NY chicken lover!!!!

[pharmchickrnmom]

Pyxis and Stony--so sorry to hear about your losses. I hope you get the predators that did this. Seems they are all out looking for easy meals now.

Featherz--hope you kept a closed mouth when you were looking up! lol

I slept late this morning (7:15) and the cheeps were crowing up a storm to let me know that. Dh was kind enough to go running out to release the beasts. I gave the terrorists and older ladies a head of cabbage yesterday. The terrorists demolished theirs in 15 minutes. The ladies still have some left. Guess I will have to buy two heads of cabbage for the terrorists. I think the higher protein feed is making a difference, especially for the older girls. They seem much better. Their feathers are looking good, their faces and legs dont look so washed out and they were full of energy coming out of the coop this morning. Hopefully they will start laying again soon. Its hard to tell with the rir group as they are always rambunctions. I am giving it to my silkies as well (just the girls).

Staying away from the news today. Just devastating what has happened in ct. Makes me cry. My baby gets home from college tomorrow and I will be giving her lots of hugs. Tell your children you love them every day because one never knows what the day will bring.

 

[Lapeerian]

Hens are grounded today. Came home early yesterday because half day at daycare, didn't see the chickens anywhere. I called for them and the Roos came running out. Had to call more and Ron had to go back to get the girls out. They were over in the junkyard property. I don't know those neighbors and prefer not to have them over in that mess. I was rewarded with one lousy egg from the 10 hens. Then this morning I opened up the barn and found a small stash of 5. Hubby checked that spot Wednesday and didn't see anything. So this morning the boys were tossed out of the coop. The 2 Ancona girls were tossed in. Hate doing it on such a nice day, but I can't have them laying eggs all over the place and wandering away from home.

 

[Lapeerian]

Edited because double posted... Crazy mobile app.

 

[rancher hicks]

I am sorry for the losses folks have experienced.

I'd like to suggest building a few kill traps. These are made from Rat traps and should be enough to take out a weasel or mink. While one version shows it in a tree there are others that can be laid on the ground. These traps,especially the one for trees are not dangerous to chicken or ducks. I don't advocate setting them hear your coops but as far from it as possible. Weasels and Mink are like rats and squirrels in that they can get in small openings.

I'd also like to suggest the building of hedgerows again. Not so much to keep preds out but birds in. If you do not have enough branches or stuff around your place for a hedgerow, then stop and gather it from the roadside of people who put it out for pick up. That's what I do.


And also "Marking" your territory with male human urine. This can be done near the coops since it won't bother the chickens or ducks. I have boards laid near the base of my chicken runs that I use to hold the plastic I cover them with each winter. Which reminds me I need to buy more drop cloths. The heaviest seem to hold up best.

I suspect the ducks were easy prey. Domestic ducks are heavier than their wild cousins and not good at flying. Even the heavy domestic chicken breeds are easy to catch.


You could also build a trellis for beans and grow those. Leave the vines each year and let them get filled in. You'll harvest beans and the chickens will get some camoflauge. They needn't be high but I think 5' would be good.


Remember white breeds are easiest to spot so choose breeds with the best feathering for camo.

Try not to feel to bad, these things do happen even when we do our darndest to protect our birds. It's a battle all farmers have had to fight and an endless one at that.

Take care and God Bless

Rancher

 

[Pyxis]

No sign of the missing ducks yet. I went and got one of the other girls back from my aunt and put her in with the living three, and and the little survivor was so happy to see her. I've decided that if the survivor makes it and her legs heals up nicely, I'll be naming her Hope, because her survival gives me hope for my other birds and hope of new babies in the spring.

Not a single chicken has gone missing, not even the darn silkies that still refuse to use the coop. One of my missing birds is an unclipped mallard. He has angel wing, so he can't fly well, but he CAN fly, and he's one that's missing. I would have thought if any would have survived, it would have been him with his superior camouflage and flight, but not so. My remaining drake is being super protective of his remaining adult girl and I watched him chase the roosters around today when they got too close. He usually never has any problems with the chickens.

I still haven't found any other bodies, though, so I haven't given up hope that I'll look outside and see my flock again. I borrowed a game cam from a friend, so that's going up stat, and none of the birds are allowed outside unless someone is home, especially the ducks. It's times like this when I wished I had a pond for them to run to instead of just a shallow wet spot in the yard. Maybe then I'd have more survivors.

I'm also borrowing a live trap from me aunt as soon as possible. I'm usually not okay with killing things but if I find what did this to my ducks it's dead.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Evening all. Just watched a really good documentary on netflix called Farmageddon. Its about what the government is doing to small farmers and our ability to choose what we eat and where we buy it from. Joel Salatin is one of the farmers interviewed. It made me sick to see what happened to some of these people at the hands of the FDA, USDA and various other agencies. I highly recommend watching it since we could be considered "farmers" ourselves and subject to the same threats, intimidations and outright seizures of our animals.

Freezing rain alert for tomorrow. Hope its gone by the time I have to go pick up my daughter from the airport. Be safe and well everyone.

Pyxis--dont feel bad. In my book, if it tries to eat my chickens, it signed a death warrant.

 

[java girl 2]

Hi all! does anyone know how to get in touch with Sachasmom?? I have been waitting for her to come back on and she has not for 4-5 weeks! really need to talk to her!

 

[java girl 2]

boy has this week been great, NOT!!! I can't wait for this year to end!!!!

 

[ChickPrincess]

No problem ..We know what we are saying...I always proof read my text ..coz it is not always clear to others .
I do descriptions for a living so I know some times it does make sense to others LOL

I have a Australorp Roo he is a gentleman too . Hens are comets & 1 RIR . I would like a few babies in the spring if someone tries to go broody ..I HOPE !
Did you say what breed Henry was ?
Deborah

Henry is the one in my avatar. He and Whore-eo are both EE's. I have 2 australorp roos that still have yet to be named. One may be going very soon though. He has been nippy with the hens and will grab them for no reason what-so-ever and pull their feathers. This afternoon as I was putting them in, he grabbed one of my Tetra Tints by the back of her neck by lots of feathers and was literally dragging her while she screamed. When he let her go, I grabbed him by his tail and yanked HARD while he tried to get away screaming. He ran and hid from me after that. I think it's just his personality. The other BA roo I have and the one I gave away are just as sweet as could be.

Went out this am, 1 small squirrel and 3 mice. None inside the house which is good.





Now I haven't mentioned it but I've got some good news. I know many are going through lots of stuff and I think this time of year seems to magnify things.

Anyhow Julia and Keith have been trying to have another baby for years and years. They did have two little girls born but both with so many health problems they didn't live long. Their last daughter lived for months and month before she passed.

Well last week they were blessed with a healthy baby boy. Elliot Jackson. just over 6lbs and 21 inches long.

Congrats, Rancher! Love the name!

 

[rancher hicks]

Pharm - I just can't in light of the Conn. shootings it's just to much right now. I hope the weather is good to pick up your DD.

I haven't told DW but DS and his are due to be here on Tues. They're driving up from AL ..

Java - I hope things get better.