Thanks for your advice and the others also. We are going to do just that, we have some leftover 1/2'' hardware cloth. May put some on the area around it so there is more to reach thru. The way the 2x4 wiring is, the chickens can pretty much lay against the fence as they sleep, so an added 2 inches or so will help.
I have an automatic door, but I still (usually) go out and check that everyone got back inside before the door closed at 9:30. Last night I found six huddled up on the ramp by the door. Had to lift the door and push their little fluffy butts inside. My 4 ft. fence would only slow hungry critters. Perhaps a momentary pause.Well I had a disappointing morning. Went out o feed and had one killed overnight. Head neck and innards gone!! Guess I better start locking down better!! They won't like it!! It was a bany RIR, and I'd have thought it would've done a Cochin since they are slower!!
Quinstar- I think he's a beautiful roo!! Hope he stays a good boy!!
When I got home my new mommy had her babies out of the nest. I've wrapped the kennel in extra plastic , 3 foot chicken fence! To keep the little ones in and the free rangers from reaching thru!![/URL]
I hope you find a buddy for him. If not maybe he can make a chickens friend. I had only one bantam and she became buddies with a LF EE.they always roosted by each other.
You know that would be really weird if she actually hatched eggs lol. She would probably eat the chicks!hey everyone, this is my new broody hen "smokey" lolol just kidding found this on google and thought it was hilarious!
I don't believe 4h is what it use to be. I have alot of cousins that show a variety of animals and even do scrapbooking photography. Etc. They all are made to take care of their animals themselves and anything they make on meat pen animals goes back towards new animals for the folliwing year if they still want to show. I think it should be like that. I am positive not all the kids raise their own cattle pigs etc I've heard of kids showing up at the barns going which cows mine and that's the first time they ever see it. There were even issues in the goat barns last year over breeders not letting the kids who were showing take care of the goats which is suppose to be part of it. It would take my kids alot of pleases to talk me into letting them show iff they were even interested.Unless the heat is excessive, in Bartholomew County the poultry is usually judged on Monday or Tuesday and released on Friday. Last year many fairs released livestock right after judging because of the heat. The other livestock is there until Friday also; not sure when they are judged. I try to go over about Wednesday, early enough to beat the evening crowds but hopefully get to see other exhibits as well. Our Decatur County fair is usually the 3rd week in July--haven't checked the calendar for this year. Will have to see which week Storie's Restaurant and the Westport Dairy Queen plan to be closed.Okay, on my soapbox!
4-H is supposed to be about learning, responsibility, etc. But too many young folks are buying a nice bird right before the fair and selling it afterward. One 4-H er in Decatur County even asked to borrow a chicken to show! (Naturally I said sure, you can take one of my exhibition birds, leave it penned there for a week with kids poking at it, take your ribbon, and then give it back to me with whatever it picked up during that week.) At least with their cattle, hogs, etc. they have to have worked with them to be able to show them in the ring.
