INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
I keep looking at the bumper crop of wild rabbits we have this year all around....they are getting such a huge population that they almost don't run away when I walk toward them.

Wonder if the meat is any good on those? If I had a dog, maybe I'd learn how to butcher them and use it to feed them.

Where are those hawks when they have a REAL job to do?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Rescue a large black cat. I now have 2 large killer black cats and have seen several tiny remains from rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, starlings, and other wild birds. I have seen the cats eating mice but there is no tail or wings to be left over as proof. I also am raising up a killer girl cat and then there is the gray cat that eats leftovers from the black cat.
Our barn cats are the best defense I have had in years against the small annoying rodents and wild birds. And anytime I check there are several available at the shelter. I recommend the long, hefty but not fat cats.

 

[Minminme]

Ugh!!! Rain...really!!!! Weatherbug now says 30% chance of rain/storms thru Monday! Grrrrr! Praying it stops!!!! Please!

 

[EurekaChic]

Rescue a large black cat. I now have 2 large killer black cats and have seen several tiny remains from rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, starlings, and other wild birds. I have seen the cats eating mice but there is no tail or wings to be left over as proof. I also am raising up a killer girl cat and then there is the gray cat that eats leftovers from the black cat.
Our barn cats are the best defense I have had in years against the small annoying rodents and wild birds. And anytime I check there are several available at the shelter. I recommend the long, hefty but not fat cats.

We have a mini-schnauzer who is excellent at catching small rodents (that's what they were bred for). And he taught our boxer/mastiff mix how to do it too (hilarious to watch). No voles or moles in our backyard! Unfortunately, the schnauzer also goes after birds, so no free ranging chickens while he is in the yard.

 

[pginsber]

How are people's corn crops this year?
Ours got blown over during an intense thunderstorm, but we stood it back up best we could.
Now, most of the stalks look good, but I expected to see tassels and ears with silk by now.
I have very, very tall corn, but only one teeny tiny ear on one plant.

 

[pginsber]

Rescue a large black cat. I now have 2 large killer black cats and have seen several tiny remains from rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, starlings, and other wild birds. I have seen the cats eating mice but there is no tail or wings to be left over as proof. I also am raising up a killer girl cat and then there is the gray cat that eats leftovers from the black cat.
Our barn cats are the best defense I have had in years against the small annoying rodents and wild birds. And anytime I check there are several available at the shelter. I recommend the long, hefty but not fat cats.

Agreed on the cats!
We had 2 stray cats show up at our house the same year. Both of them are mousers -- well, killers in general--even with collars with bells on them.
Moths, crickets, mice, moles, voles, chipmunks, birds, frogs, fish. I'm not happy about the frog and fish casualties because they are from our decorative pond. They even go for the squirrels, but have only caught a small pine squirrel so far.
We've had them for 3 years now, and they are really earning their keep!

 

[flyladyrocks]

X3

How do you get them to go in?

-Train them to recognize a container of mealworms or sunflower seeds by going outside during the day with them. Shake the container so they recognize the sound. You can also say the same thing every time you do it. (I shout, "Hey kiddos, what's up? Come get some stuff! I have some stuff.") [Others say boring things like, "Here chick chick chick" But I digress.] Once they come to see what's up, throw some on the ground for them. Do it for several days until they recognize the container and the sound and come running to you whenever you have it and shake the container.

-Then.... After they recognize the container and come running to you when you have it, take the container outside at dusk. Go into the coop/hen house, and shake it and call them until they come running. Throw some on the floor of the coop and shut the door once they all get in.

-Repeat until they get the idea.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Rescue a large black cat. I now have 2 large killer black cats and have seen several tiny remains from rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, starlings, and other wild birds. I have seen the cats eating mice but there is no tail or wings to be left over as proof. I also am raising up a killer girl cat and then there is the gray cat that eats leftovers from the black cat.
Our barn cats are the best defense I have had in years against the small annoying rodents and wild birds. And anytime I check there are several available at the shelter. I recommend the long, hefty but not fat cats.

How do you keep them from eating your chicks?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
I'm thinking you mean the little chicks. Once the chicks are large enough for outside, they are put in a pen outside, no free ranging till older. The cats and our new kitten can not get into the chick pens without tearing through at least one layer of chicken wire. Once the chicks are about the size of a softball or a bit larger the cats don't want to mess with them with the exception of meaties, the cats never gave up on getting those. There is a mutual fear right now between the cats and the free rangers. If I toss out scraps everyone runs for the treat but the chickens back up from the cat and the cat runs from the roosters and slowly backs up from the pullets. Chicks don't free range here until they are larger and really much closer to full size. And once I have full size chickens out free ranging then any younger chickens that are allowed to free range just have to be that much older. So the first group I started free ranging this year included 14 week olds but now I am only adding 18 week or older chickens to the free rangers.

Editing to add that I know the cats would eat a day old chick or even a 2 week old chick. It can come in handy when some of the hatchery chicks don't survive the postal service. Also the cats like to chase ducklings more than the chicks.

 

[browncow15]

Not sure who it was that posted earlier about their corn but here's the first silks I've seen on mine just today. It's been tasseling for about 10 days. We had some wind damage at the beginning if July and I had to stand some if mine back up too.

Believe it or not I planted all this at the same time !

I also have been waiting for my leghorns to start laying. I found these beauties in the straw stack in the barn this evening. There was a fifth that had gotten knocked out onto the floor and broken. The brats fly the fence every morning as soon as I let them out despite having a wing clipped!!

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