NY chicken lover!!!!

[Tough Old Bird]

Was this an automatic door? I don't have them. I have been putting a light on during the day as it's too dark in the coop. I always or usually go inside to check and of course lately turn off the light. I wear a head lamp and have a spot light that comes on when I'm out there. I also have white Christmas lights strung around my garden and in the chicken runs.

My trouble right now is blasted squirrels. I have no idea where they are coming from. I set rat trap after rat trap and while I don't catch any expect they've got a good snap! and nosebleed. I see them building nests in the trees. I hate to get out the hav a heart and poison to do them in, but I may have too.

I'm sorry for your friends loss. Sometimes even when we do our best things happen.

Thanks, Rancher. Yes, I believe it was an auto-door, as they said it closed later and trapped the fox. I suppose the fox could have bumped something and then had the door fall behind him, but I think if that happened as it entered the coop, it would have panicked and not killed / eaten parts of 6 chickens. I think the damage was already done when the pop door closed.... but that's just my guess.

Question: how are the squirrels causing trouble? Are they robbing your eggs? We have 4 or 5 squirrels that come and go here, but they are only interested in the bird feeders. So far, I've not caught any in the coop. I do see chipmunks, but they don't seem to have any interest in the chickens or eggs -- just the spilled feed.

TOB

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks, Rancher. Yes, I believe it was an auto-door, as they said it closed later and trapped the fox. I suppose the fox could have bumped something and then had the door fall behind him, but I think if that happened as it entered the coop, it would have panicked and not killed / eaten parts of 6 chickens. I think the damage was already done when the pop door closed.... but that's just my guess.

Question: how are the squirrels causing trouble? Are they robbing your eggs? We have 4 or 5 squirrels that come and go here, but they are only interested in the bird feeders. So far, I've not caught any in the coop. I do see chipmunks, but they don't seem to have any interest in the chickens or eggs -- just the spilled feed.

TOB

I have in the past had them steal eggs, but lately they've been chewing into the plastic jugs of food I store in the coop. I've been setting rat traps but I suspect mice have been setting them off and not getting caught in them.

I have chased one out of the run once. It squeezed under the corrugated roof.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

I have in the past had them steal eggs, but lately they've been chewing into the plastic jugs of food I store in the coop. I've been setting rat traps but I suspect mice have been setting them off and not getting caught in them.

I have chased one out of the run once. It squeezed under the corrugated roof.

Ohhh, they are persistent little buggers!

One time a year or so back, I went to refill one of my metal "squirrel proof" bird feeders. As I started to lift the hinged lid, a squirrel exploded out of the feeder. It had managed to lift the lid, crawl in and then got trapped when the lid slammed closed!

I just about needed an adult diaper, it scared me so much! Anyway, I wouldn't exactly call that feeder "squirrel proof."

Good luck with your critters, but I do hope you don't have to resort to the poison. It's just so awful in different ways.

Is your cold gone?


TOB

 

[Gramma Chick]

One time a year or so back, I went to refill one of my metal "squirrel proof" bird feeders. As I started to lift the hinged lid, a squirrel exploded out of the feeder. It had managed to lift the lid, crawl in and then got trapped when the lid slammed closed!

I just about needed an adult diaper, it scared me so much! Anyway, I wouldn't exactly call that feeder "squirrel proof."

TOB

LOL I would email the company & tell them that it makes a good squirrel catcher too !

 

[Tough Old Bird]

LOL I would email the company & tell them that it makes a good squirrel catcher too !

I know, right?! Technically, the feeder mechanism was squirrel proof. None have ever been able to get any seed from the perch, because their weight closes the trap on the seed. But this one figured out a way to bypass all that and went right for the mother lode! Can you imagine if I didn't fill the feeder for a week or more?

TOB

 

[Gramma Chick]

Sort of... they will meet me on the stairs & gobble the food if they can get their head in the dish,

TOB our puppy is back to her hyper self. Glad shes feeling better .

Link about weasels

http://icwdm.org/handbook/carnivor/Weasels.asp

Grammachick oh chimes in the trees is a good idea for the hawks! I will start scouring garage sales for chimes.

Also heard of Mirrors ..face them up so they reflect the sun to blind the hawk ..havent tried this ..
When my chickens are out I listen to my Roos ..they tell me if they see something ..they usually see trouble before I do .
Do you have a Roo ?

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: Ewww

 

[featherz]

I love my electric fencing.. doesn't help against the hawks, but keeps the rest out. Had a small chicken get stuck in it the other day, but she was ok until I managed to get her out. I even leave it up in winter and it works decently well until the snow gets too deep.

 

[Lynzi777]

Morning All,
We're suppose to be getting some really bad rain the next few days (like we need anymore of that!) and I've been wanting to get over to my coop to start cleaning up that mess I created over there with the netting and fencing. My FIL is done with my run and is bringing over Saturday. I'm so excited to see it! My MIL keeps calling me and saying "You're chicken coop looks sooo nice!" (She doesn't know anything about chickens. coops, runs. etc) So I just keep telling her well I wish someone would figure out how to work a camera over there so I can be sent a picture!! Then she says "It even has a door!" I'm like I know! Then she'll say "Did you know it was like 6ft tall?" I say Yes, I wanted to make sure it was taller than me. I did give him specific directions you know!? Then finally says "Oh". LOL

Anywho, Trying to figure out how I can get my Silkies to start laying ASAP and hopefully thru winter so I can hatch from them. Two of them are going thru a molt and I wish I could find feather fixer around here but I can't. I really want to make a pen for them here and keep them in my garage thru winter with a light on them. But I would need a spot for my roo. I actually want to make something to keep JUST my roosters in but that's another crazy idea I'm sure I'll work on next Spring.

Gotta get these kids going for school, Chess seems more important to them at this moment in time.

 

[rancher hicks]

Ohhh, they are persistent little buggers!

One time a year or so back, I went to refill one of my metal "squirrel proof" bird feeders. As I started to lift the hinged lid, a squirrel exploded out of the feeder. It had managed to lift the lid, crawl in and then got trapped when the lid slammed closed!

I just about needed an adult diaper, it scared me so much! Anyway, I wouldn't exactly call that feeder "squirrel proof."

Good luck with your critters, but I do hope you don't have to resort to the poison. It's just so awful in different ways.

Is your cold gone?


TOB

Well now I went out and there were two of those buggers in the chicken run. I'VE HAD IT! It's time to pull out the big guns and give them ................... I won't say. I'm not gonna put up with them and their disease ridden little fannies. Folks do not suffer rats, mice and squirrels lightly. They're covered with cooties and carry disease.

The traditional mouse/rat traps aren't working because they don't trip them. The kind with the platform work the best even if they are more expensive. I set four traditional mice traps and one rat in the garage area and all the peanut butter was gone and then to add insult to injury saw a mouse!! I do need another bait for sure.

I do have an idea for one but would like to patent it and get a little money. Anyone know who I'd talk to?