INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Too Fast]

I think I will give Perdue University a call Monday. If they can't help me, they may be able to direct me to the right people. I know that my neighbor had chickens and turkeys awhile ago. Maybe 8 years ago or so. Lost all of his chickens to owls and butchered his turkeys. He kept them all together in the same open faced coop.

Unfortunately we decided to put our coop close to where he had his coop. Maybe 50' away. Ours in in the southerns part of the yard, his was on the northern part, but still too close for my liking.I told my hubby we shouldn't put it there, as I was sure his interest would be renewed once he knew we got chickens. DH said oh no he too lazy he won't get them again. Lo and behold! They are also getting chickens! My coop is almost done! Too late to move it now! What do I do? Can two coops be that close to each other with out causing any problems?

Deb

Owls. OMG. Just remembered I say the first owl in my yard last night. He/she was HUGE! I have to find out what type it is, he flew over and posted up on top of a telephone pole and sat there, looking at us I think, thanking us for the first time we forget to get the girls secured. He was there about 10 minutes before he flew off into the field next to us.


I just looked up owls in Indiana and confirmed it was a great horned owl, which I suspected last night. Do they eat chickens? I mean in case we forget to close the pop-door at night.

 

[vickichicki]

Owls. OMG. Just remembered I say the first owl in my yard last night. He/she was HUGE! I have to find out what type it is, he flew over and posted up on top of a telephone pole and sat there, looking at us I think, thanking us for the first time we forget to get the girls secured. He was there about 10 minutes before he flew off into the field next to us.

Oh the master of all bird watchers to the resuce

If was was huge like hawk sized huge it is probably going to be a Great Horned Owl. They have not problems picking off a chicken.

 

[Too Fast]

I don't have a clear answer on this yet, mostly bc I'm lazy I admit, but do you keep the food/water always outside the coop, always inside, or have some in both places?

Which is better for rodent control, or to keep it away from squirrels/birds etc, or what does everyone do? I know in the winter the water will be inside the coop, with a warmer to keep it from freezing.

 

[vickichicki]

Alrighty.. girl or boy?

 

[vickichicki]

I don't have a clear answer on this yet, mostly bc I'm lazy I admit, but do you keep the food/water always outside the coop, always inside, or have some in both places?

Which is better for rodent control, or to keep it away from squirrels/birds etc, or what does everyone do? I know in the winter the water will be inside the coop, with a warmer to keep it from freezing.

Mine is in the coop right now but that has to do with not having a run set up yet.

However when I do get to building one I will be keeping that food and water outside and a water inside (for overnight). I would think it would cut down on the poop inside the coop (I'm a poet and didn't know it) keeping it in the run. If the run is super secure you can keep it out there, maybe move it in at night so the mice and other smaller rodents to not weave through the fence to find it.

 

[Too Fast]

Oh the master of all bird watchers to the resuce

If was was huge like hawk sized huge it is probably going to be a Great Horned Owl. They have not problems picking off a chicken.

Thanks. I just edited my post, and yeah, probably a great horned owl. Had the silohuette of the ears, that's how we id'd it. So you say they like chicken, eh? Funny how everything tastes like chicken! He was huge hawk sized. They usually eat barred owls I found out, keep away from my chickens. Very cool to see one tho, I did find out they are as plentiful as red-tailed hawks. We had a family of red-tails in our yard last year. It was all good then, but not this year! We've seen them around the area again.


Now, off to work on the run. I swear it this time! No more fun reading on BYCs! I am not a chicken addict! At least I can't admit it yet! Admitting it means you agree there is a problem. Not my fault if I dream about them, hover over them, laugh at/with them, give them goodies, all in the hope for some eggs. We are not addicts bc we stayed with our original goal of 3-4 birds. Oops, we have 8. We are not addicted. I think.

 

[vickichicki]

Oooh exciting news... My husband has decided to 'give' me the minibarn for the chickens. He brought home a storage building from the shop and said he can use that and the barn is all MINE!!! Mwahhhhh!!!

The thought of having a dry floor for the chicken is the most exciting thing I can imagine right now. Need to break out a penicl and paper to plan some stuff. Like the ability to section off the chickens and chicks. Going to have to get all modular in there to maximize the space.

Holey Moley... excited about a minibarn... I am easily pleased

 

[Too Fast]

Mine is in the coop right now but that has to do with not having a run set up yet.

However when I do get to building one I will be keeping that food and water outside and a water inside (for overnight). I would think it would cut down on the poop inside the coop (I'm a poet and didn't know it) keeping it in the run. If the run is super secure you can keep it out there, maybe move it in at night so the mice and other smaller rodents to not weave through the fence to find it.

Thanks. Yes the small animals would have to climb about 2 feet up the fence to get in the less secure 2x4 wire enclosure. We have hardware cloth on the lower section.

Mice/squirrels can't climb, right?

 

[vickichicki]

Thanks. I just edited my post, and yeah, probably a great horned owl. Had the silohuette of the ears, that's how we id'd it. So you say they like chicken, eh? Funny how everything tastes like chicken! He was huge hawk sized. They usually eat barred owls I found out, keep away from my chickens. Very cool to see one tho, I did find out they are as plentiful as red-tailed hawks. We had a family of red-tails in our yard last year. It was all good then, but not this year! We've seen them around the area again.


Now, off to work on the run. I swear it this time! No more fun reading on BYCs! I am not a chicken addict! At least I can't admit it yet! Admitting it means you agree there is a problem. Not my fault if I dream about them, hover over them, laugh at/with them, give them goodies, all in the hope for some eggs. We are not addicts bc we stayed with our original goal of 3-4 birds. Oops, we have 8. We are not addicted. I think.

I think the dreaming stage is the stage before buying a costume and acting like them in the run.

Thanks. Yes the small animals would have to climb about 2 feet up the fence to get in the less secure 2x4 wire enclosure. We have hardware cloth on the lower section.

Mice/squirrels can't climb, right?

Right

HAHA

 

[vickichicki]

Thanks. Yes the small animals would have to climb about 2 feet up the fence to get in the less secure 2x4 wire enclosure. We have hardware cloth on the lower section.

Mice/squirrels can't climb, right?

You could awlays invest in some bird netting and secure that on the upper half of the fencing. I know, I know, so much for the 'free' eggs.