Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

Yup Rats 3, Me 0. I'm making a bucket trap tomorrow. I haven't seen the little bahstids to shoot them but the 22's are ready to go. I may just have to sit in the garage with a window open this weekend.

The dogs found a dead one last week. Pretty sure a neighborhood cat got that one. Saw him stalking something today behind the coop. Thank you Mr. Gold & White kitty!!

Our rats, once the population got large enough, became creatures of the day, at least early morning. The way I placed the duck bowls they had to scurry across the yard to jump into the duck food, then grab a few pieces, then run back to their burrow. It gave me ample opportunity to shoot. I was also unsuccessful with first shot kill using bb's and pellet guns with an air cartridge, so had to move to .22. At dusk I'd use a large red light to illuminate the area for shooting.

Another thing that killed the small rats was buckets/containers of water without feed. We had two drown in the duck water dish for no reason other than they tried to drink and fell in and couldn't get out.

 

[buckabucka]

After announcing that we are rat-free, DH told me he's seen new tunnels in the compost. Last time they lived there, he tried a propane bomb.

I came home yesterday to bloody roosters. DH had messed with the fence for something, and didn't secure it very well afterwards. The Ameraucana rooster and a hen were free-ranging, so it was only a matter of time before they came across the flock around the corner (penned in by chicken-wire with large holes). By the time DH got home with some feed, the Ameraucana had backed off and was somewhat stunned (he always won the fights with the Basque).

The golden cuckoo rooster has a little blood on him but is fine. The Ameraucana is in a cage overnight because the hens were picking at his wounds. I hope to release him this morning and observe, if it ever gets light before I have to leave.

Yesterday morning I did chores during a rain shower. I ran back inside twice to tell DH to look at the sky. First time the whole sky had turned brilliant pink. When I got to the hoop coop, I turned around to see a giant rainbow over the house. Very beautiful morning.

 

[lazy gardener]

Yes, it was beautiful yesterday morning, in spite of what the sky was telling us. I still have wood to split and get in, and a coop that's not finished.

 

[lazy gardener]

We've had rain, and more rain for the past few weeks. There are now 4 sink holes on the lower lawn, and 2 small ones on the old upper lawn. The new lower lawn is wet all the time with a bit of standing water, no way to possibly mow it. The biggest sink hole is about 3' in diameter, and when I probe it with a fiberglass fence post, the deepest areas would completely swallow the post without it hitting bottom. I can feel some rocks down there, as well as some "springiness" which indicates some buried tree trunks and branches. It often sends up a gurgle of bubbles: reminds me of a witches cauldron. At this point, we'll just let things set for the winter, then address the situation in the spring. I've always wanted a skating rink! if this is a spring, Which seems very likely, given the amount of gurgling going on, I'd look into getting some sort of old fashioned well casing for it, at the very least, digging it out and putting a food grade barrel down there, and trenching the low side to drain the overflow across the developed lawn to the lower wooded area. Biggest concern is DEP and neighbors with increased water flowing across properties. But, this really can't be helped... it's not like I waved a magic wand and made a spring sprout on my front lawn!! Trout pond... swimming pool? Retirement business selling bottled spring water?

 

[Marcy54]

I am watching the girls digging holes in the yard for a dust bath. Rocky the rooster keeps trying to jump in as soon as someone gets a big enough spot dug out. No eggs yet today, usually I have at least one by now. I cleaned the nest boxes, checked the coop, I will give it a good cleaning later when the group is out ranging. I am planning to do deep littler method, the litter is pretty deep now, the coop doesn't smell bad, so I think that I will empty out a little litter, throw in new shavings and clean up the run a little while they are out in the yard today.

We have a contractor coming to install a door going out into the backyard on Saturday. It will be a great help since now, I have to walk the dogs out the side door, or lift them out the window into the yard. I have small dogs, so it isn't too bad, but the way our house is set up, we have two side doors and no back door. We have been in the new house for four months, It took three months to get the dog yard put in, and another month to get someone to come install the door. We have wood to stack and split while the contractor is doing the door. I also have boxes in the barn to unpack so I can free up space for things that belong in the barn.

Sunday, we are picking up three more pullets from central Maine to fill in my flock for winter. I have a small a-frame coop to hold them for a few weeks before they join the regular flock.

 

[striperon]

My missing pullet is not coming back. My dog found scattered feathers where it looks like she was caught and carried off. She must have been carried off because there are no other parts around, just feathers.

 

[islandgirl82]

My missing pullet is not coming back.  My dog found scattered feathers where it looks like she was caught and carried off.  She must have been carried off because there are no other parts around, just feathers. 

I'm so sorry!

It seems likely to be a fox if all that was found were feathers. They don't care what time of day or night... they're opportunistic hunters.

 

[Marcy54]

I never realized until I had chickens how many things were predators for them. I'm sorry for the loss of your pullet.

 

[ejcimd]

You have me wanting to buy a game cam now...

 

[striperon]

Thank you, everyone, for your understanding. I am sad for her loss. The dynamics of my little flock have changed as a result of her loss. And they are much more paranoid than before this event.