure was a bobcat. I seen it when it was going over the fence. Luckily for my chickens it killed a wild rabbit on the opposite side of the yard from my chickens.
Poor rabbit though.
Then I had a red tail hawk try to attack one of my chickens, only got one feather as I scared it off.
Then something, I think a domestic cat pulled a bunch of feathers off the same chicken when they were in their covered outside area. Its hawk not cat safe. Hadn't seen a domestic running the area all year.
Luckily the poor thing acts and looks as if nothing happened at all.
I since have installed cameras that will alert me on my phone to any movement. I can speak through the app/camera to hopefully chase off any attacker as I'm running out to save them.
Let's hope everyone has much better luck from here on.

 

[Faraday40]

Let's hope everyone has much better luck from here on.

No such luck here. My neighbor bought a spitz pullet and "Double Stuff" (a laced orp hen). Yesterday morning she heard Spitzer crying. Some predator attacked & killed 3 out of the 4 hens. Only Spitzer is alive. She was standing over Double-Stuff's body making crying noises.

Not sure what my friend will want to do for the winter. She may keep Spitzer and take a few of my orp chicks as companions. She may also want to empty the coop & start over in spring.

@homeschoolin momma If she gives me Spitzer, would you like her? (She was the best one we hatched this summer. ) My neighbor only bought chickens from me, so her coop is sort of like another one of my satellite flocks. I've been spreading my chickens throughout the Chicagoland area.

 

[Faraday40]

So very sorry for everyone's losses. It's never easy.
Wildlife must be flourishing as I had to deal with a few.
In the city of Chicago and I have what I am 99% sure was a bobcat. I seen it when it was going over the fence. Luckily for my chickens it killed a wild rabbit on the opposite side of the yard from my chickens.
Poor rabbit though.
Then I had a red tail hawk try to attack one of my chickens, only got one feather as I scared it off.
Then something, I think a domestic cat pulled a bunch of feathers off the same chicken when they were in their covered outside area. Its hawk not cat safe. Hadn't seen a domestic running the area all year.
Luckily the poor thing acts and looks as if nothing happened at all.
I since have installed cameras that will alert me on my phone to any movement. I can speak through the app/camera to hopefully chase off any attacker as I'm running out to save them.
Let's hope everyone has much better luck from here on.

Glad your girls are safe. This is the hardest time of year. The camera sounds like a good idea. Usually cats learn to stay clear of full-sized chickens. We have a few that roam the area & I've seen them watch from a fence about 100' away. They have never come any closer and certainly never ventured into our yard.

 

[chickendreams24]

Last year I had 14 turkeys and an hour before sunset I would stand out there and knock them out of the trees with a ten foot pole. When the snow flew they were content to be in the coop.... After this year brood could get in the trees, they started going back into the trees. The Tom and 2 hens from last year go in the coop. 2 eight ft roosts are empty so it's not a lack of room

I remember you saying you were having to do that. It sounds quite funny. I imagine it is not so funny when you're doing it.

@chickendreams24
Relieved to learn it wasn't Buddy.

As far as the remaining turkeys, you could try keeping them contained in a tractor during the day & then "escort" them back into the coop as it's getting dark. (They'll want to get to safety as the sun is fading, so just walk behind with a long stick to guide them toward the coop- and to whack at tree branches to discourage them from roosting there. ) Reverse commute in the morning.... but may have to carry them for the 1st couple days. After a week (probably less), they should understand the routine. When they pretty much walk to the coop on their own, you could probably skip the tractor. I also had to clip wings. If you don't think they'll fly away from your property, you might be able to skip the whole tractor thing and just spend some time persuading them into the coop each night. My 2 turkey hens got along with the chickens & even allowed the roosters to mate them. Confused yes, but at least not lonely. LOL

The turkeys pretty much followed the chickens' lead. It was funny when it snowed. The flock only came out to the shoveled patio, stretched a little, & ate some snow. As soon as I was done cleaning & headed inside, they also went back inside the coop/run.

Lol while our adult turkeys are handleable it doesn't mean they enjoy it also the adults I'm not too worried about except that broody. I saw her out yesterday for sure. I can't tell if she's broody or not since I always see her through the windows while I'm doing something.

Also laughing because you know I've had chicken sticks before but they got broken by DH or stolen by Bella. LoL

As soon as we get them accustomed to the coop as home and they settle the pecking order and bond. We also have to remove several nuisances that will be dinners from the flock and place them in the buckeye coop until we can get them processed this turning weather means we'll likely be butchering in the porch just to get as many done as possible. Especially as DH is in the fields.

My turkeys do okay but do much better when they have another turkey with them.

Hopefully we get the rain they're calling for and we can move and butcher some birds this weekend. And winterize the outside plants.

Aww, come on Bella is a lovely name. It's French for beauty after all......
Well, there's Beatrice, bellatrix (If your a Harry potter fan), Barbara, Brianna, Brooklyn, Bethany, Bailey, Becky, Belinda, Bernadette, Betsy, Bitsy, Bridget, fluffy buffy......

LMAO Bella is the name of our Great Dane and while she can be sweet she's naughty as heck and a real handful. Basically when @Faraday40 got Kepler I told we she was in for trouble because he has the same temperament as our Bella.

For instance we recently bought her a new dog bed after she destroyed her and her sister's beds even after we patched them and then wrapped them in a blanket. So DH said "She needs a new bed let's get her a purple pet bed they have a 1 year warranty."

I said "But they're about 300$!"
His reply "They have a waterproof second cover and are antimicrobial no smell."

So we got the bed. She at first didn't like it. Now she sleeps on it all day like a log. But every other day or two we catch her sleeping on her sister's bed in the night or in the morning. The 20-30 dollar dog bed from Woodman's that's too small and not built for a great Dane. So now her big fat butt is ruining another dog bed that belongs to our sheltie, Molly.

Plus her new bed needs the cover washed because I think it stinks as she has this habit of laying in the sun(she's black) until her insides cook and then coming in the house smelling and if roast dog smells like that hot mess than I can't imagine why any people anywhere would eat them. LoL

And yes we bathe her although she hates water. She also sheds so much that our floor looks like there's piles of dirt all over. Nope it's great Dane hair. I sweep and then she shakes and explodes all over lol.

Anyway sorry for the long explanation but I don't think Faraday40 wants to subject herself to the jinx that is Bella.

But yes we love her. I haven't figured out why DH adores her so much but he's pretty blind to her antics. I love her with reservation fully love her don't always like her.

It can be very hard having a wilfully naughty dog that cares nothing for pleasing you because that is Bella's real problem. I've trained many dogs I've even worked with dogs that scared there own owners with aggression. This dog is defective and I think the breeder totally took advantage of DH getting his own first dog.

No such luck here. My neighbor bought a spitz pullet and "Double Stuff" (a laced orp hen). Yesterday morning she heard Spitzer crying. Some predator attacked & killed 3 out of the 4 hens. Only Spitzer is alive. She was standing over Double-Stuff's body making crying noises.

Not sure what my friend will want to do for the winter. She may keep Spitzer and take a few of my orp chicks as companions. She may also want to empty the coop & start over in spring.

@homeschoolin momma If she gives me Spitzer, would you like her? (She was the best one we hatched this summer. ) My neighbor only bought chickens from me, so her coop is sort of like another one of my satellite flocks. I've been spreading my chickens throughout the Chicagoland area.

Oh no!! Poor Double Stuff!

I have a feeling it's going to be a bad bad winter with the way the animals are acting and the fact that here we are supposed to likely get sleet and even snow next week!

@Faraday40 you know I'll help you get numbers down if you need. Unfortunately I think the weather is too cold for the plucker now but maybe not. Skin tends to tear more when it's chilly out.