Maine

[Widget]

I haven't seen our fox again, but that doesn't mean he is gone. We haven't lost anyone yet. Are you having to keep them penned now?

They haven't free ranged for over a month now. Too many predators around here.

 

[hoppy]

my 7 new call ducks have arrived. I am boarding them for the owner over the winter. kids are really happy with them. this is their test to see if we want to get even more ducks or is the one pair we own all they can handle.

 

[ashandvine]

We had a predator here Halloween night. It ran off-- right near my son! He had run out in the dark to close the coop he forgot to before we left. BF thought it was a fox for sure and then a deer and then was sure it was a predator and it had to be a coyote after I talked to him about it.... a coyote the size of a deer! lol We are missing a small bird though so it looks like what *I* thought was a raccoon got something.
For the record, I hate putting birds in so early. I hate keeping them in a coop. I hate winter too. I saw s-o- today. Uck to the max.

 

[hoppy]

I saw that too.

I know it's coming but I still hate it.

. I saw s-o- today. Uck to the max.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

We had a predator here Halloween night. It ran off-- right near my son! He had run out in the dark to close the coop he forgot to before we left. BF thought it was a fox for sure and then a deer and then was sure it was a predator and it had to be a coyote after I talked to him about it.... a coyote the size of a deer! lol We are missing a small bird though so it looks like what *I* thought was a raccoon got something.
For the record, I hate putting birds in so early. I hate keeping them in a coop. I hate winter too. I saw s-o- today. Uck to the max.

Ugh! I know - I have to rush home from work (and I get off at 3:30) just to get everyone a little bit of scratch and do the chores now before they go to bed. And it's only going to get worse. I have this cute little showgirl that can't fly, can't get into the coop (can't ... or won't?) and certainly not up on a roost. She waits at the gate for me, and I can hear her screaming if I'm late to get her. She backs up onto my hand, and then I carry her into the coop and put her on a roost like the little princess that she is. Oh, and she has a certain roosting spot, and only will roost next to a chicken that's her friend. Yeah, she's spoiled. She's really going to be mad at me the next few months, when it will be dark when I get home. I kinda want to just bring her in the house, but she'll be lonely and probably a cat toy.

 

[buckabucka]

All this predator talk makes me nervous. We've never lost a bird here (except an internal layer), and I know at some point it is inevitable. I would much rather lose one to a fox or a hawk, than have some weasel come and bite everyone's head off, but I know we don't get to choose these things.

I kind of like winter, but hate doing chores in the dark with frozen hands, and I hate having my birds locked up all the time. The hoop coop has no run (although it is spacious), and I'm not sure how the birds will do all cooped up for so long.

SCG, you need a neighborhood child that you can train to put your showgirl to bed at dusk for 50 cents a day. Of course, you can't really get someone very responsible for 50 cents. Maybe you can trap her in part of the coop on the colder days. I am worried about her waiting out there alone in the cold and dark. :/

Even though I've only ordered from a hatchery once, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of catalogs, so I can sit by the fire with the snow coming down and gaze at all the different breeds available. I'm already negotiating with myself about that self-imposed 50 chicken limit.....

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I have the same 50 chicken limit, although I don't count roosters, just members of the "real flock." The roosters are food and are only growing out.

I'm worried about my PigPen, too. I probably won't be able to convince the neighbors to come put her on a roost, and the neighborhood kids came onto my property one day when I wasn't home and shot at my birds with BB guns, so I'm really not apt to ask them for a favor regarding my birds. It's my first year with showgirls, too, and I'm worried that Piggy is going to freeze to death.

Since I rarely take time off maybe I'll leave an hour early every day in December!

 

[buckabucka]

I have the same 50 chicken limit, although I don't count roosters, just members of the "real flock." The roosters are food and are only growing out.

I'm worried about my PigPen, too. I probably won't be able to convince the neighbors to come put her on a roost, and the neighborhood kids came onto my property one day when I wasn't home and shot at my birds with BB guns, so I'm really not apt to ask them for a favor regarding my birds. It's my first year with showgirls, too, and I'm worried that Piggy is going to freeze to death.

Since I rarely take time off maybe I'll leave an hour early every day in December!

Ha! PigPen is running your work schedule! Maybe you should bring her in the house just for 6 weeks, -three weeks before and after the solstice. You can't bring her to work, can you? I bet everyone would love her!

So, if I don't have to count the roosters, I'm down to 37 birds. Maybe I'll be able to do a hatch AND pick up a few darker brown and white layers somewhere. Glad you settled that problem.

Nice neighborhood children you have...

 

[hoppy]

unfortunately silkies (and their counter parts- showgirls) don't typically roost.I believe it's because they don't see well with the head puff. here are a few suggestions to try. trim her around the eyes, mine didn't like to go outside until I did that, now they go right out until the fluff grows back. and/or build her a ladder to get to the perch. if she can see better, she might follow the girls into the coop but the jump to the perch might be too high for her to make it.

Ugh! I know - I have to rush home from work (and I get off at 3:30) just to get everyone a little bit of scratch and do the chores now before they go to bed. And it's only going to get worse. I have this cute little showgirl that can't fly, can't get into the coop (can't ... or won't?) and certainly not up on a roost. She waits at the gate for me, and I can hear her screaming if I'm late to get her. She backs up onto my hand, and then I carry her into the coop and put her on a roost like the little princess that she is. Oh, and she has a certain roosting spot, and only will roost next to a chicken that's her friend. Yeah, she's spoiled. She's really going to be mad at me the next few months, when it will be dark when I get home. I kinda want to just bring her in the house, but she'll be lonely and probably a cat toy.

 

[hoppy]

50? heck, i found it easier to just stop counting.

I have the same 50 chicken limit, although I don't count roosters, just members of the "real flock." The roosters are food and are only growing out.

I'm worried about my PigPen, too. I probably won't be able to convince the neighbors to come put her on a roost, and the neighborhood kids came onto my property one day when I wasn't home and shot at my birds with BB guns, so I'm really not apt to ask them for a favor regarding my birds. It's my first year with showgirls, too, and I'm worried that Piggy is going to freeze to death.

Since I rarely take time off maybe I'll leave an hour early every day in December!