Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[Canuck88]

Have you considered a (well trained) LGD? There is a breeder here in Chilliwack who has a wonderful GPxMaremma male (she actually just recently got a female pup who is learning the ropes from the big guy).

I’ve been to her place many times and have seen him action. When a raven or hawk flies over the pens he lets out a booming bark and takes off, and chases the birds away. It really impressed me how well he does his job.

 

[Kris5902]

It will be back. It's hungry, and chicken's are food. It will grab one as soon as you aren't paying attention.

They are all safely penned up, protected by hardware cloth, bird netting, and Tarps; they will remain that way until it moves on or is properly discouraged. Sammy and the free range girls are not happy about that at all, but because they still want to hang out in the barn (I intercepted them about halfway to the trailer this morning or about 1/3 of the way back to “their” barn on their escape). They will return there given half a chance and have had their freedom curtailed in favor or their survival because of it.

Barney and his friends had a few hours of free ranging though, from 10am-12:30 or 1ish. Because they have no inclination to venture into the previous attack area or too far from their tractor.

 

[BlueBaby]

They are all safely penned up, protected by hardware cloth, bird netting, and Tarps; they will remain that way until it moves on or is properly discouraged. Sammy and the free range girls are not happy about that at all, but because they still want to hang out in the barn (I intercepted them about halfway to the trailer this morning or about 1/3 of the way back to “their” barn on their escape). They will return there given half a chance and have had their freedom curtailed in favor or their survival because of it.

Barney and his friends had a few hours of free ranging though, from 10am-12:30 or 1ish. Because they have no inclination to venture into the previous attack area or too far from their tractor.

That owl might have a mate, and will be raising more. It know's that your chicken's are there, and a source of food. It's not going to just leave on it's own. I wonder what owl tastes like?

 

[Kris5902]

Have you considered a (well trained) LGD? There is a breeder here in Chilliwack who has a wonderful GPxMaremma male (she actually just recently got a female pup who is learning the ropes from the big guy).

I’ve been to her place many times and have seen him action. When a raven or hawk flies over the pens he lets out a booming bark and takes off, and chases the birds away. It really impressed me how well he does his job.

I’m not adverse to the idea, but we are in a very limited space right now, and I don’t know that I would have the time or space to train one properly. I won’t take on a dog until I know I have a stable situation for it. And proper training is, IMO, essential.

One of the Border Collies here, Delta the youngest, took on an Eagle, they are fairly good against the Ravens and Eagles during Lambing... and excellent coon dogs. They live at the farmhouse proper though, and I don’t know if we will be “permitted” a dog any time soon. The last time we spoke of it, almost two years ago, it was a huge point of tension with DH’s Family. Also, the Eagle attacking dog treed one of the farm cats today ... as I said about proper training

 

[Kris5902]

That owl might have a mate, and will be raising more. It know's that your chicken's are there, and a source of food. It's not going to just leave on it's own. I wonder what owl tastes like?

I’ve been threatening it with just that!

I’m thinking if it is frustrated often enough, chased off nightly, and shot at it may get the message... hopefully before we have to actually shoot it. It won’t be getting lucky again. And now, to make matters even worse (and proof our smart phones spy on us) my you tube feed is now featuring Owls... nesting Barred owls with eggs and chicks

 

[BlueBaby]

I’ve been threatening it with just that!

I’m thinking if it is frustrated often enough, chased off nightly, and shot at it may get the message... hopefully before we have to actually shoot it. It won’t be getting lucky again. And now, to make matters even worse (and proof our smart phones spy on us) my you tube feed is now featuring Owls... nesting Barred owls with eggs and chicks

All of those "smart" gadget's spy on you, and those aps do also. That's why I don't want any, and keep my old wall home phone, and a dumb phone as my cell phone. I don't download ap's on my desktop PC neither.

 

[BlueBaby]

@Kris5902 Here you go. I had to google search to find one, but this one's for you :

http://recipecircus.com/recipes/gijane/BRITISH/Owl_Soup_.html

 

[Kris5902]

@Kris5902 Here you go. I had to google search to find one, but this one's for you :

http://recipecircus.com/recipes/gijane/BRITISH/Owl_Soup_.html

Aside from the beef stock and port that sounds very much like my “jerks of cockerels soup” recipe! I wonder if Owls are really fatty? Pigeons aren’t, at least not the ones I’ve eaten. Seagulls are greasy and nasty IMO, about as bad as bear meat. I’ve never tried Raccoon, although the molting-Rooster-eating guy thinks they are lovely.

 

[Kris5902]

I do hope my “if you’re going to kill it, you better plan on eating it” lectures don’t come back to haunt me too badly!

 

[BlueBaby]

Aside from the beef stock and port that sounds very much like my “jerks of cockerels soup” recipe! I wonder if Owls are really fatty? Pigeons aren’t, at least not the ones I’ve eaten. Seagulls are greasy and nasty IMO, about as bad as bear meat. I’ve never tried Raccoon, although the molting-Rooster-eating guy thinks they are lovely.

I haven't tried any of those. My DH goes dove hunting with his group during the dove hunting season. They cooked some and I tried it once. They only cook the breast, and to me it's not enough meat on it. I do like eating Pheasant though. Mud duck is another thing they can keep as far as I'm concerned.