Passed the neighbors place today and saw a big backhoe.looks like they tore down the rest of the barn. Seems I'll have more barn coon looking for food. Dang and I was hopeful they had moved on. Perhaps with it being so early they won't pit stop here and eat chickens. I still miss my penny chicken losing her hurt awfully And my orps I got from minnie. I swear if this is over this year. I'll be looking to diversify my coop again.
Well, those coon are having babies right about now or in the next three weeks, so get your traps ready! We have cut down most of our old hollow maples, and almost every one of the 40 or so we had had nests for coon in them. I am surprised I haven't lost more birds to them. I think I have only lost two to coon, which amazes me. I have lost the most to the weasel last year, which I am nervous about now because the grass needs mowing in the chicken pasture where it got them last year, but it keeps raining when I have a day I can get out to do that. In second place for predation is Great Horned Owl. I had a beautiful young BLRW cockerel just starting to fill out a few years ago, an he came up missing one morning. I found his leg about a quarter of a mile down the road where the owl must have chewed it off to lighten the load or something. Just enough feathers were on it to tell it was him. I am much more careful about training them to go to roost inside now, and last year I didn't lose any to owls.
I don't have Orps any more, but I am sure I can come up with some pretty birds for you when you are ready. I might get the BLRWs back this year too
By the way, if any of you are interested I have 13 EEs from last hatch I would sell and 4 New Hampshire/Welsummer crosses too. They are 2-weeks old. I have another batch hatching right now with about 10 more EE eggs in it. PM me if any of you are interested.