Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[SillyChicken]

I am so sorry for your loss, & also hope the others are just in hiding & will be (or are) safely home.

Sorry to hear ABOUT all the losses lately, but for some reason, the ones where neighbors' dogs get into coops/secured areas really seem to get to me. I know I take a chance at a loss from nature's predators when I free range...I get hawks being hawks, etc.

I have to agree that electric fence is probably not a bad idea..not that I have it around my coop & pen, but, when the cows are out grazing in the pasture next door, the fence on that side of my property is hot. My dog found that out five years ago & hasn't gone near it since.

No different, dogs are just being dogs... can't blame them either... now the owner on the other hand is fair game! I would also have the neighbors cover the cost of repairing the damage to the coop/run.
Foggy this morning....... not looking forward to the drop in temps next week. I still have a ton of outside stuff to do! At least I got the painting done on the inside of the coop. Still have runs to move and box out so I can fill them with sand and cover for the winter. Dummy me put my pop door to this coop near a small pine tree....... the tree has grown so now I can't put a top on the run unless I move it over.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

 

[SillyChicken]

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/grd/4135859253.html

Free chickens

 

[lbrykowski2011]

I know the redtails stick around for the winter. So, have to be on high alert always. Also, their hunting radius is 10 miles. So, if you don't see them for a few days, that just means they're just at another location for a few days, but will be back. I lost one hen to a hawk. Was sitting on her and tearing off flesh while she was still alive. Not pretty. Poor thing. Was my first chicken.

So sorry, I would have a really hard time with that. I try to keep in the back of my mind nature happens, but it would be so hard. I thought the hawks migrated for the winter?

 

[chickflick]

Some hawks do, but not the red tail. I can see them all winter sitting on the post in the field behind me. The dogs and I sometimes go and walk out there to scare them away.

 

[chickflick]

Can you put hardware cloth on the bottom portion of the run. A coon could reach through there and grab a chicken and I think a weasel can slip right through there, also.

 

[Living the Simple Life]

Quote: Actually, Michigan is the wintering grounds for a number of raptors. For some species, winter is the only time you will see them in Michigan as their summer grounds are in Canada/northern Canada/Alaska so coming south to Michigan is like a tropical vacation!

 

[snowflake]

hope your hens have returned

sorry for the loss, dog attaks, hawks, bear, cyote you would think 2x4 would be good for most, but electric wire around the bottom and hardware cloth, realy helps. I have had possum, rabits, and small coons get through the 2x4 welded wire, had a wood chuck,BIG OLD BOY, tunnel under before the wire, turned it on and he bit it, left his teeth marks, all dented in the wire, he has not been back,

you maybe able to net around the pine tree, worked pretty good around our maple, with a pine you may have to remove branchs up to the area you want to net off,, keeps the hawks out

 

[RaZ]

Losses can happen no matter where you live. You are likely to see more "wild" animals in the rural or country areas, but there are many predators in the urban and suburban areas as well. People just don't think about it because they are pretty good at hiding.

The best thing to do is to overbuild your coop and run as much as you can afford. If you do let your flock roam, be aware that a loss can occur. It stinks when your birds are like pets and you suffer a loss. Many of us have been there and learned from experience. But it is possible to keep chickens and other animal safe and secure with a bit of due diligence. Just ask and people here will be happy to offer friendly advice (and a shoulder to cry on).

 

[RaZ]

Speaking of losses, there is another potential to losing your chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, goats or other small livestock.

http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=c9b2937d5c9adfe92dcf29812&id=df03573f7d&e=3df621088f

 

[mara1]

Hi everyone,
So sorry about your losses. Hope everyone recovers and is found. Unfortunately our kitties bolted out door a couple days ago and one was hit by a truck speeding down our street barely slowed at the stop sign.

I know they shouldn't been out loose but what if it was one of the kids on the block. Miss our little bud. Bought a live trap yesterday have a big coon that realized the dogs cant reach him on fence and has been terrorizing our rotties and the gsd next door and getting bolder every night. They got in a small brawl the other night but he got away. It worries me that he/she is still coming back after that.
Anyway I guess we all have our issues.
On a happier note Happy belated birthday naglady

and early birthday wishes farmboy.