NY chicken lover!!!!

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

I don't have rodent or snake problems at all. Cats. most effective method I've found... nothing makes it into the house alive often... and if it does, it doesn't stay alive long. I let my best mouser in the attic and the basement every few days during the change to cold weather. before the cats, I had ridiculous mice. I also had a ridiculous dog. she would not ever finish her bowl of food. the mice would steal it at night. I thought the dog was doing better with eating, til one night, I left a bowl of potato chips on the coffee table. in the morning, the bowl was empty. I found the chips under the cushion of a chair (it crunched when I sat down), so I lifted every cushion, and found a long row of dog kibble under the couch cushions. Set traps, caught a pair, then I got a cat, as I do not like to empty traps. Now, I have 4 cats, maybe a bit excessive, but they keep the property pretty clear, the neighbors property too...

I just got two barn cats from a rescue. A week later two more cats have shown up. I really don't need that many cats, my barn isn't that big.

Plus I have three indoor cats that catch a mouse or shrew every now and then.

With this many cats around I better not see another rat or mouse on my property.

Rancher: Congrats on the new baby!

 

[cheeka]

rancher ~ such wonderful news, Elliot Jackson will bring great joy to the entire family, and I love his name! Congratulations!!!

 

[Cass]

Rancher, Congratulations on the new addition to the family.


Prayers for those affected by the school shooting in CT.

What IS this world coming to?

 

[rancher hicks]

I should have explained that Julia and Keith are friends from church. I've had both of them in Sunday School years ago. Nice kids. Keith's dad Roy works with me at the school on the days we volunteer. He had a pic of Elliot today a proud Grampa. He said it was a wallet size. He must have a big wallet since it was a 5x7.


I'm happy for them both.


Yes Cass I agree. Things just are not the same and changing way to fast.

 

[Cass]

I should have explained that Julia and Keith are friends from church. I've had both of them in Sunday School years ago. Nice kids. Keith's dad Roy works with me at the school on the days we volunteer. He had a pic of Elliot today a proud Grampa. He said it was a wallet size. He must have a big wallet since it was a 5x7.


I'm happy for them both.


Yes Cass I agree. Things just are not the same and changing way to fast.

So it's an addition to your church family. The more the merrier, I say.

 

[Pyxis]

I am so devastated right now. Today when I went out to feed the ducks, I only saw three - my male welshie, a female cross of some sort, and one of the welsh harlequin ducklings. The duckling never hangs with the big ducks, but since I had literally 11 ducks missing and no chickens were gone, I thought maybe they had discovered the big pond bordering my property. Went to check, and no ducks, but I saw something white in the woods. There's a pekin, I thought. And there he was - with no head, and something had eaten just his head and the skin off his back. No signs of the others at all, but I must assume something similar happened. And the one survivng duckling has a limp, like she managed to escape whatever was getting them. So I went from fourteen duck to three in the space of an afternoon, in broad daylight. What's more, whatever did it didn't take a single chicken. I don't even know what can eat three grown ducks and 8 mostly grown ducklings in one afternoon. Anyway the poor surving baby has no one to hang out with, so luckily my aunt is very graciously giving me back one of the female ducklings I gave her, and both are getting penned up until the survivor's leg heals. I think that tenacious little duckling needs a good name.

Anyway, I'm completely devastated. The little duckling that imprinted on me and followed me around everywhere is one of the ones I lost. I just don't know what to do. And the fact that not a single chicken is missing baffles me. Either I have some very good roosters or whatever it was has a taste for duck.

Please excuse any typos, I'm very upset.

 

[stonykill]

I am so devastated right now. Today when I went out to feed the ducks, I only saw three - my male welshie, a female cross of some sort, and one of the welsh harlequin ducklings. The duckling never hangs with the big ducks, but since I had literally 11 ducks missing and no chickens were gone, I thought maybe they had discovered the big pond bordering my property. Went to check, and no ducks, but I saw something white in the woods. There's a pekin, I thought. And there he was - with no head, and something had eaten just his head and the skin off his back. No signs of the others at all, but I must assume something similar happened. And the one survivng duckling has a limp, like she managed to escape whatever was getting them. So I went from fourteen duck to three in the space of an afternoon, in broad daylight. What's more, whatever did it didn't take a single chicken. I don't even know what can eat three grown ducks and 8 mostly grown ducklings in one afternoon. Anyway the poor surving baby has no one to hang out with, so luckily my aunt is very graciously giving me back one of the female ducklings I gave her, and both are getting penned up until the survivor's leg heals. I think that tenacious little duckling needs a good name.
Anyway, I'm completely devastated. The little duckling that imprinted on me and followed me around everywhere is one of the ones I lost. I just don't know what to do. And the fact that not a single chicken is missing baffles me. Either I have some very good roosters or whatever it was has a taste for duck.
Please excuse any typos, I'm very upset.

I'm so sorry. I haven't talked about it here but Monday I wen tto let the Pekins out and found the drake dead and the 3 girls covered in blood and walking around their drake like zombies. I had to butcher the drake and the girls are being doctored back to health. There necks all have torn flesh, they are missing feathers and skin, but seem to be on the mend. Later that mornig the chickens and the Runners alerted me to a mink in the Pekins coop, looking for it's kill. I found a breach in the coop that the mink got in. Which is of course now fixed.
It really sucks having to butcher your drake who was also your wifes pet. Your loss is horrific. I sincerely hope your other ducks find their way back. Get someone in to trap and kill coyotes. So sorry

 

[Gramma Chick]

I should have explained that Julia and Keith are friends from church. I've had both of them in Sunday School years ago. Nice kids. Keith's dad Roy works with me at the school on the days we volunteer. He had a pic of Elliot today a proud Grampa. He said it was a wallet size. He must have a big wallet since it was a 5x7.


I'm happy for them both.


Yes Cass I agree. Things just are not the same and changing way to fast.

Congrats to the Family !
The Scene of the world is changing ..Be Safe Everyone


PYXIS- & Stonykill - Sorry to hear about your Ducks ..
Keep what you have left Safe & penned ..only let them out when you are out with them ..
We learn from our mistakes ..We did ..chickens are part of the food chain ..

Cats we have 1 ..He usually takes care of the mice inside & out ..However ..
He came inside with a mouse in his mouth last week & let it go .Chased it right over to me ...I was so surprised ..I didnt do anything .
I should have reached over & grabbed its tail & tossed it out side ..or stepped on it ..then grabbed its tail & tossed it
.Havent seen it since ..Maybe he ate it ? I hope ..

 

[featherz]

Anyway, I'm completely devastated. The little duckling that imprinted on me and followed me around everywhere is one of the ones I lost. I just don't know what to do. And the fact that not a single chicken is missing baffles me. Either I have some very good roosters or whatever it was has a taste for duck.
Please excuse any typos, I'm very upset.

I am sooooo sorry to hear this.. sounds like the predators are out in force this year. =( I am still pondering if/how to leave my electric fence up what with the snow coming - it's the only thing that worked to keep the fox out (although not the (*&*(%(*^& hawks!!)..


*****

Was trying to figure out HOW the birds in my huge back coop were getting poop in their heated water bowls - this is a 12 foot by 14 foot coop built out of a horse run-in and the roosts are nowhere near these bowls.. it's about 10-12 foot high also.. Walked in to my coop last night and noticed quite a few birds missing, especially my little white leghorn hybrids.. Finally thought to look UP after freaking a bit - and there they are - 5 little white birds and a naked neck that flew up to the 'rafter' and roost right over the bowls. I'd have to use a ladder to get those birds. Pretty good place to hide although no way could my big fat birds get up there! =)

 

[vmdanielsen]

Pyxis, I must be terrible to have that many losses. Maybe some are just hiding and will come home....

Stony, Sorry to hear of your loss as well. Minks are nasty little killers.

I am sooooo sorry to hear this.. sounds like the predators are out in force this year. =( I am still pondering if/how to leave my electric fence up what with the snow coming - it's the only thing that worked to keep the fox out (although not the (*&*(%(*^& hawks!!)..


*****

Was trying to figure out HOW the birds in my huge back coop were getting poop in their heated water bowls - this is a 12 foot by 14 foot coop built out of a horse run-in and the roosts are nowhere near these bowls.. it's about 10-12 foot high also.. Walked in to my coop last night and noticed quite a few birds missing, especially my little white leghorn hybrids.. Finally thought to look UP after freaking a bit - and there they are - 5 little white birds and a naked neck that flew up to the 'rafter' and roost right over the bowls. I'd have to use a ladder to get those birds. Pretty good place to hide although no way could my big fat birds get up there! =)

Featherz, I leave my fence up all year, but in the winter I install a gate on T poles to go in and out. I also put up poles on the outside of the fence. When we get a lot of snow I will install guard wires to the outside, because the netting can get saggy due the weather.