Inherited coop

[jwsmith1959]

Oh...and to make matters worse...last night (at some point) I've had some wild hogs move in to take partake in some Wild Onion/Garlic that grows naturally here. I don't know how gun friendly this site is...but I will say that I moved a 22 Magnum rifle to my garage this morning to discourage any more digging on the back part of the property. They tore up one of my old goat pens (about an acre) last year and I have just now begun to be able to mow it. Some neighbors cows knocked down one of my back fences which made it easy for them to attack my back pasture.

Just a couple of the areas they struck.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'll order some fake eggs too.

I use golf balls. I live in a golf resort area so used golf balls are cheap and abundant.

One practical advantage of them is that I can't mistake them for an egg even when rooting around under a would-be broody in the dark.

Is there an issue with having some bedding on the floor.

Bedding on the floor is a good thing. Concrete can be hard on their feet and legs when they fly down from their perches or nest boxes.

Having heard about how destructive they can be, I've been nervous about wild hogs reaching my property -- they're still south and east of my area, as best I know.

Would a .22 magnum do the job? I'd always figured it would take the .30-30 or the Mosin -- or an appropriate shotgun load (I don't know much about shotguns, but I intend to get one.

 

[Newyorkrita]

Oh...and to make matters worse...last night (at some point) I've had some wild hogs move in to take partake in some Wild Onion/Garlic that grows naturally here. I don't know how gun friendly this site is...but I will say that I moved a 22 Magnum rifle to my garage this morning to discourage any more digging on the back part of the property. They tore up one of my old goat pens (about an acre) last year and I have just now begun to be able to mow it. Some neighbors cows knocked down one of my back fences which made it easy for them to attack my back pasture.

Just a couple of the areas they struck.

View attachment 2620083View attachment 2620084

It's very pretty there.

 

[jwsmith1959]

I have many...many calibers to choose from. Most Centerfire rifles are a bit loud though especially in the morning...even my smaller calibers like .204 Ruger. A 40 gr. 22 Mag in the eye is definite deterrent. I have a 125 yd. shooting range set up here and my better half has told me that my shooting is too loud for most calibers. I want to keep her happy.

Thanks for all the kind words and suggestions.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have a 125 yd. shooting range set up here

DH and I are both soooo jealous!

We'd like to set up a shooting range on our property but aren't sure we can create a really safe backstop at the end of the most likely area.

 

[jwsmith1959]

It's very pretty there.

Thank you Rita. It is my little bit of heaven for now. I grew up on the Gulf Coast of Texas near Galveston and moved to this area about seven years ago. My Wife's job brought us a bit inland, but close enough (about 45 miles) that I still consider it the Gulf Coast.

My oldest daughter has been living in NYC as a surgical PA at Mt. Sanai Hospital in Manhattan. She recently got a job offer for a new hospital in Rochester and will be moving there in late June. I am really happy that she will be moving into a little bit more country setting and away from the City (they are looking outside the City). I live close enough to Houston to get the benefit, without the hassle. Everything is green here right now which makes it attractive, but hurricane season is just around the corner...lol

My goal is to find a bigger place in the Edward's Plateau area in Central Texas. My family owned a large ranch there through the mid 80's. My Father's family owned a Dairy and Chicken farm around the Muleshoe area until it was sold in the late 60's (I was about 10 at that time).

I hope that your part of NY is as beautiful as the Northern parts that I have visited.

 

[jwsmith1959]

DH and I are both soooo jealous!

We'd like to set up a shooting range on our property but aren't sure we can create a really safe backstop at the end of the most likely area.

That is a very important part. Depending on the relief of the property, you can sometimes get away with just a few hundred cubic yards of embankment. I have a natural area, but the "BOOMS" are too much for the inhabitants of the area...lol (My wife). It's okay, I have plenty of ranges in the area to choose from...I just had to quit for awhile due to the pandemic.

Good luck and all the best.

 

[Newyorkrita]

It does sound lovely there.

I live on Long Island But it is not very rural here. Much too built up for my tastes.

But Upstate is quite lovely.

 

[GC-Raptor]

They are supposed to be ~17-18 weeks. Attached are some photos of their boxes. I'll switch to the growing feed and leave out the Scratch. Should I supplement any with oyster shell?

Yes, I offer Oyster Shells free choice at 15 weeks old.
I also offer Poultry Grit at 7 weeks old.

When should I expect them to roost and sit in the nesting boxes.

They'll start checking out the nest boxes about a week before the first egg.
About roosting I don't know. I put a small branch in my brooder around 2 weeks old.
My Barred Rocks at 9 weeks old in pen,

and coop.

GC

 

[aart]

Oh...and to make matters worse...last night (at some point) I've had some wild hogs move in to take partake in some Wild Onion/Garlic that grows naturally here.

You might want to think about hot wire around your chicken enclosure.
Not sure if wild hogs are a threat, might want to post in the predator forum to get some feedback.