Minnesota!

[Triplell]

If you are going to stay with the Aussies, I might know someone down my way who has some good ones too.  I can check if you want.  I remember you were saying you were thinking about getting rid of them, so let me know, Heidi.
Yes, sounds like a weasel.  I have had one here and took the head off the best show rabbit I had.   I think weasel and mink are about the same as far as there predation goes.  They can get in holes as small as 1-inch.  They follow rodent trails and holes, which we all know, having poultry means having mice at the least.  So, guard yourself the best you can.

 

Thanks Minnie,
I have given a lot of thought last night and this morning about my Aussie's. I will not replace the Aussie roo. I will be just keeping the hens as layers , I do have two junior Black Cochin that are 18 weeks old plus two CL Roo's too. I am just going to stay with these two breeds unless I decide to get some Buckeye's. I slowly want to get away from the large combs. For now I also will be thinking of getting a kitten to grow up with some chicks so they will know they are not food but to eat the mice. I have traps set up everywhere and have not caught one in weeks. I will be mixing my juniors today with all the layers. Much less work for me with my back. Pluss then I can separate the blue's from the black Cochin's. I now have 4 more black Cochin that are 18 weeks old and will be putting two of them in each pen. I am hoping the Cochin start laying soon as the last egg from them was November. I so wanted to hatch a bunch out for the local 4H'ers but I guess not.

 

[Triplell]

...

Sorry to hear that     I found a wild rabbit in the yard one day last week without it's head so could be a mink or owl?
Have an extra rooster if you'd like it, not an Australorp but he's going to be gorgeous when he grows up.
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Thank you erlibird for the offer but for now I will decline.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Triplell: Sorry about your lost roo. Love those black Australorps too. We had a small or young weasel visit us last February--as we were leaving for a stint in Minneapolis no less! I think he cleaned up the mice and messed with my Rooster once...as I remember blood dripping down my roo's leg one day. But I didn't take any losses. When I saw him my son grabbed the .22 and fired a round...but I think he was gone and outta there...and we missed him. Probably scared him off though...as there were no problems thereafter. They are tenacious little predators.

 

[Triplell]

Thanks bogtown,
I an left with CL and Cochin roo's. I plan on putting my spare roo's in with my layer flock. They are only 18 weeks old but I will be waiting for the 1st of February just to give them some more size to them.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I think it is time to hang the KFC posters in the breeding pens. I have gotten 2 eggs in 2 days from a pullet I hatched in early August who does have more comfy digs that the rest of the flock, but she is so young! Then, I got an egg from the mixed flock that spends its days outside and has NO supplemental light. Those girls in the breeder house better start showing me the money (eggs) or they will be picking whether they want to be original recipe or extra crispy!!!

 

[cochins1088]

I think it is time to hang the KFC posters in the breeding pens. I have gotten 2 eggs in 2 days from a pullet I hatched in early August who does have more comfy digs that the rest of the flock, but she is so young! Then, I got an egg from the mixed flock that spends its days outside and has NO supplemental light. Those girls in the breeder house better start showing me the money (eggs) or they will be picking whether they want to be original recipe or extra crispy!!!

Really? Mine are starting to lay nicely. I even got a couple eggs from my 7 year old cochin hens today.

The problem is I still haven't gotten my breeding pens up...

Looks like it's going to be a late hatching season.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

No eggs from mine in a long time. I've backed off on the scratch and treats and we'll see if this brings them out of their slump. I like giving them scratch though for the cold...and we've had so much of it. I think I've got fatty livers sitting out there in the coop...LOL.

 

[Minniechickmama]

No eggs from mine in a long time. I've backed off on the scratch and treats and we'll see if this brings them out of their slump. I like giving them scratch though for the cold...and we've had so much of it. I think I've got fatty livers sitting out there in the coop...LOL.

Ha! Fatty livers....

I am only giving corn now on the really cold days, like for tonight when we go from 28 degrees this morning to -13 tonight. This kind of weather just ticks me off.

All but 1 of my breeding pens is set up, but I am just not getting the eggs I think I should. I suspect an egg eater in my Orp pen that I need to weed out. I am looking at making some roll-away nest boxes to prevent that. I am sure I will be seeing more eggs very soon, but it is frustrating to have to wait.

 

[Minniechickmama]

When it is cold, I rarely see the roosters doing their thing with the hens, I wish there was a food like oysters for people, to get them in the mood even when it is cold out.

 

[aussiegal318]

Your too funny Minnie! I know what you mean about the eggs. I get at most 5-6 per week out of 9 hens right now. I culled an egg eater this fall, but I've seen my roo in the nest boxes. Makes me wonder...
I had to laugh at the conversation you & triplell were having about the BA. I had to go back a few posts to figure out that Aussies wasn't Australian Shepherds.

Just as I've been trying to acclimate Lil' Red to colder temps, we get another blast. I have only a couple of weeks to get her back to the coop before we leave. And there is only so much I can leave to my daughter (& son-in-law).