Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

Good morning, All.

After reading about all the attacks all I want to do is keep my flock locked up.

Zeus has decided he hates Sunshine, the Cornish X. Keeps him separated from the flock.

@Cyrus83

My dumb question of the day, are we allowed to shoot racoons in Scandia city? Not up on my wild west gun laws.

And last, my gals are perching in the apple tree.

If you are in the city limits you may not be able to shoot them, I have no idea,

But you can beat those unreasonable gun laws with a bow an arrow...

 

[lilmynx13]

Long time no talk, I'm still alive just my multiple sclerosis is kicking my rear. My mother was giving away chickens to her family when they settled on my blue and black orpies from @Minniechickmama,I guess I'm crazy for trying to run with a cane and screaming don't you dare!! Put them back now and you can't have penny either!! After all as they said "they are just chickens" my insurance dropped me for having over 5 chickens on the fat acre, I live 7 mi from all city limits and all 3 of my neighbors are dairy farms. Had the gall to ask me for free eggs after that convo... um I told them in polite barn talk where to get off. My chicken addiction is now being partially financed by our church as they get eggs from me for the brunches and members purchase some. Fleet farm gift cards for feed. Every one raves over the brunches now.my neurologist loves her colorful eggs too. I guess she did a bit of research and gave me way over price and informed me I should purchase a flock block. Which leads me right back to my orpies.. I wish I had a few more I love my "crow". I was recognized in walmart as the egg lady with all that good stuff. 6 year Olds are cute. I drop off eggs for a teacher and in the fall I come in early to give his class apples for snack. Life is grand. And I'm turning 31 on the 13th. But still get mistaken at times for a teen. That's my grand old update.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Cyrus jealous of your little getaway. Long live the "kitchen Pass".

Ralphie I'm Rofl trying to figure out Holms chicken math with u. But it sounds like there's not a scrap piece of lumber left there on the farm that isn't incorporated into a coop. A dream farm in my eyes.

We had a great small town Fourth of July here and the pup sat in my lap the whole firework show. Looks like we have a gun dog. As for the chickens she walks in and around them a sidles on by without a feather ruffled. The rooster keeps respecting her too. The last thing we want is for her to have the crap beat out of her by an ornery fowl. She'll never hunt.
She's coming along on crate training. Still an accident here and there. Thankfully usually on the linoleum. Vet visit on Thursday.

About the peacocks. When it comes to property lines that is the absolute hardest part of free ranging. My birds were doing it for a while too and it absolutely bugged the crap out of me. But if I may say to settle things with your neighbor: be apologetic, be humble. Recognize his frustration. Even though you're sure it's the dang deer. I'm finding this out about people. All they want is to be heard and recognized and acknowledged. It can turn this ugly start of things going south and buy you time to get the aviary up. Offer eggs.
I'd rather lose a few birds than not free range myself.

We cooked the trout last night. Not my favorite fish but not too bad either.

Good luck with the free thinking professor Ralphie. Hoo-doggies....

 

[Minniechickmama]

Sounds like the critters had a rough weekend - and the critter parents. So very sorry for everyone's losses.

Question

How do ya'll deal with 'that neighbor' who wants to raise a stink when a bird goes wandering? Not chickens or guineas but the occassional stroll by the 2 peacocks. Unlike chickens the peacocks don't tear up gardens etc -- they will walk through them and nab bugs and seeds but my boys - nor the birds of the woman where I got my guys - had ever been prone to tearing up anything in the garden - maybe an occassional leaf nibble for a taste then move along.

This neighbor has planted a 3 x 4 garden along the side of the their property - right next to the road. Not a lick of fencing surrounding it so it's wide open to deer, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, foxes, raccoons, and anything that takes a notion to stroll through.

Yes I need my aviary built for the peacocks -- not denying that. Trying and can't seem to catch a freaking break with the better half's work schedule to allow us time to actually put the thing together.

Anyway - earlier in May neighbor thought it was wonderful that they boys came for a stroll to visit. I walked down and shoo'ed them home. Honestly I think they get turned around and can't figure out where the house is. Apparently they are following wild turkeys - we have them on trail camera eating with the turkeys. Looking for a hen. (another rabbit trail - my search for a flipping hen.... ) Then a few days later she called and said they were down there but now all of a sudden she claims they are tearing up her flowers and garden. I went back and got them - found no evidence of them in flowers nor garden. Counted over 200 deer track on the road between our driveway and theirs though...... (dirt road)

So I started confining them at night to the pole barn -- this did seem to work while their rut was at it's worst. Then for whatever reason (fireworks the night before?) they were down there again yesterday morning. This time her husband called - very threatening and declared they were had just returned from vacation and they birds were destroying the garden and his wife's flowers and he 'suggested' we come get them NOW and furthemore he'd shoot them if they were in the yard again.

When we got to their house the birds were 100 yards down the road - absolutely no sign of anything wrong with their garden -- and the garden is STILL unprotected from the local wildlife.

Legally I understand he is in his right if he perceives his property is being destroyed and there is nothing I can do if any of my animals were to wander over that way. I am extremely frustrated with the situation as these two refuse to believe the peacocks are not causing damage to their flowers or garden. They walk through mine daily - scooping up bugs and weed seeds. I've yet to see them attack a plant, scratch at a plant, or lay in a plant.

A large part of me wants to yell at him and say hey DA$ why don't you fence your beloved garden in if it's that big a deal. Also do you not know we've got 4 black bear roaming this road and you've got bird feeders in your flower bed? What kind of stupid are you? This isn't the city limits.....

I just had to vent. I literally spent yesterday trying to corral those two into a small enclosure to no avail. I watched their every move until they went up to roost in 'their' tree next to the back door. This morning we've pouring rain -- still can't get them into the pole barn - but the last I checked them they had burrowed under a trailer to get out of the rain.

I am so angry with the situation - do y'all know anyone who helps put coops/aviaries up? I'm to that point - getting the rest of my supplies and trying to find someone to do an aviary raising.

You probably won't like my comments, but here goes anyway...
I do get your point, and aside from maybe video taping other critters getting into their gardens, I think you are not going to convince them that your birds weren't the culprits. Honestly, it IS up to you to keep your critters off other folks' property, free range or not. When it infringes on other's life, then it must be addressed. I would hate to hear that they follow through on shooting what I am sure are two lovely creatures.
It sucks to have to try to contain them, so, even though I can sympathize with you, they have their rights too. I was quite PO'ed when our neighbors' Great Dane cross came over and crapped and peed in my herb gardens, but it was not up to me to put a fence up to keep their dog out, he shouldn't have been over here. They ended up putting him on an in-ground fence system that not only kept him off our property, but kept him out of the road where people drive 70 mph.
Is there any way to close them into the pole shed while you get the aviary done for them, or attach it to the pole shed? This is one reason I don't have peas or guineas right now, no way to contain them and make them happy too. I hope it can all get settled soon and everyone go back to being good neighbors.

 

[Mistahbue]

You probably won't like my comments, but here goes anyway...
I do get your point, and aside from maybe video taping other critters getting into their gardens, I think you are not going to convince them that your birds weren't the culprits. Honestly, it IS up to you to keep your critters off other folks' property, free range or not. When it infringes on other's life, then it must be addressed. I would hate to hear that they follow through on shooting what I am sure are two lovely creatures.
It sucks to have to try to contain them, so, even though I can sympathize with you, they have their rights too. I was quite PO'ed when our neighbors' Great Dane cross came over and crapped and peed in my herb gardens, but it was not up to me to put a fence up to keep their dog out, he shouldn't have been over here. They ended up putting him on an in-ground fence system that not only kept him off our property, but kept him out of the road where people drive 70 mph.
Is there any way to close them into the pole shed while you get the aviary done for them, or attach it to the pole shed? This is one reason I don't have peas or guineas right now, no way to contain them and make them happy too. I hope it can all get settled soon and everyone go back to being good neighbors.

You probably won't like my comments, but here goes anyway...
I do get your point, and aside from maybe video taping other critters getting into their gardens, I think you are not going to convince them that your birds weren't the culprits. Honestly, it IS up to you to keep your critters off other folks' property, free range or not. When it infringes on other's life, then it must be addressed. I would hate to hear that they follow through on shooting what I am sure are two lovely creatures.
It sucks to have to try to contain them, so, even though I can sympathize with you, they have their rights too. I was quite PO'ed when our neighbors' Great Dane cross came over and crapped and peed in my herb gardens, but it was not up to me to put a fence up to keep their dog out, he shouldn't have been over here. They ended up putting him on an in-ground fence system that not only kept him off our property, but kept him out of the road where people drive 70 mph.
Is there any way to close them into the pole shed while you get the aviary done for them, or attach it to the pole shed? This is one reason I don't have peas or guineas right now, no way to contain them and make them happy too. I hope it can all get settled soon and everyone go back to being good neighbors.

No worries - I do understand your point and I agree it is my responsibility to construct a confinement for them. And ultimately they will be safer there.

What really just bugs me is who/what are they going to blame for garden destruction once the peas are penned up? In my gut I feel like they are going to continue to cause issues even after the boys are penned up -- claiming they caused destruction when they weren't there. This is basically what happened this time -- the boys had not ventured over that direction in nearly a month. So garden destruction wasn't caused by them wandering/scared over Sunday morning.
**** turkey hens - shaking their tail feathers!

Yes am working on enclosure - ordering supplies for delivery today - and hope this will be up by weekend.

Thanks for all your input.

Ralphie -- I thought about taking them some eggs but their overall hateful attitude - I mean it was/is ugly message on our answering machine - I thought to myself - "I hope the black bear takes a notion to eat cabbage........" But I know. God don't like ugly.

Right now I have them fascinated with a gazing ball - between that and Ole' they are staying occupied.

Our guineas free range but don't venture that far out - but they will also be confined.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Edit.

 

[Minniechickmama]

No worries - I do understand your point and I agree it is my responsibility to construct a confinement for them. And ultimately they will be safer there.

What really just bugs me is who/what are they going to blame for garden destruction once the peas are penned up? In my gut I feel like they are going to continue to cause issues even after the boys are penned up -- claiming they caused destruction when they weren't there. This is basically what happened this time -- the boys had not ventured over that direction in nearly a month. So garden destruction wasn't caused by them wandering/scared over Sunday morning.
**** turkey hens - shaking their tail feathers!

Yes am working on enclosure - ordering supplies for delivery today - and hope this will be up by weekend.

Thanks for all your input.

Ralphie -- I thought about taking them some eggs but their overall hateful attitude - I mean it was/is ugly message on our answering machine - I thought to myself - "I hope the black bear takes a notion to eat cabbage........" But I know. God don't like ugly.

Right now I have them fascinated with a gazing ball - between that and Ole' they are staying occupied.

Our guineas free range but don't venture that far out - but they will also be confined.

Well, you can tell them "I told you so" when the destruction continues and your birds have been locked up. Some people just have to blame others for their own negligence too. This neighbor of ours has never been nice. Her husband was a decent enough guy and would talk with us when we saw him walking along the road, but he passed away and the old witch still lives there. They are our closest neighbors and when we moved here, most of the others came to say hi and welcome us, but they never did. We just heard their dog barking incessantly 24/7 for years before he passed too. Even when their dog stole our property off our porch and took it to their house, they just kept in and never called to say they had things like our kids boots and garden tools or the new bag of cat food we had out there. They left their dog all the time while they would spend days in the Cities and just had the neighbor stop and feed and water. So, I understand those idiots we get stuck next too.
Maybe they will come home one evening to a bear raiding that bird feeder and have their eyes opened.

 

[The BlanchRanch]

Yeah. Really really tasty for bullheads!

 

[Cluckies]

Wow, haven't been on for a couple days and wow, lots to read and catch up on. I don't know how you people do it?

Sorry for all the losses in the last few days, terrible.

I'm not sure what you can do about bad neighbors... I had to put up a 5ft chain link fence around 3.5 acres to keep the neighbors dog from attacking mine. it is a good thing now as my chickens can free range without worry from dogs walking by and attacking them. I love seeing peacocks and would not mind some happening through. alas, none in the neighborhood. I did see one a few years ago in a neighborhood a couple miles away, that was cool, i've tried to see them again, but no.

Better get back outside and work on my run. trying to expand it. if I ever get it finished i'll post photos. I"m on vacation this week, so hopefully I can at least get the footings in. later!

 

[NathanZee]

Hello fellow Minnesotans! Is anyone here from around Morris or Alexandria?