Nevadans?

[chicharomirinda]

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I know Tyler, I was thinking the same thing the other day. I do see Aubrey is on facebook lately but I haven't spoken to her.

Hey guys sorry. I've been lurking but haven't had much to contribute to the conversation lately.

I'll post pics of my polish later. A raccoon actually got our favorite little red one and it hasn't quite been the same without him. He used to follow us around the yard and go for rides on our shoulders and heads. Mark took the loss really hard. RED was everyone's favorite. They also ripped out our other roosters tail. The pullet survived the attack.
It's obvious now that we have a HUGE problem. They were so quiet that not even the dog heard them. They ripped off some hardware cloth that was covering a two inch by two inch hole an pulled little red out peice by peice. I don't even know how. The corners had screws in them and every hole had a staple. Wildlife services are bringing us traps. I was trying to look into humane ways of killing them but mark just plans on bludgeoning them to death.
On top of that I've been working both jobs all week. Our roomate has been kicked out, and now poor red. Yeesh

sorry for your loss. that's is really bad that they could get through that hardware cloth. very scary. i hope things improve for you guys soon and that you can catch the critters.

 

[aubreynoramarie]

Well here's some pics from Around the 'farm' this morning.

My little polish. They are so sweet and adorable! Nan and Gilbert. Little gill I so funny, he would run up to greet me, then dash away when I tried to take a picture. I think he's afraid of the camera.

Ruby has got almost all of her feathers now. The last of the bald spots are filled in with little pin feathers.

Gherkin the lurkin' turkin.

Broody showgirl

My poor moulting Lucy!

Midge

MAMA IS STILL MOTHERING THE BABIES! and they're almost full grown! Sheesh! Btw here's some of the bcm. Now I think it's a girl again. I'm so confused.

And one last picture of mama. I honestly think she is the most stunning bird I have ever seen. Her feathers are gorgeous and shine this beautiful striking green in the sun. This photo could not even capture how amazing this bird looks.

Okay I'm done for the day

 

[chicharomirinda]

thanks for the photos! I will have to show my kids tonight. they love to see the unusual ones like the Polish.

 

[SunnyDawn]

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Oh good!!! I know you wanted a BCM roo but the eggs are so gorgeous and big I think you'll be pleasd once she starts to lay.

Yes the striking feather color is the main reason I wanted Barnevelders. Well that and the dark eggs but her's are not that dark. Ruby is gorgeous too! Hard to believe what she looked like before, she's such a cutie now!

So sorry to hear about RED!

I think this is an important heads up for all of us. I thought hardware screening was safe too! Course I have seen some monster coons in that area and the Sheriff did come by and warn us a few years back that they were starting to hunt in pairs and small groups and that they had killed a full grown black lab in the neighborhood! Never heard of such a thing where we come from! Very scary!

 

[SunnyDawn]

Daniel thanks for all the info! These bees are sounding more interesting all the time!

 

[aubreynoramarie]

Sheryl we have talked and decided we are only goin to buy frizzles, turkens, polish, and showgirls from now on. We've got enough big girls for egg laying and woul like to establish an "odd" flock, lol.

Just to clarify, they didn't rip the hardware cloth, they were able to pull it off still intact. It was about a four inch by four inch square an they got a corner off, stuck their hand in and pulled him out little by little. I'm bummed because it's really hard to come by birds that nice and it takes a lot of work to get them to bond with you like that.

My friends cat just had to have a ton of stitches because a raccoon ripped it's face off... Just warning everyone. They're getting bad now.

 

[Penturner]

Audrey, Just a warning. If you actually catch a raccoon. they are very strong and very vicious. They do not move fast because they don't have to. I really don't suggest someone try to club one to death. I doubt it will go as it is expected to.
Also it is illegal to relocate them once they have been trapped. In fact I think it is illegal to release them at all once they are trapped but may be wrong on that one. If you are in a location that it is illegal to discharge a firearm you cannot shoot them. You can't even take the trap somewhere to shoot them but the warden I talked to said that one probably would not be enforced.

At any rate we had a Raccoon try to come into our kitchen so I called fish and game. they would provide the trap but once I had it the only way I had to kill the raccoon was to drowned it in the ditch behind our house.

Just be very careful, they are very dangerous. I am not surprised at all that it got through the wire. They will figure out how to open latches and things also. they can dig under wire fairly fast and will tear up sheet metal to get at your chickens. they know they are there now and will get more determined. I once read a comment that said "A raccoon would learn to fly a plane if it meant being able to eat chicken" It is not that far from the truth. If you are interested you can see my chicken pen. It keeps the raccoons out very well. I can show you the things I did specifically to keep it that way.

 

[aubreynoramarie]

Thanks. We never planned on relocating them, I don't know why people brought that up. Department of wildlife is going to euthanize them when we catch them.

I am not building a pen. They freerange the yard and are padlocked in their coop at night. Were going to get some raccoon repeller things and are installing a doggy flap in the door for winter. I have a feeling this has all been the same family of coons. They will die. Anyways yeah about the pen- not in my affordability right now- the goats need a pen more. I really don't want to pen the chickens, its not in my plans. Were just goin to have to keep making improvements on the coop.

 

[sherylreno]

Everyone! Yeah, Aubrey lives near me and she has a pond by her house and racoons are attracted by the water. They found her house and has killed several of her flock. She almost lost Petey to them one night. She's been trying to out smart them and they keep finding their way to the chickens. I have nightmares about them finding mine. My DH says we are a little more safer now that we put in our retaining wall. They will need to figure out how to climb the 6 feet up into our yard. I didn't think of that before so hopefully it will be a great defense from them. They are traveling through our sewer systems. It truly sucks how these things can find our chickens and rip them apart like that.

Sorry Aubrey!

 

[aubreynoramarie]

Thank you Sheryl! Yes that is exactly the situation.
Sorry penturner! What I meant was that instea of investing a ton of money into building this huge elaborate pen I like to take that money and use it to keep adding to this coop until it is beyond fort Knox.
Were probobly going to be securing the hardware cloth vents with some kind of bracket. Beyond that I have no clue how else they would get their stupid fingers in. Oh, we are also going to relocate the coop to right below our bedroom window instea of the back of the yard. Markie is a very light sleeper.
We got our traps! I'm glad they will take the coons and put them down, but mark is sad that he will not get to make coon skin hats and vests and headresses for the chickens. Oh mark.