NY chicken lover!!!!

[featherz]

Hmm. thinking of setting eggs for the NYD hatch again, although holding off until I see how the winter is shaping up. I really really don't want to brood more than a few weeks in the house if I can help it. (last year with the mild winter I was able to get my barn warm enough to use an ecoglow, but who knows about this winter..)..

This year I'm only going to get local eggs, nothing shipped. I just haven't decided what to get yet tho! =) So if anyone with LF chickens within an hour of me has fertile eggs to sell at the beginning of december let me know and I'll decide what to hatch, if anything. I usually throw some of my own mutts in with whatever eggs I get elsewhere.

 

[marquisella]

I'm a little farther from you but I should have blue laced red wyandottes, Coronation Sussex, possible lavendar Orpingtons

Hmm. thinking of setting eggs for the NYD hatch again, although holding off until I see how the winter is shaping up. I really really don't want to brood more than a few weeks in the house if I can help it. (last year with the mild winter I was able to get my barn warm enough to use an ecoglow, but who knows about this winter..)..

This year I'm only going to get local eggs, nothing shipped. I just haven't decided what to get yet tho! =) So if anyone with LF chickens within an hour of me has fertile eggs to sell at the beginning of december let me know and I'll decide what to hatch, if anything. I usually throw some of my own mutts in with whatever eggs I get elsewhere.

 

[featherz]

I'm a little farther from you but I should have blue laced red wyandottes, Coronation Sussex, possible lavendar Orpingtons

thanks! I will keep that in mind! =)

Good news everyone (at least so far).. Mr or Ms. Hawk is still low flying my backyard and is really peeved I haven't let the chickens out (and won't be of course) but my two little california white (leghorns) came back!! They are so smart,even if they are brilliant white targets. So I only lost one bird (favorelle), and she was the obvious one for the hawk to get - very standoffish, never hung with the others. My tiny little white pullets are all accounted for and I managed to shoo the two returners back into the covered run. The hawk will NOT leave, even with me hollering at it, but hopefully it can't breach my heavy aviary netting.

 

[Glasshen]

I had hawks last year, they didn't get anyone, but were keeping the yard under surveillance. I kept the girls in and then changed the routine so they would have to expend too much energy to even get a chance. So far this fall, they have not bothered with us.

And I forgot to say how wonderful that your hens came back. How smart they were to hide and come back when it was safe!

And Tabitha, I was also so relieved to hear that your brother has been responding. Gave me a smile.

 

[rancher hicks]

Rancher, being a parent is certainly hard work. What to say, what to swallow. I am happy that you are having a holiday with your son and his family. Baby steps.
You were right about the roosters, I do wish I had returned one, but probably would not have returned the right one. I do like the Sussex, he is beautiful, and he seems very even tempered, just acts normal around me. The Americauna has a look in his eyes, and was trying to fight with the sussex. He spent the rest of the day away from the rest of the flock, and was better the next day. Don't think this is the end of it, though.

I have last I knew a Sussex hen and she's a good mom and laid fairly often and good sized eggs when she wasn't brooding. I like the breed.

 

[Gramma Chick]

I already put all my nipple waterers away.. don't want em to freeze up. =)

Lost three chickens today to hawks argh! And here I thought I was doing a good thing by letting them out when I was at work, since it would be dark by the time I got home. Day two of that little experiment and sure nuff, hawk got my little favorelle hen and two of my california white pullets. Could be more, but wasn't able to see anyone else immediately missing and my smaller pullets and hens seem to be accounted for. the favorelle was very standoffish and didn't hang with the flock, so I can tell why she was eaten - and the little white birds are just like targets to a hawk. Sigh. Everyone back on lockdown except for the few times I can be out there. =(

Sorry to hear about your loss .
Chickens will free range after dark . I feel so guilty when they didnt get out all day & we spend the day out & get home after dark ..We open up the coop & let them out ..they will wake up if they are asleep & come out for a while . Do you have a outside light ? they will stay in the light range pretty much .You can let them range for a while if you wish ..While you stay with them & Some chill time for you .

 

[marquisella]

I have a 2.5 year old silver laced Wyandotte hen that I will give away. I don't have any roosters, so she is just taking up space.
She is a show quality bird, but hasn't started laying again since molting. She is worth it if anyone is looking for even a few eggs to hatch to improve their flock.

PM me if
interested. first come...first sold.

 

[rancher hicks]

I already put all my nipple waterers away.. don't want em to freeze up. =)

Lost three chickens today to hawks argh! And here I thought I was doing a good thing by letting them out when I was at work, since it would be dark by the time I got home. Day two of that little experiment and sure nuff, hawk got my little favorelle hen and two of my california white pullets. Could be more, but wasn't able to see anyone else immediately missing and my smaller pullets and hens seem to be accounted for. the favorelle was very standoffish and didn't hang with the flock, so I can tell why she was eaten - and the little white birds are just like targets to a hawk. Sigh. Everyone back on lockdown except for the few times I can be out there. =(

I am not sure of your terrain but you might want to consider altering it a bit. I suggest reducing the landing and take off areas in which a hawk can hit the ground. I suspect it would be hard for a hawk to snatch a chicken in a vineyard type setting.

Strategically planting shrubs and berry canes would help as well as feed your chickens. Let the weeds grow tall.

If you like flowers plant perennials that are tall such as some types of black eyed susans and road side daylilies. Plant them in rows.

Each year check for sales on shrubs and other things you can plant at the end of the season. Since these will be only for chicken protection it shouldn't matter what types they are.

Leave parts of the chicken yard unmowed.

Also certain breed patterns were developed to camouflage birds. Choose breeds with these types of feather patterns. I noticed that my BR's are harder to spot than my Dels or White Sussex.

Place a scare crow or two in the yard and move it around on occasion. You can even put one sitting in a lawn chair.

I am sorry for your loss, and hope these suggestions help.

 

[featherz]

I am not sure of your terrain but you might want to consider altering it a bit. I suggest reducing the landing and take off areas in which a hawk can hit the ground. I suspect it would be hard for a hawk to snatch a chicken in a vineyard type setting.

Strategically planting shrubs and berry canes would help as well as feed your chickens. Let the weeds grow tall.

If you like flowers plant perennials that are tall such as some types of black eyed susans and road side daylilies. Plant them in rows.

Each year check for sales on shrubs and other things you can plant at the end of the season. Since these will be only for chicken protection it shouldn't matter what types they are.

Leave parts of the chicken yard unmowed.

Also certain breed patterns were developed to camouflage birds. Choose breeds with these types of feather patterns. I noticed that my BR's are harder to spot than my Dels or White Sussex.

Place a scare crow or two in the yard and move it around on occasion. You can even put one sitting in a lawn chair.

I am sorry for your loss, and hope these suggestions help.

There are quite a few spaces to hide in the open area that I have fenced off -but I really should plant more. there are three large shrubs they hide under but they've lost most of the leaves. I am really surprised the two little white pullets made it, but they are leghorns so they can fly pretty well! The favorelle that was killed was pretty much 'most likely to..' - she had no survival instincts whatsoever. In either case, they are in their netting covered runs for a little while since the hawk is actively stalking me at the moment.

Haven't had any hawk losses this year until now so I am hopeful it's just a migratory issue!

Was fun laughing at it today as it was flying back and forth across the yard - about two acres are my 'chicken yard' and it was just waaaaiting for me to open that run door.. Nope!

I am very thankful the pullets came back.

As for letting them out at night, it's a nice thought but I have 60+ birds and there's no way I'd get them back in my three separate coops in the dark.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
You are probably right ..it might be some trouble they do know which coop they belong in ..though . I just shew them in when I have had enough . I only have 9 though ..My rooster puts mine to bed ..normally ...poup poup he says time to go to sleep ladies !
Are you in the city or a town ..can you shoot at the hawk ? or set a trap for it ? If I couldnt do anything I would probably throw stones at it or something ...How about a sling shot ? Bam !
Even if you didnt hit it ...you would scare it !