INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Mother2Hens]

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!!

I agree with racinchickens about coyotes ~Predator-proof housing for livestock is the best solution. It may not be the least expensive, but at least you can sleep at night, and good quality lasts a long time. I agree with ChickCrazed that guns can cause more problems like injuring/killing people/livestock, plus shooting a predator doesn't solve the long term problem of keeping the flock safe on a daily basis.
Minminme ~ I love this photo of the older Silkie taking care of the younger one! So sweet.

ellymayRans ~ Cute baby Marans! And I'm impressed that a chicken person can have long fingernails!

raisinemright~ I agree with kabhyper, your doc, and everyone else I'm sure who thinks that a herniated disc is nothing to mess around with. You'll likely get better much faster and avoid surgery if you don't do things to make it worse. Instead of planting the fields, park yourself in a comfy chair next to your grill and admire it!

BackyardBitten ~ Looks like you hit the mother load at ellymayRans! Good luck on your hatch!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

CCHICKENS belated happy birthday!

I finally got caught up

I am thinking mid july for chickenfest, 19th maybe? I really need input to reserve the barn.
I have to give the owner 3 dates in a week or so, he books the barn fast every year. PLEASE PM ME!!!
I want to plan a date that wont interfere with regular kids sports, racing events, 4H, state fair, kids activities period.

Been busy here, have a lot of pekin ducklings, lots of OEGB. 2 broody geese, 2 scovy. 2 hens both australorp not letting them, chicks wont survive in the egg coop.
have a 3rd goose I think broody very soon. She has made a nest also. Anyone wanting pekin ducks I have them, cheap to our members.
$1 a duckling. the rest are going to a neighbor or CL.

Off to bed, nite guys!!!

 

[barb s]

HAPPY MAY DAY EVERYONE

 

[hoosiercheetah]

I agree with racinchickens about coyotes ~Predator-proof housing for livestock is the best solution. It may not be the least expensive, but at least you can sleep at night, and good quality lasts a long time. I agree with ChickCrazed that guns can cause more problems like injuring/killing people/livestock, plus shooting a predator doesn't solve the long term problem of keeping the flock safe on a daily basis.

I also agree that secure housing is critical, and I hope I didn't imply that it isn't. If you have coyotes, you have opossum and raccoon and probably fox, not to mention all of the feral domestic cats and dogs.

However, a dead coyote doesn't kill chickens, or people's dogs or children.

Gun safety is easy, but it has to be taught and learned. Killing wild animals safely is easy, as long as you keep your wits about you and pay attention to what you're doing. I hunt deer on a farm that pastures horses and cattle, and their neighbors have dogs that often get loose and run the woods. We've been hunting this property for decades, and there's never even been a close call.

People who shoot things they didn't intend to shoot are lazy and/or ignorant. I would defiantly not suggest letting someone you don't know personally hunt on your land, and I hope I didn't imply that either. Out of the people I Do know, there are not a lot of them I'd trust with that kind of job. But I think most people could find at least one or two friends or relatives to help out with eliminating predators.

Coyotes are badly overpopulated, and their numbers need to be reduced.

 

[gunchief25]

Morning all Cockadoodledoooooooooooo!!!

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

CCHICKENS belated happy birthday!

I finally got caught up I am thinking mid july for chickenfest, 19th maybe? I really need input to reserve the barn.
I have to give the owner 3 dates in a week or so, he books the barn fast every year. [COLOR=FF0000]PLEASE PM ME!!![/COLOR]
I want to plan a date that wont interfere with regular kids sports, racing events, 4H, state fair, kids activities period.

Been busy here, have a lot of pekin ducklings, lots of OEGB.  2 broody geese, 2 scovy. 2 hens both australorp not letting them, chicks wont survive in the egg coop.
have a 3rd goose I think broody very soon. She has made a nest also. Anyone wanting pekin ducks I have them, cheap to our members.
$1 a duckling. the rest are going to a neighbor or CL.

Off to bed, nite guys!!!

Thanks

State far is august 1-18th or something really close to that. I would avoid the month of August. Many schools are also starting in early august now, so that may pose trouble for some. 4-H fairs around here are usually in July. And July tends to be a busy month with forth of July celebrations and vacations. Schools around here are letting out within the first few days of June, an then graduation will be within a short time after that. I don't know if I will be able to go-just some thoughts that might help you narrow down the date. I am thinking late June would be your best bet

 

[Leahs Mom]

When I was in animal control, I had a poor elderly man have his lil dog taken, leash and all by coyotes. This was heart breaking and I will never forget it. He said to me, he couldn't hold the leash it was too strong!

Another incident, they entered a fenced yard and took a medium sized beagle mix type dog.They are severely overpopulated, since they no longer have a predator that can eat them here, and have adapted well even to city life..

I would be concerned for a child's safety, or small adult if they are known to be around! They can reach the size of a german shepard. I am a small person so that's a big animal to me. DNR told me its due to so many subdivisions built in the late 90s early 2000s, they are running out of their natural food supply due to so much of our wildlife depleted by "land improvements".


Seriously...disclaimer.. this is what I have learned from my own life experiences. I am not saying anyone should ever place themselves at risk of being attacked or bitten by dogs or coyotes! I have been attacked and bit by dogs more than once as an AC officer for 5 years.

If I was attacked and had nothing with me to protect my self, my arm is going down their throat and grabbing guts, holding on til they choke out. Not to be gross, but honestly, that's the fastest way to stop the animal! I am posting this in case someone is ever faced with the situation, works with dog attacks too!

Yep, you are gonna get bit, but its better than being severely mauled, or dead. Every time I see fatal dog attacks on the news it just breaks my heart. Attacks by coyotes scare me, that's even more beyond our control.

I agree w/you @jchny2000 and @hoosiercheetah The story that jch shares shows the danger that leaving them unchecked poses.

I personally find it unbelievable that anyone is willing to put human beings and even their own children at risk to protect wild animals. Not to mention putting our food production at risk as well.



Edited to fix a spelling error.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

I had another overnight egg. This time, she dropped it into the PDZ on the poop board, so at least it didn't break. What's weird is she used the nest box yesterday. I wish I knew if there's something about the box she doesn't like, or if it's just unfortunate timing when she needs to lay. I hope it evens out with time.

Last night when they were all getting settled on the roost, one of the little comets decided it was a good time for a PDZ dust bath. She fairly irritated everyone around her, but it was kind of hilarious. :-D

I think the closet bar I used is too small a diameter for the bigger chickens. The Orps don't seem comfortable on it. Fortunatly I have lots of room; I was thinking they'd like a lower roost anyway. I should be able to find a nice tree branch in the pine pile.

 

[Leahs Mom]

HC - is the closet bar wood or metal?

 

[hoosiercheetah]

HC - is the closet bar wood or metal?

It's wood, but it's 1-1/4" diameter, so it's a little narrow. I'm going to find a tree branch to replace it, as well.