INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
I recommend 3 feeders. One for each bag. Reason being the grain mites. Another being if you decide to use various feed or split your flock into different groups come summer. It also allows the lowest ranking chicken to have better odds at getting to a feeder. might be easier for you to move around. Even empty it looks heavy. And lastly if one needs cleaning you still have two in the chicken area with food for the chickens.

 

[BlossomSilkies]

Thanks Bryan (goodb) and Sally. Never thought of wolves! I think we better consider an electric fence for the perimeter of the property at least. I'll have to research that, never had one before.

 

[China Bird]

Hey, thanks Sally!

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

My little d'uccle pullet is epileptic. She had a sezziure 2 weeks ago and another one yesterday. They are very short. I wont cull her unless it gets really bad.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Bryan - I didn't realize you were in Dunlap. We're neighbors! I'm between South Bend and Elkhart.

Kristy - If you keep your birds locked in the coop at night you probably won't have to worry about wolves or coyotes. But the coyotes can get very bold and do some pre-dusk hunting if they're breeding with no predators.

I do have the portable electro-net where mine range as I'm more concerned with stray dogs getting them during the day than anything else. My future plans are to have some boer goats just seasonally to help clear more of the wooded area on the property and just let the birds range that whole area afterwards as an expansion. Once they have the whole area I may do some perimeter wire just outside the regular perimeter fence but mostly to deter the stray dogs. Bonus to keep coyote out at night too I hope.

 

[Leahs Mom]

PS to say that so far I haven't seen any trace of coyotes around our property. But I do know they're in the area. I don't even get footprints in the snow.

 

[kabhyper1]

We are between 4 houses, but I hate the nights I can hear the spine chilling cries of a pack in the fields around all the houses. We have 5 foot small weave fence everywhere, even over the gates, but I still worry. Alpacas don't defend themselves. I want a guard LLama. lol. Our dogs go out in the fenced yard, and I think the pee smell of five dogs, and whatever guys are drinking beer at our house would keep them away, (yes I said that), but it is still an un-nerving sound. Our chickens are up tight, so I don't worry for them as much.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I have heard of some areas where the coyotes have gotten so bold that they would walk right into the barns in daylight and take a lamb or chicken right in front of the owner. I haven't heard that in my area.

But when they get to that point it is because they are breeding and running in packs and have been allowed to breed out of control with no natural predator to keep the population in check.

I heard from a couple folks that their husbands were staying in the barn loft at night with a rifle to get the alpha in the pack and that when they did that, the whole pack would leave the area. I hope they never get that bold around here, but I'd surely become their natural predator if needed.

 

[Leahs Mom]

 

[kabhyper1]

We have so many critters in our woods I don't think the coys have reached that level of braisen yet. Indiana has a lot of other food options for them. A less densly wooded area would probably have braver coyotes.