Maine

[dowgirl71]

Sorry about your loss Bucka. Lets hope she's in hiding. Is there any chance that she's sitting on a clutch of eggs somewhere? I'm hard pressed to keep my youngsters behind a fence right now. I need to get my scissors out, and take down the 2 tractors in their run. In the mean time, I'm leaving the gate opened, trusting that they can scatter to the woods if needed. They get locked up tight at night. Roo is trying so very hard to be a big boy. He's so comical to watch, the way he struts around checking everything out. When i drive in the yard he comes running up to check out the "intruder" to be sure all is safe for his girls.

LG, I'd love to come and see your Roo, now, since he spent some of his first days in my brooder.
I'm sure I wouldn't even recognize him!

 

[CoopChick719]

Sorry about your girl, bucka got a call from a neighbor 2 doors up. My girls have been eating his grass seed. Apologized & brought him a dozen eggs. Told him I would secure the girls. Off to TSC tomorrow for fence posts.

 

[lazy gardener]

Dow Girl, PM or call. I'd love to have you come visit both him, and the little SLW! He's such a character.

 

[Tnic]

Why is it that so many people automatically reach for a gun to solve a problem? Keep in mind I am not against guns. I own one. But there are other ways of dealing with predators than by killing them. Especially dogs. I am a dog person. All this talk about shooting dogs bothers me. Especially the talk about doing it quietly, disposing the body and never admitting to the deed. Yes the neighbors are wrong to let their dog run free. Does that mean the dog deserves to die? No. At least not in my mind. Thank goodness my neighbors would not react to one of my dogs visiting them by firing a shot anymore than I would do take such action against their dogs. I know others will not agree with me but all I ask is that if the dog disappears than I do not want to read about it here.

There's no AUTOMATIC gun solution here Widget. I'm a retired, professional military man. As anyone who has been a professional warrior knows, violence is the last resort. But when diplomacy fails we send in the guys with guns.

I'm a dog lover too and would hate to be put in that position, but when it comes to choosing between feeding my family or allowing a neighborhood predator to dine on my flock (one of our major food sources), the dog (or cat or opossum or raccoon or coyote, etc) will lose. I'm a patient man, but this would not drag out for months on end. If all other attempts to resolve the problem prove fruitless its time for the quiet lead launcher an old poly tarp (trash bags are too flimsy) and a walk in the woods, done, problem solved.

In actuality, I hope to have a coop mutt in with the flock 24/7 so the area canines and other wildlife couldn't get in anyway. I practice prevention as the first line. The best way to win a fire fight is to not get into one at all.

 

[buckabucka]

Sorry about your loss Bucka.  Lets hope she's in hiding.  Is there any chance that she's sitting on a clutch of eggs somewhere?  I'm hard pressed to keep my youngsters behind a fence right now.  I need to get my scissors out, and take down the 2 tractors in their run.  In the mean time, I'm leaving the gate opened, trusting that they can scatter to the woods if needed.  They get locked up tight at night.  Roo is trying so very hard to be a big boy.  He's so comical to watch, the way he struts around checking everything out.  When i drive in the yard he comes running up to check out the "intruder" to be sure all is safe for his girls.

I don't think she lays enough eggs to make a clutch, between her 4 years and her lean condition from the crossbeak. No sign this morning, so I think she is really gone.
I wish I could know what happened. She was right out front late in the afternoon. She does free range close to the road, but no sign of her there. The neighbor's dog gets loose occasionally, but nothing has ever happened with him, and I think those neighbors would tell us if he brought a chicken home. I'm thinking it was a fox, but it surprises me that if the fox came out of the woods, he had to walk by many other chickens that are behind flimsy and saggy three-foot deer fence. It doesn't seem like much of a barrier.
Anyway, they'll stay locked in today. Maybe I'll find feathers or other evidence along the paths in the woods....

 

[buckabucka]

Oh, I am such a bozo!!!!
My apologies for the Crossbeak funeral! She is alive and well.
Where did we find her?............in the coop!
Both DH and I looked in there repeatedly yesterday evening, - in all the boxes, roosts, floor, both parts of the run, crevices etc. I can only find two possible explanations: maybe she found a way to roost in the ceiling and we didn't notice her, or maybe she was squished in the nest box under the large broody golden cuckoo Marans. I haven't even been out there (DH discovered her), but if there is a small blue egg under the golden cuckoo, I'll know it was the latter.
Thank you for the condolences and sorry for my dumb mistake. A happy ending, at least!

 

[chickenneighbor]

Hurray! It's always great to hear they're okay. No need to apologize. Give her a big hug for us!

 

[CoopChick719]

LOL bucka! Glad to hear she's ok!! I've done that before with my 2 Sizzles. Panic because I counted heads and came up short only to find them squished under or behind a big girl!! Welcome Back Crossbeak <3

 

[lazy gardener]

You win!!!!

 

[IZZYBELLA]

That's fantastic news, bucka!