Maine

[dowgirl71]

There are feathers everywhere, and I actually held one of my olive eggers while she died. I lost more than 10 chickens in less than 45 seconds. What if one of my kids would have been outside feeding their ducks or rabbits? I let the chickens out, came inside to let my dog out, and while I was inside for less than one minute, the coyotes attacked. They must have been watching me in the woodline. That's the part that freaks me out.

Kinsey, I'm so sorry to hear that! That is AWFUL!!

 

[quailtrail]

Coyotes just came through and killed my entire flock.

oh ...I am so sorry!!! (((HUGS)))

 

[ashandvine]

There are feathers everywhere, and I actually held one of my olive eggers while she died.

This is really sad. It sounds like a pack that knew you had chickens and were pretty hungry. Coordinated pack work is how they survive. This is how they run down deer etc. I would worry too about the kids, but only the small ones. Coyotes are so fearful of people-- with good reasons, that the wouldn't have come out with the kids out there. I do think you should watch your tree line now and then though. Of course, knowing all this doesn't take away from the loss you feel right now. I did just send you a pm of interest.


Does anyone have any layers or nearly layers that they wish to be parted with??? I ask because my neighbor lost all but one of his hens and his rooster [Fred who fought of the fox- yey Fred] so he would like to have a few just for eggs and yard interest. He doesn't care what they are. SOP does not matter at all. He does not have little kids and does have a large area for them to range. Thanks.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

This is really sad. It sounds like a pack that knew you had chickens and were pretty hungry. Coordinated pack work is how they survive. This is how they run down deer etc. I would worry too about the kids, but only the small ones. Coyotes are so fearful of people-- with good reasons, that the wouldn't have come out with the kids out there. I do think you should watch your tree line now and then though. Of course, knowing all this doesn't take away from the loss you feel right now. I did just send you a pm of interest.


Does anyone have any layers or nearly layers that they wish to be parted with??? I ask because my neighbor lost all but one of his hens and his rooster [Fred who fought of the fox- yey Fred] so he would like to have a few just for eggs and yard interest. He doesn't care what they are. SOP does not matter at all. He does not have little kids and does have a large area for them to range. Thanks.

Does he want Thriller?

 

[lazy gardener]

I have a new respect for hornets. Forgive me for an off chicken topic... but knowing that there are similar interests among chicken keepers, I'm hoping that someone might appreciate this verbal snap-shot kind of gross but interesting: Yesterday, I was watching a black hornet... the big MEAN kind with white stripes around it's lower body. He was hovering around in the chicken run, and I was contemplating waiting for him to land so I could stomp on him. He dove down into the grass and rummaged around there for a minute, then crawled back up onto a clover leaf with a housefly in his grip. I then watched while he nibbled on the fly for a bit, then flew up onto my chicken tree tee-pee with fly still in his grip. He proceeded to nibble on the fly, while rotating it in his jaws until the fly was nibbled into a nice round pellet size... Then he/SHE flew off with the fly pellet, which I presume was the perfect size and shape to stuff into a cell to feed a developing grub.

 

[Widget]

I have a new respect for hornets. Forgive me for an off chicken topic... but knowing that there are similar interests among chicken keepers, I'm hoping that someone might appreciate this verbal snap-shot kind of gross but interesting: Yesterday, I was watching a black hornet... the big MEAN kind with white stripes around it's lower body. He was hovering around in the chicken run, and I was contemplating waiting for him to land so I could stomp on him. He dove down into the grass and rummaged around there for a minute, then crawled back up onto a clover leaf with a housefly in his grip. I then watched while he nibbled on the fly for a bit, then flew up onto my chicken tree tee-pee with fly still in his grip. He proceeded to nibble on the fly, while rotating it in his jaws until the fly was nibbled into a nice round pellet size... Then he/SHE flew off with the fly pellet, which I presume was the perfect size and shape to stuff into a cell to feed a developing grub.

Cool. I guess they do serve a purpose other than to annoy us.

 

[ashandvine]

NO he only wants laying or POL hens.
Yes, I too have come to appreciate the wasp as a gardener's helper.

 

[Widget]

Did my part today in supporting local businesses. First up. Hay and grain at Longhorn. They have been having issues with their round bale baler so the bales while big are not tightly packed. So the bales are light. Well light for round bales. Maybe 200-300 lbs or so. Good news is they are easier to handle and they are half the normal price. Bad news is they only last three-four days. Picked up a bag of the on sale layer pellets so the birds will be happy. Still have a couple weeks left on the sale so I will stock up before it is over.

Then off to the apple orchard for some cider and apples. Actually went to two orchards. Picked up some Cortlands. Amazing how many different types of apples there are. I grew up on the Cortlands and Macintosh so I am partial to those. Have tried the Honeycrisp but they are just okay. Never developed a taste for Red Delicious. Taste too much like a pear. Am I the only one who likes apples just in the fall when they are fresh off the tree? The rest of the year I have no interest in them unless I am buying them for the parrots. Then I get Granny Smith since they dont brown fast once sliced.

Finally to the meat market for some steak and bacon. Also found some freshly picked corn. Cant wait to fire up the grill. If I get real ambitious I will even make some bread today. Love my bread machine. It only makes a small loaf and takes a whopping 45 minutes from start to finish.

 

[Chambertin]

Always good to support local, feels better too. (And believe me the people at the top of the food chain in China dont need any more of our money)

A while back people mentioned a couple resources to find discount or recycled building supplies.
I checked out the HUD department in my local town and came up short.
Anyone else have any ideas where a good place to look would be? So far haven't found anyplace to buy recycled or spare building materials in Michigan.

 

[lazy gardener]

Ash: re the friend who lost his flock to a fox... unless the fox has been dispatched (I doubt that the rooster was that good) or he has plans to safeguard his flock against further predation, I'm guessing that any further lawn ornaments will become fox snacks. Has the fox been killed?

Chambertin: How big a coop are you wanting to build? What kind of skill and equipment do you have for a building project? Is there a habitat for humanity store near you? What about contacting local home improvement companies. Before they can improve, they often have to destroy, which may result in some nice opportunities for you. How about packing crates? Snow blower season is right around the corner. I'm guessing that any companies that sell that type of equipment would receive it in a crate. You might want to check out "cattle panel" coops and green houses.