INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[racinchickins]

I have had an interesting few days. I took Monday and Tuesday off of work to plant my vegetable garden. I have about 200 square feet to plant so it takes a while to do. I also decided to utilize companion planting so I planted a redic amount this year! It is a pretty cool concept! Of course we had gale force winds and rain for most of my time off so I ended up working REALLY hard to get everything done before the bad weather hit. I ended up planting on Sunday in 30 mph winds and had seeds blowing everywhere. It will be pretty interesting to see what it ends up looking like! I may have some unplanned "companions" lol.

My parents suffered a tragedy, their great dane (rescued a year ago) attacked one of their dachshunds and he ended up dying after 3 hours of surgery to try to repair broken ribs, a punctured lung and kidney and liver damage. He was my dad's dachshund and it is so hard to hear your dad sobbing on the phone because his best friend is now gone in such a horribly violent and unexpected way. The great dane had previously attacked two other small dogs and they had been working with a behaviorist to try to fix the behavior, which the behaviorist thought was fixable. They are now blaming themselves for not sending her back to rescue after the other incidents. If they had this dog would still be alive. It is human nature to blame yourself when this stuff happens and there isn't much you can say to comfort them. We have all been a crying mess over the whole thing. The great dane went back to the rescue within 12 hours of the latest incident, so in a way they are mourning the loss of two dogs. Such a horrible situation.

I woke up last night to "no no bad dog" laying on my select comfort mattress control. My bottom half was sagging! My sleep befuddled brain thought I was under attack at first from the whirring of the mattress box and my body being moved...kind of funny. Then since I was awake I heard coyotes CLOSE, they were carrying on and sounded like they were right outside my window, which would probably mean the chicken coop or horse barn. So I spent the rest of the night awake stressing about the chickens and my old skinny horse. So now I feel like a zombie from lack of sleep. BTW everyone was fine but this is the first time I have known of coyotes getting this close to the house and I don't like it. There isn't any woods near me so they usually stay on the other side of the ravine/creek in the fields to the back of my property. Not sure what I am going to do if they decide to start lurking. They are becoming such an issue EVERYWHERE and I haven't heard of a good way to stay safe from them. If they decide your property is a buffet they will come back until they get what they want. I guess in Carmel a lady left her house to run an errand and came back to a destroyed house. A coyote had busted through her door and killed her dog IN HER HOUSE. It really is terrifying.

So sad to hear about the dogs. We had to return a mastiff years ago to their rescue organization because it wanted to attack every dog that got walked by our house (before we moved to the country). They were not honest with us about her behavior before we got her. But we've had great luck with all of our other rescues.

As far as coyotes go, they visit our place every few weeks on their rounds. I've even found their footprints in our barn. We've had them get very close to the house at night too. And I am right with you on lying there wondering how the chickens are doing. But keep in mind that the main danger is to livestock and pets. Coyotes are small enough that for the most part they avoid getting near humans. And I'd find it a bit hard to believe they could break through a door into someones house, unless it was a screen door.

The best defense for coyotes is the same as for all predators. Strong, secure, well built coops, stalls, fences, etc..... LGDs are a good help also. I know the electric netting I use around my mobile coop has been very effective against everything but aerial predators. I saw a domestic dog touch it, and he was off and running!!

 

[goodb]

So sad to hear about the dogs. We had to return a mastiff years ago to their rescue organization because it wanted to attack every dog that got walked by our house (before we moved to the country). They were not honest with us about her behavior before we got her. But we've had great luck with all of our other rescues.

As far as coyotes go, they visit our place every few weeks on their rounds. I've even found their footprints in our barn. We've had them get very close to the house at night too. And I am right with you on lying there wondering how the chickens are doing. But keep in mind that the main danger is to livestock and pets. Coyotes are small enough that for the most part they avoid getting near humans. And I'd find it a bit hard to believe they could break through a door into someones house, unless it was a screen door.

The best defense for coyotes is the same as for all predators. Strong, secure, well built coops, stalls, fences, etc..... LGDs are a good help also. I know the electric netting I use around my mobile coop has been very effective against everything but aerial predators. I saw a domestic dog touch it, and he was off and running!!

Which fencing system do you use as I'm considering getting one?... Thank you

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Not sure what I am going to do if they decide to start lurking.

You'll stay up late and shoot them. Or find someone else to stay up late and shoot them.

 

[racinchickins]

Quote: I have both the poultrynet and poultrynet plus from premiere1. Both are very good, but I do prefer the poultrynet plus. It is easier to work with.

 

[ChickCrazed]

You'll stay up late and shoot them. Or find someone else to stay up late and shoot them.

I am nervous about bullets being shot around my property because of the horses. Plus it is very flat out here with no trees and bullets travel very far if they don't hit a hill or a tree! I have considered hiring someone, but like I said I don't want someone accidentally shooting my horses. I thought about adding a strand of electric to the bottom of my horse fence (the top of the fence is already hot for the horses) to keep them from digging into the property, but i have enough fence that it would be a big issue keeping the grass/weeds off the electric and then the top part would ground out as well.

 

[Minminme]

Thanks for the compliments!

Lol...we don't use guns to "hunt" them so unless you're afraid of bending over will kill you!! Then how do you ever keep chickens! Haha!

I still have waaayyy too many strawberry plants to remove. I have given away about 150 so far! I have about another 300 to go! No kidding! So please please get a wild hair my wonderful BYC family and come make a fun little outing! Great week for it...well for transplanting. .cooler temps and rain.

My wild hair would have to put me in my car for another 9-10 hour drive...um think I'll pass, unless you want to mail me a BUNCH of them! lol. I also wanted to add my comments too...YOUR MARANS ARE AMAZING!!!! the Black copper ones I hatched from your eggs are growing like little weeds!!! they are getting the "copper" around their necks and their personalities are starting to show. I wish I knew if they were Pullets or Cockerels though. One of these days I'll remember to take my camera or phone outh there to get pictures of al my babies again, only bad thing is I'd have to make a day of it I have sooooo many babies right now!

 

[Minminme]

I'm still alive folks. Computer at home decided to die on me. Working on getting a new one. Chickens are doing great. They are about to bury me under eggs. I have one broody sitting on a few right now. My new babies arent babies any more they are growing fast.

Hi Gunchief...wow heard lots about you but havent seen you on here much since I joined the thread....hurry n get that new computer will ya, lol, looking forward to reading your posts!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Saw your post on Indiana BYC...do you have any chickens for sale? We are wanting some on or about May 12th. Thanks...we can pick them up.

sue giebler

and our thread

Hello
just found this thread, I'm in Markleville... close to Anderson. I have LF Brahmas. I'm adding Blue and Buff Orpington's to the flock, they are 3 weeks old and I have 5 blues with 12 brahmas do to hatch tomorrow.

and our thread

we are practically neighbors.

 

[ellymayRans]

My wild hair would have to put me in my car for another 9-10 hour drive...um think I'll pass, unless you want to mail me a BUNCH of them! lol. I also wanted to add my comments too...YOUR MARANS ARE AMAZING!!!! the Black copper ones I hatched from your eggs are growing like little weeds!!! they are getting the "copper" around their necks and their personalities are starting to show. I wish I knew if they were Pullets or Cockerels though.  One of these days I'll remember to take my camera or phone outh there to get pictures of al my babies again, only bad thing is I'd have to make a day of it I have sooooo many babies right now!

Awe I have been waiting and waiting to hear about them and see pics!! I can just about guarantee sex if you post some pics ..not too close but..lol...the boys are so obvious at only about 3-5 weeks really!

Big boy!
They do grow big fast...they are dual purpose and are known for not only their eggs but meat as well.
So glad you are happy with them. They really are wonderful birds all around!

 

[CountryHen19]

My parents suffered a tragedy, their great dane (rescued a year ago) attacked one of their dachshunds and he ended up dying after 3 hours of surgery to try to repair broken ribs, a punctured lung and kidney and liver damage. He was my dad's dachshund and it is so hard to hear your dad sobbing on the phone because his best friend is now gone in such a horribly violent and unexpected way. The great dane had previously attacked two other small dogs and they had been working with a behaviorist to try to fix the behavior, which the behaviorist thought was fixable. They are now blaming themselves for not sending her back to rescue after the other incidents. If they had this dog would still be alive. It is human nature to blame yourself when this stuff happens and there isn't much you can say to comfort them. We have all been a crying mess over the whole thing. The great dane went back to the rescue within 12 hours of the latest incident, so in a way they are mourning the loss of two dogs. Such a horrible situation.

. They are becoming such an issue EVERYWHERE and I haven't heard of a good way to stay safe from them. If they decide your property is a buffet they will come back until they get what they want. I guess in Carmel a lady left her house to run an errand and came back to a destroyed house. A coyote had busted through her door and killed her dog IN HER HOUSE. It really is terrifying.

Oh my goodness-- I cannot tell you how sorry I am about your parents' dogs. I would be just as devastated. We had 3 dachshunds but we ended up having to put our boy down due to cancer last Feb. I know many people don't like them but my heart aches when I hear about someone loosing their doxie...<hugs> especially the way it happened. So sad.

I hadn't heard that story about the lady in Carmel but can't imagine coming home to that...