Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[bigmrg74]

Had a hawk attack today. Looks like he got her next to the coop and tore off a good chunk of feathers and some skin near her vent. Luckily, she got away and was able to stuff herself in a crack between a straw bale and the garage while everybody else found cover through the pen. He was hanging out waiting to see if anybody wanted to come out and play when we came out to check and he took off and we started to count chickens and found where she was. Got her cleaned up and treated, and she's in a dog travel crate in the garage. Had a moment of brilliance here when I saw an yogurt container in the garbage here. Grabbed that to give her water with some electrolytes in it, and grabbed another yogurt, had a few spoons of that, and then put some feed in that with the yogurt. She ate and drank a bit, so hopefully she just needs some time to recover.

Planning on keeping the rest of the flock on lockdown tomorrow.

 

[Folly's place]

Your hawk may hang around for over a week; keep them in longer. Glad she live through it! Mary

 

[bigmrg74]

Your hawk may hang around for over a week; keep them in longer. Glad she live through it! Mary

Might do that as well. Probably going to set up a few more things in the pen for them to use as bomb shelters. I did find several girls in under the dog coop halves I have around the pen for that purpose and not exactly happy when I lifted those up. Can't say that I blame them.

 

[bigmrg74]

Well, that buff is still alive and standing around in the carrier. can't ask for more than that right now.

 

[aart]

Well, that buff is still alive and standing around in the carrier. can't ask for more than that right now.

Yikes!! on the attack...time will tell if she pulls thru, they can take alot.

 

[RaZ]

Your hawk may hang around for over a week; keep them in longer. Glad she live through it! Mary

x2

My young hawk has been hanging around for 2-3 days at a time then she is gone for 2-3 days before returning.
You may think I'm crazy but I am happy to see the hawk here. I even like the opossum that stops by every once in a while. I'm just happy to see a little bit of mother nature in the suburbs.

My chickens have plenty of safe places to hide when the hawk shows up and the dogs help patrol the grounds. So far so good.

 

[1muttsfan]

I love living someplace where I might look out to see a bobcat, fox or fisher. I can not understand why people want to live out in the country, then kill every living thing around them. Of course my coop and pen have to be Fort Knox, or I would quickly be a past chicken keeper - but that is a small price to pay.

 

[dyorto]

Thank you for all the chicken door advice. My first door had been painted with exterior paint. I like the cutting board idea!!

 

[snowflake]

Awhile back, someone was complaining of mice in the coop. Saw this article and thought you could try it. Heck, who know, it might just work!

Vinegar Keeps Mice Away

I have found red wine vinegar gets rid of mice without having to use poisons or traps. About once a month, I mix a gallon of vinegar with 2 gallons of water in a watering can and sprinkle the mixture all around the outside of my house. This keeps the mice away. - Milton Ammel. Parker, Kansas

do you think ACV is what was used or actual red wine vinegar ? I think red wine vinegar is more pricey.
/

Thank you for all the chicken door advice. My first door had been painted with exterior paint. I like the cutting board idea!!

we have plexie glass, about 1/4 in that we use for doors, works very well

 

[snowflake]

glad the hawk was not successful, I love seeing them also, but I tell them to only take old hens if they have to take one, have never had one attack while dogs are in the yard, for a couple years we had no dogs, then we lost 1 hen to a hawk, We lost a couple this year in an uncovered run, not sure what that was, possible bob cat or very Large raccoon, one hen was a chanteclair and about 15lb. disappeared with only a few feathers left be hind, haven't used that run for some time due to the lack of knowing.