CoturnixComplex
Crowing
- Nov 16, 2018
- 1,749
- 9,901
- 471
I have a lot of trouble relating to a lot of the advice and experiences shared here because my worst predator is one 99% of people live out range of, and that most deterrents like a well-built coop or cage are simply ineffective against.
Two months ago I lost every single one of my 22 adult quail to a mother black bear and her two big juvenile cubs, who undid the latch on my garage, pulled up the heavy garage door hard enough to swing the whole thing up and open, and helped themselves to every bird down there. The crazy (and maddening) thing is myself and four others were asleep upstairs (admittedly, slightly hungover) the whole time and no one heard anything.
I was heartbroken for a long time, but I've come to terms with what happened by reasoning it may help her cubs survive the winter. She had three at the beginning of the summer, and one obviously already did not make it.
That said, it is NOT HAPPENING AGAIN. We slapped up the electric fence we had already purchased that weekend, and widened our security system coverage. We now have scary-sounding firecrackers and a paintball gun for non-lethal defense of our yard as well as lethal defense for on the off chance they decide to come straight into the house for our other animals or food. (Already had to have the latter livin' amongst my dear, occasionally meth-y mountain folk, bless their hearts). We've installed better, spring-tensioned locks on the garage and the greenhouse that was supposed to be their home eventually has an extra, second layer of electricity. Heck, I could straight up electrify their cage and set it on a rubber mat so everyone who touched it got shocked except for the birds.
I rebuilt my flock from 3 chicks and a few dozen eggs I had originally saved to eat. They've been raised straight up in our guest bedroom. I love them, but ew. They're smelly, and messy, and my cats can't get enough of trying to sneak into the room they're in. They have to go outside. At the very least they have to go back into the garage.
The bears have gone to sleep for the winter but they'll be back with a vengeance in a few short months. After what happened I've got a system of banking eggs so that I could theoretically do the same again, but I would not want to, realistically. Once was enough and twice would mean quail are not for me here. Which would be sad, as I'm a farmer at heart and they're literally the only production critter I can have here due to predators, temperature, and watershed sensitivity issues, and lot size at my current place. Quail were supposed to tide me over until I finish college and we can move somewhere more agriculture friendly
Help. Assure me they won't die. Lie to me if necessary.
Two months ago I lost every single one of my 22 adult quail to a mother black bear and her two big juvenile cubs, who undid the latch on my garage, pulled up the heavy garage door hard enough to swing the whole thing up and open, and helped themselves to every bird down there. The crazy (and maddening) thing is myself and four others were asleep upstairs (admittedly, slightly hungover) the whole time and no one heard anything.
I was heartbroken for a long time, but I've come to terms with what happened by reasoning it may help her cubs survive the winter. She had three at the beginning of the summer, and one obviously already did not make it.
That said, it is NOT HAPPENING AGAIN. We slapped up the electric fence we had already purchased that weekend, and widened our security system coverage. We now have scary-sounding firecrackers and a paintball gun for non-lethal defense of our yard as well as lethal defense for on the off chance they decide to come straight into the house for our other animals or food. (Already had to have the latter livin' amongst my dear, occasionally meth-y mountain folk, bless their hearts). We've installed better, spring-tensioned locks on the garage and the greenhouse that was supposed to be their home eventually has an extra, second layer of electricity. Heck, I could straight up electrify their cage and set it on a rubber mat so everyone who touched it got shocked except for the birds.
I rebuilt my flock from 3 chicks and a few dozen eggs I had originally saved to eat. They've been raised straight up in our guest bedroom. I love them, but ew. They're smelly, and messy, and my cats can't get enough of trying to sneak into the room they're in. They have to go outside. At the very least they have to go back into the garage.
The bears have gone to sleep for the winter but they'll be back with a vengeance in a few short months. After what happened I've got a system of banking eggs so that I could theoretically do the same again, but I would not want to, realistically. Once was enough and twice would mean quail are not for me here. Which would be sad, as I'm a farmer at heart and they're literally the only production critter I can have here due to predators, temperature, and watershed sensitivity issues, and lot size at my current place. Quail were supposed to tide me over until I finish college and we can move somewhere more agriculture friendly
Help. Assure me they won't die. Lie to me if necessary.
I think from the sounds of things it's pretty unlikely that a bear or any other creature will get to your birds now... All that electricity going on over there should be a dang strong deterrent! So I'd say they will be safe and o.k. out there.
Love the scat mat idea, too!
