Maine

[henney penny]

I am sooooo frustrated today. I spent yesterday cleaning out the two indoor brooders and the beginning grow out coop. I moved the four turkeys, one goose and one golden comet pullet from the grow out coop to the recently built hoop house to join an older golden comet and the orpington rooster. This got them away from the messy ducks and into a larger area. Everything was going great. Everyone was getting along.

Then at midnight I heard a squawk and the dogs went nuts. So I got up put on my muck boots and ran outside armed with a flashlight and a shovel leaving the dogs inside. All I saw were the three Muscovies sleeping in their normal spot near the front steps. And one very frazzled rooster. I knew that was not good news. The rooster should have been safe and secure in the hoop house. Yet here he was about 150 ft away from his home. So I went over to the hoop house. Something had ripped the wire along the right side of the door frame. The one weak spot of the whole thing. I had two headless turkeys, blood and feathers everywhere and no sign of the younger golden comet, one turkey and the goose.

The remaining turkey was in the back and looked traumatized. The golden comet didn't look much better. I fixed the hole and checked on the duck pen that is about ten feet away. Everyone there was safe and sound.

The rooster spent the night on his own but was right next to the hoop house this morning. He went right in when I opened the door and checked on his remaining charges. The pullet seems okay and is active. The turkey hasn't moved much but is alert and did eat some.

I hate losing birds. And this will be the third year that I have tried raising turkeys and failed. Last year it was a bobcat that got two. The year before was a mangy fox that killed everything. This year I believe it is another fox that is the criminal. Now is the time for someone to invent and market a portable force field for chicken coops. One that repels any predators by flinging them about 100 yards any time they try to get into a coop.

I have a lot of differant varmits here as well.fox.cyotes,skunk,racoon,bear,weasels and a few more.I use the nite eyes and night guard and so far no deaths or anyone trying to get into the run or coop.Have you thought about trying these products?

 

[annabananaandfamily]

I havent figured out how to keep anything dry here! My poor meaties home is a mud pit. I have been moving them out in the mornings to a little makeshift pen that I have been rotating over several grassy areas, but they still need to go into the covered/protected area at night. Poor little meaties!

The pens for the regular flock isnt as bad. It has some good tree cover and less messy birds in it (meat birds are AMAZINGLY messy!!), but still wetter than I would like. Any tips on keeping things dry in there would be appreciated!

 

[ashandvine]

I had someone else recommend the night eyes. They said deer ignore it but prefators haven't been a problem for them in about three years.

 

[hoppy]

lay down some hay in the wet areas outside or shavings.

I havent figured out how to keep anything dry here! My poor meaties home is a mud pit. I have been moving them out in the mornings to a little makeshift pen that I have been rotating over several grassy areas, but they still need to go into the covered/protected area at night. Poor little meaties!

The pens for the regular flock isnt as bad. It has some good tree cover and less messy birds in it (meat birds are AMAZINGLY messy!!), but still wetter than I would like. Any tips on keeping things dry in there would be appreciated!

 

[buckabucka]

lay down some hay in the wet areas outside or shavings. 

I havent figured out how to keep anything dry here! My poor meaties home is a mud pit. I have been moving them out in the mornings to a little makeshift pen that I have been rotating over several grassy areas,  but they still need to go into the covered/protected area at night. Poor little meaties!

The pens for the regular flock isnt as bad. It has some good tree cover and less messy birds in it (meat birds are AMAZINGLY messy!!), but still wetter than I would like. Any tips on keeping things dry in there would be appreciated!

My run was a mud pit this spring when the snow was melting. All I had on hand was some leaves, but that helped some. Hay or wood shavings would probably be even better.

 

[hoppy]

OMG I just got invited to a Stevie Nicks concert!! my friend won tickets (but it's in NY this friday) if things weren't such a mess here, i'd go. i'm just to tickled to be asked, I hope she can go, she probably won't get another chance like this again.

sorry, I just had to share.

 

[buckabucka]

OMG I just got invited to a Stevie Nicks concert!! my friend won tickets (but it's in NY this friday) if things weren't  such a mess here, i'd go. i'm just to tickled to be asked, I hope she can go, she probably won't get another chance like this again.

sorry, I just had to share.

I don't know how much of a mess you are dealing with, but you probably won't get another chance like this again, either. It sounds like you would have fun! Just saying.

 

[ScienceTchr]

With all of this rain we've had to resort to throwing down some wood chips in the meat bird chicken tractor -- even moving it daily with all of the rain their pen was a mess. I think next year we'll build some roosts into the cover on their tractor and see if they use them -- I've heard they will and that would certainly help a bit with the messiness.

 

[hoppy]

take some joist hangers, put in a 2x4, tada: instant perch

With all of this rain we've had to resort to throwing down some wood chips in the meat bird chicken tractor -- even moving it daily with all of the rain their pen was a mess. I think next year we'll build some roosts into the cover on their tractor and see if they use them -- I've heard they will and that would certainly help a bit with the messiness.

 

[hoppy]

major life change, can't do it right now. sure would like to.

I don't know how much of a mess you are dealing with, but you probably won't get another chance like this again, either. It sounds like you would have fun! Just saying.