Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[chickwhispers]

BluebirdDanny, Sorry for your loss. We have 3 redtail hawks that are within 5miles. It appears that each of their territories run along the creek we live by. Go figure. We have a ton of cover for the hens, but I still worry.

Naglady, Happy Birthday!!!

Hope it was a great one!

Everyone else, Thanks for the info about hawks, and your experiences. It all helps me figure things out for my situation.

And I am so grateful we don't have Bears!

 

[nluoma]

House full of tears this evening.
Drove the kids home to find the neighbors dogs inside our coop and no chickens in sight.
So far we've only found 1 body, and recovered four chickens (and Shelly, our Guinea who's up in a tree yelling at everyone.)
Kids have been crying all evening. Neighbor offered to pay for the chickens, but seems totally clueless that you can't just replace pets. I'm sure she wouldn't feel just money was adequate if one of her dogs was killed. The kids raised these guys from day old chicks and know each one personally. The dogs managed to break the fence poles around the run (two by fours with 2.5 inch screws?? I guess two big german shepherds can hit hard.) Ugh.
I'm hoping because there's only one body, and because she claims that the dogs were only out a few minutes, that the others might be hiding and will come back tomorrow when they feel it's safe. Keep your fingers crossed for us. We're still missing Raphael, Moriarty, Lucifer, Sheldon (though I know she's up a tree), Sam, Cass, and Dean. But it's now pitch black and cold out so finding them will be impossible now.

 

[TTracy]

House full of tears this evening.
Drove the kids home to find the neighbors dogs inside our coop and no chickens in sight.
So far we've only found 1 body, and recovered four chickens (and Shelly, our Guinea who's up in a tree yelling at everyone.)
Kids have been crying all evening. Neighbor offered to pay for the chickens, but seems totally clueless that you can't just replace pets. I'm sure she wouldn't feel just money was adequate if one of her dogs was killed. The kids raised these guys from day old chicks and know each one personally. The dogs managed to break the fence poles around the run (two by fours with 2.5 inch screws?? I guess two big german shepherds can hit hard.) Ugh.
I'm hoping because there's only one body, and because she claims that the dogs were only out a few minutes, that the others might be hiding and will come back tomorrow when they feel it's safe. Keep your fingers crossed for us. We're still missing Raphael, Moriarty, Lucifer, Sheldon (though I know she's up a tree), Sam, Cass, and Dean. But it's now pitch black and cold out so finding them will be impossible now.

Omg, so sorry!!!! Sending positive thoughts your way!

 

[iamfivewire]

nluoma : thats awful. We had a similar experience a few weeks ago as well as others have too with dog attacks. Hope the rest will be found and ok ( & like the names after the supernatursl characters)

 

[chickwhispers]

Awww. That is bad. I hope the rest are safe and back home in the morning.

 

[Trefoil]

House full of tears this evening.
Drove the kids home to find the neighbors dogs inside our coop and no chickens in sight.
So far we've only found 1 body, and recovered four chickens (and Shelly, our Guinea who's up in a tree yelling at everyone.)
Kids have been crying all evening. Neighbor offered to pay for the chickens, but seems totally clueless that you can't just replace pets. I'm sure she wouldn't feel just money was adequate if one of her dogs was killed. The kids raised these guys from day old chicks and know each one personally. The dogs managed to break the fence poles around the run (two by fours with 2.5 inch screws?? I guess two big german shepherds can hit hard.) Ugh.
I'm hoping because there's only one body, and because she claims that the dogs were only out a few minutes, that the others might be hiding and will come back tomorrow when they feel it's safe. Keep your fingers crossed for us. We're still missing Raphael, Moriarty, Lucifer, Sheldon (though I know she's up a tree), Sam, Cass, and Dean. But it's now pitch black and cold out so finding them will be impossible now.

So Sorry about your loss. The cheapest and easiest way to ensure this doesn't happen again is to enclose the area within an electric fence. The first time a predator hits a well grounded electric fence it learns that some meals just aren't worth it. A few years ago on the guinea forum a poster was having problems with black bears. Their DNR told them to put up an electric fence and bait it with bacon. Nasty, but it works.-

 

[Peep-Chicken]

House full of tears this evening.
Drove the kids home to find the neighbors dogs inside our coop and no chickens in sight.
So far we've only found 1 body, and recovered four chickens (and Shelly, our Guinea who's up in a tree yelling at everyone.)
Kids have been crying all evening. Neighbor offered to pay for the chickens, but seems totally clueless that you can't just replace pets. I'm sure she wouldn't feel just money was adequate if one of her dogs was killed. The kids raised these guys from day old chicks and know each one personally. The dogs managed to break the fence poles around the run (two by fours with 2.5 inch screws?? I guess two big german shepherds can hit hard.) Ugh.
I'm hoping because there's only one body, and because she claims that the dogs were only out a few minutes, that the others might be hiding and will come back tomorrow when they feel it's safe. Keep your fingers crossed for us. We're still missing Raphael, Moriarty, Lucifer, Sheldon (though I know she's up a tree), Sam, Cass, and Dean. But it's now pitch black and cold out so finding them will be impossible now.

I am so sorry! I hope your others will soon return safely.

Just went to the U.P. last weekend. It was pretty nice for October and the colors of fall were pretty. I heard its supposed to snow up there this weekend... I am happy I didn't snow last weekend!

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Does this seem pretty secure from dogs? Or does it need electric fence. I have heard many stories lately about dogs breaking in. Font want to take any chances. That is our little brooder coop on the right. There is a new coop building in progress!

 

[Totalcolour]

Quote: I know from experience - we lost our heritage goslings. We had a fence put in with 6 strands of electrickery and taped hot dogs on it. Works great!

So sorry you had to go through it though. I'm beginning to think neighbours should be electrified, not their pets.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Thank you everyone for the Birthday Wishes..

Happy birthday!

I will be half way to 50 in a month. Boy.