We had a hard predator hit last night on my grow up coop. I just knew after seeing so many active raccoon the last few days, we were going to see problems! I am still reading hatch records to see who is gone, hard, expensive losses last night. Let me tell you, chicken wire is junk.. Please, choose a better option for your coops/runs. We have been budgeting for recovering one coop at a time with hardware cloth. I am feeling pretty well hopeless with keeping poultry here.
2 coops ripped open, lost teen chicks, goslings and a couple guinea keets. Disheartened beyond description. Many of the teenage chicks were just killed with heads gone or less. Found the entry points but it doesn't help those lost. This has put me a year behind where we hoped to be, stayed home and didn't go to our campground. Just saddened over senseless killing to just leave them lay. Raccoon are a very sadistic animal when it comes to a defenseless young bird. I post things like this to help others. I learn, painfully what doesn't work here, for us. Hopefully it will help others to not go through the same mistakes I have made.
Janet, I can keep birds here for you until you're secure. It's not a problem. I haven't had any predator problems since the opossums last year. I don't want you going through this. I can come over Tuesday and bring your high-risk birds here for awhile.
(I'm also sorry I couldn't get tho BCM roos for you. I was there to meet the lady on time and waited more than an hour for her, but she never came over to me. She said she was there, and she knew what kind of car I drove, but for some reason she *miraculously* didn't see me. By the time she came back from her trip, my 'puter problems had already made it impossible for me to contact her, so I'm sorry and now get to look like a jerk to everyone on fb for "standing her up" 'cause she doesn't like using PMs for some reason).
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Just in case anybody's wondered about what I've been up to and why I haven't been around much on here (or at all on facebook), my laptop charger was chewed though by some nefarious thing, and my tablet and internet-able phone died months ago, so I'm pretty shut off to the 'net. I can sometimes use DH's laptop to check email, but I can't get on facebook. Best bet is calling my phone (if you've got the number).
I've also been stupidly busy around here. Finally have a garden in. Lawnmower broke years ago, and I finally got sick of it and took kitchen shears to the yard... then DH decides to bu a cheap mower for me! Ugh. Also cleaned out the garage for DH, but now he's too busy on garage upgrading chores to help me with bird-related chores and upgrades. Blargh.
I'm not really a recluse, and I still love the forums and everyone here--I just have a really hard time getting on here.
Altogether, out of eight heritage turkey poults, I've lost two to some mysterious respiratory issue. All of this crazy weather has really caused health woes for the bitties, who just have a hard time kicking this bug properly. All of the afflicted poults have been pretty stunted and weak to begin with, so I'm unhappy about their health overall. They've all been terrifically personable and alert though, so no complaints on temperament. Of the two BBW poults, one seems to have the untreatable condition of twisted legs, so we'll have to put her down because we know she's suffering, but we're wusses.
