Michigan

[RaZ]

I'm stumped. I'm looking for a chicken sitter, and having bad luck.

Our 3 are still in the basement in a large box. If we left 2 waterers and a lot of food, would they be okay for 3 days? I figure we'd get them set and leave in the morning, be gone for that day, a solid other day, and come back later on the third day.

We don't have to worry about heat in the basement. And with 2 waterers, we'd be pretty sure they wouldn't be w/out. They haven't even tipped one (yet).

Thoughts?

Where are you?
If you are close enough to me, I would help.
If you don't want to go public with where you live, I understand.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Ok, I am looking into ideas for securing my coop windows, and am stumped. Most of you say hardware cloth, one guy on another site recommeded old stove racks! Everyone agrees staples are a no-no, must use u-nails or something similar since staples break too easy. Oddly enough there were a lot of people who had hardware cloth all around their coop, but poultry netting on the top.... Apparently coons WILL go through the top, so hopefully that don't apply to any of you!

Now here's where it gets tricky: most recommend the 1/2 inch, some say 1/4 inch so they can't fit their hands in; and these guys say the 1/4 inch is too flimsy....? Does any of you know if the 1" mesh they are referring to is also called hardware cloth? Does it go up in strengh as the size goes up?
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/keep_wildlife_out.html
"staple or screw hardware cloth over larger holes, or make permanent repairs. Bug screen (1/4 inch hardware cloth) will not hold up to stronger animals, such as raccoons. We recommend 16 gauge 1 x 1 inch steel mesh for raccoons. "

 

[Amy PT]

Where are you?
If you are close enough to me, I would help.
If you don't want to go public with where you live, I understand.

Aw, thanks. I'm just a hop, skip and a really big jump over to Kent County.

 

[RaZ]

Aw, thanks. I'm just a hop, skip and a really big jump over to Kent County.

Sorry, you are just to far for me to help. I would if I could.

 

[Amy PT]

Sorry, you are just to far for me to help. I would if I could.

I really appreciate it, RaZ. Thanks so much.

 

[Mom 2em All]

Bunny Foofoo is not sitting up, but he is not laying flat any longer. he is laying upright. Sternal. Randy, thanks- it would be closer to run in to work to get fluids- but bunnies have such fragile skin, I would be scared to give him fluids without vet consult first. He is damp, in front of the small fan- its not really directly on him.
I put the waterbottle in his mouth- he moves his tongue, probably trying to get it out of his mouth, but maybe getting a drink in here and there- but now i am letting him just rest.

I keep checking on him. Poor little Foof. If he survives, I guess I will just pair him up with Cheeks, and keep him in..Flemish in the back of the house, Lops in the front.
I need to get him neutered if he makes it. Dont need little bunni foo foos hoppin around.

 

[Mom 2em All]

Ok, I am looking into ideas for securing my coop windows, and am stumped. Most of you say hardware cloth, one guy on another site recommeded old stove racks! Everyone agrees staples are a no-no, must use u-nails or something similar since staples break too easy. Oddly enough there were a lot of people who had hardware cloth all around their coop, but poultry netting on the top.... Apparently coons WILL go through the top, so hopefully that don't apply to any of you!

Now here's where it gets tricky: most recommend the 1/2 inch, some say 1/4 inch so they can't fit their hands in; and these guys say the 1/4 inch is too flimsy....? Does any of you know if the 1" mesh they are referring to is also called hardware cloth? Does it go up in strengh as the size goes up?
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/keep_wildlife_out.html
"staple or screw hardware cloth over larger holes, or make permanent repairs. Bug screen (1/4 inch hardware cloth) will not hold up to stronger animals, such as raccoons. We recommend 16 gauge 1 x 1 inch steel mesh for raccoons. "

Okay here is an idea...why not do half inch on the outside, and then run quarter inch inside?

 

[teeville5]

Quote:
By coincidence, I went out this morning at 6:30am to let the chickens out of their coop in the barn and when I opened their door a container on the right of the barn was knocked over. As my group trooped out their door, I saw a raccoon making a beeline toward the back of the barn. I chased it with a pitchfork, but it got away. I looked the coop over and everything is secure, but it seems that I am seeing those darn things more at times when I shouldn't be lately.

 

[ranger2974]

set a live trap for them with a sardine in it. their not stupid they will go for the easy food first. then put him out of his misery

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Only thing i can figure is the drought, even when we got rain in the area all it got in that spot was dusted. Gotta be making the animals do things they normally wouldn't.

I have been keeping shallow dishes of water out for the wildlife, i have quite a few birds, chipmunks, bunnies, groundhog, and big possom, skunks? that are in the area. Having a heck of a time trying to figure out where to put it, for now it's by the garden . our part of the creek dried up a month ago, so there is literally no water near here. My bluebird did a little dance and said thank you, today lol. My chicken's water goes in at night, no food or water in the run.

eta the bunnies already ate what they could from the garden, so nothing left to lose to them at this point, hopefully.