My first Fox attack that ended in a kill

[Gallus Sapien]

$4 WOW...So many people around here have small flocks the price stays about $1.50. Which is fine for a doz. hens free range/feed in summer. However, I don't break even with strickly feed in the winter. But I don't care because their my pets. I think it is in my nature to do a cost ratio $:EGG. Interesting note about crickets and mealworms adding to production and taste. Here is one for you. Egg production,color,and taste got better about a month ago....Didn't think too much about it but was wondering... Well the mystery was solved when I found out that my daughters were feeding the ckns dry cat food as a treat after school. They started to do it 2 weeks prior to the change. Strange...the ckns love it and it is high in protien.

 

[wnealp]

We recently were raided byn a fox and a coon. A trap worked well for the coon, while a 410 shotgun worked for the fox. I don't think a BB gun will do it for you.

 

[Justin P]

well done, around here the foxes devistate the wild turkeys, I have shot two of them that approached my turkey decoys while hunting. They make great slippers

 

[frigginchi]

Post this at fox eye level...lol

 

[lily12]

a fox tried to take one of my chickens Saturday but luckily i managed to scare it away

 

[Mygirls20]

$4 WOW...So many people around here have small flocks the price stays about $1.50. Which is fine for a doz. hens free range/feed in summer. However, I don't break even with strickly feed in the winter. But I don't care because their my pets. I think it is in my nature to do a cost ratio $:EGG. Interesting note about crickets and mealworms adding to production and taste. Here is one for you. Egg production,color,and taste got better about a month ago....Didn't think too much about it but was wondering... Well the mystery was solved when I found out that my daughters were feeding the ckns dry cat food as a treat after school. They started to do it 2 weeks prior to the change. Strange...the ckns love it and it is high in protien.

lol thats funny. Ya a lot of people dont have chickens out here. And the farmers market sells them for 5.50 a dozen so I thought 4 was good. The store ones are like 6 for free range. I dont know people dont mind paying 4 so I will keep it at that. Hoping next year to get into turkey eggs should be fun

 

[Mygirls20]

We recently were raided byn a fox and a coon. A trap worked well for the coon, while a 410 shotgun worked for the fox. I don't think a BB gun will do it for you.

Ya I am still waiting on my .22 my friend is going to loan me some ammo.

 

[Shellz]

lily12, it's not enough to scare the preds away. Fox knows there are chickens, he'll be back & he'll be watching for his next move to get one! That is just the hard reality of it.
I would love a pair of fox slippers! Can they be made from even its spring/summer coat?
Good on ya wnealp! Reality bites sometimes, so we need to bite back!
I always have some supplemental extra protein to give my birds over winter. Lately it's been hard-boiled eggs. And if I have a LOT to spare, I will donate them to a food bank. I donated 300+ eggs last year, just when they needed them.

 

[Mygirls20]

well done, around here the foxes devistate the wild turkeys, I have shot two of them that approached my turkey decoys while hunting. They make great slippers

lol ya I think I might keep the tail for the coyotes I now have 5 roaming around in my front yard I am not to happy about it

 

[Steemroo]

We don't have winter here, not really. Just a bit cold at night (cool to some of you) - no snow - grass and weeds thick & green. If you want good egg production in a "real" winter, it's not just bugs & protein - you also must feed greens.


There's an active FODDER thread at byc - just search it. Greens more than bugs give you great eggs, though bugs help. They are doing wheat seeds & other grains, sprouted into short grass blades.

Green dry rabbit pellets may work - not sure. Fresh is probably better.

Yogurt may be a cheaper protein sub, tho (meal worms are a pain, & cat food is pricy - that is funny ). You can make yogurt - easy.

Right, Shellz, ducks do have amazing feathers.

Yeah, people don't know what it costs us to get eggs.. I wish they'd pay more - I don't think we should say "oh well.". Look, Whole Paycheck charges almost $5 a doz for "free range omega oil" eggs - what we get from our chickens - but not the $ we get. Think about it.

I know you don't want to do CRx, but they are the benchmark. I'm just pointing out the factors - this is what drives prices. Heritage meat, if people would try it, might one day get its own healthy market or niche in our economy.