North Carolina

[ramirezframing]

I got snake away & the traps picking up some eggs to bait with.
I don't think it's a rat because it couldn't fit through the wire or gate to get into chicken coop or run

If a rats/ snakes head can fit the rest of the body will go!

 

[ramirezframing]

Are the chicks roosting near a window or open wire?

 

[dutchbunny83]

Oh wow, didn't know that!
I knew snakes could fit in things, but figured rats would need more room.
They're not roosting near wire or or a window, but there is a door in the front of the coop opening into the run.
I picked up some of those crawfish traps so hopefully that works. We have a small animal trap from when we had a squirrel get in our attic. But if a rat can fit through a quarter opening I doubt it would hold it.
I'm locking all my remaining pullets in the hutch tonight (the lav orp & my older marans are pretty much full grown).
Can rats swallow chickens whole like that?
That's scary!!!

Of course it has to go for my most expensive ones and leave the ones that are easily replaceable!!!

 

[tammyfarms]

Lindz - The EE's are cute, and $10 for a bird that is at POL and less than a year old is a good deal.

2Sesslers - Congratulations! Your profile says you are a mom, hope you didn't get rid of all the baby stuff!

I can't wait to start making SUPER BLUE EGG LAYERS!!! LOL. Thanks Beth, another project for me! I am already thinking about generation 2, 3, etc.

Dutch, good luck with the predator, sorry for you losses. Sometimes it is really hard to figure out what it getting the little ones.

Have a great day everyone!

 

[dutchbunny83]

Anyone have a Marraduna Basque?

Never heard of them, but the soonest Isbar eggs I could find was a mixed dozen (all pure bred eggs, but multiple breeds in the shipment.)
It was for 4 Isbars, 4 Swedish Flower hens, & 4 Marraduna Basque hens from Skyline or Skyfarms I don't know Sky something haha.
Now hoping I can get at least one girl to hatch for the Isbars.
I also ordered a dozen of these super blue egg layers

Now to fortify my coop and catch this predator!

 

[doubleatraining]

Anyone have a Marraduna Basque?

Never heard of them, but the soonest Isbar eggs I could find was a mixed dozen (all pure bred eggs, but multiple breeds in the shipment.)
It was for 4 Isbars, 4 Swedish Flower hens, & 4 Marraduna Basque hens from Skyline or Skyfarms I don't know Sky something haha.
Now hoping I can get at least one girl to hatch for the Isbars.
I also ordered a dozen of these super blue egg layers

Now to fortify my coop and catch this predator!

I have Basque and love them! If you hatch any and don't want them I'll be happy to buy them.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

Anyone have a Marraduna Basque?

Never heard of them, but the soonest Isbar eggs I could find was a mixed dozen (all pure bred eggs, but multiple breeds in the shipment.)
It was for 4 Isbars, 4 Swedish Flower hens, & 4 Marraduna Basque hens from Skyline or Skyfarms I don't know Sky something haha.
Now hoping I can get at least one girl to hatch for the Isbars.
I also ordered a dozen of these super blue egg layers

Now to fortify my coop and catch this predator!

If that is SkyBlue Farms DO NOT BUY from them. Long story short
.....I learned, because of them, NOT to buy ebay eggs and the lesson
only cost $53

As for snakes........they can get through VERY small holes and chicken
wire is not near small enough to keep out a snake. I have had a snake
kill and regurgitate a full grown silkie. Snakes are everywhere in NC to
include all cities. I have seen snakes in downtown areas of Fayetteville.
If your birds are POL they could've been laying for some time and the
snake was eating the eggs and now is eating chicks if there aren't enough
eggs to satisfy it. Rats can work fast and will leave no crumbs to be found.
Usually if you have one rat you have twenty and they work as a pack......
and again rats are everywhere in NC to include all cities. Raccoons are also
very good at getting and clearing out chicks as well as weasels and with
your rabbits and guinea pigs under the coop, those tunnels are easy access
for other critters too...... you could even have a snake living in one of those
tunnels as a den..........just some thoughts

 

[cknnewbie]

Helloooo to all of my fellow chicken lovers! Glad everyone is doing well for the most part. Our girls are still regular on their laying schedule, and our summer garden is through.

In other news, I haven't been around much because we found out a few weeks ago that we are having TWINS in April (and inhave been illllll)! Ohhhhh what a shock & a blessing! In the upcoming weeks and months I presume we will be busy with the holidays and then two babies before we know it! Oh the joy

Happy News! Congratulations. I hope you get over being ill soon.

 

[Banriona]

Helloooo to all of my fellow chicken lovers! Glad everyone is doing well for the most part. Our girls are still regular on their laying schedule, and our summer garden is through.

In other news, I haven't been around much because we found out a few weeks ago that we are having TWINS in April (and inhave been illllll)! Ohhhhh what a shock & a blessing! In the upcoming weeks and months I presume we will be busy with the holidays and then two babies before we know it! Oh the joy

Congratulations! You will certainly have your hands and heart full!

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[dutchbunny83]

If that is SkyBlue Farms DO NOT BUY from them. Long story short
.....I learned, because of them, NOT to buy ebay eggs and the lesson
only cost $53

As for snakes........they can get through VERY small holes and chicken
wire is not near small enough to keep out a snake. I have had a snake
kill and regurgitate a full grown silkie. Snakes are everywhere in NC to
include all cities. I have seen snakes in downtown areas of Fayetteville.
If your birds are POL they could've been laying for some time and the
snake was eating the eggs and now is eating chicks if there aren't enough
eggs to satisfy it. Rats can work fast and will leave no crumbs to be found.
Usually if you have one rat you have twenty and they work as a pack......
and again rats are everywhere in NC to include all cities. Raccoons are also
very good at getting and clearing out chicks as well as weasels and with
your rabbits and guinea pigs under the coop, those tunnels are easy access
for other critters too...... you could even have a snake living in one of those
tunnels as a den..........just some thoughts

Thanks!

The seller is daphne something, her chicks she grew out and bred came from Skyline Farms I had to go back and look it up. But thanks for the heads up, I will be sure to avoid that seller. So far I have been pretty lucky with ebay eggs, but I've heard quite a lot of horror stories!
I still have a couple months until laying. I was thinking it could have hidden under the shed and still be too small to go after the guinea pigs that's why it was picking off the smallest chicks.
I have 2 traps set out-- one in the yard and one in the coop.
And have all my smaller chickens locked up in a hutch for the night that nothing can get in.
I also realized that we just turned off the infrared brooder lamp in the coop (I've been adding chicks for a few months so left it on continuously at night) so maybe the red light had been deterring whatever it was from going in there? I don't know.
I hope I catch something. I think I would almost rather it be a snake than a rat!!!


Not sure if this link will work being closed but this was the listing http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-BREED-...X2dsQ5U1zM6tV3ALb%2Fs%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc Her birds look pretty...