NY chicken lover!!!!

[Sachasmom]

Quote:
Are you sure it was raccoons or rats? I lost the Quail I had outside this winter in the rabbitry, lost one pen in the fall, moved the other and lost those later.

I think the wire was a similar size on my cage too, been meaning to make a Quail cage with hardwire cloth or something with a smaller gauge for the last of the quail, they're still downstairs in my basement because I am afraid they'll get eaten. In both cases the quail were all dead but not eaten.

Sorry your daughter lost hers. Predators suck.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Quote:
Annie,
So sorry for your and your DD loss.

 

[NYRIR]

So sorry to hear happyhensny! That's awful....tell your DD we feel bad too

Seems it's always the ones you like best!!

 

[Fyrekitten]

Oh that is just soooo sad! I had two sets of quail this year that didn't fare to well either. A bunch didn't hatch, then some hatched at "odd" times - some at day 17 and some of the same group at day 27....literally weird. had a couple that were fully formed but just didn't hatch all the way out. Couple died within a few days (drown in a quail waterer with rocks when they got between the wall and the waterer) dingbats. Then they all did really well for a while out side and then a couple just died - think either the larger chicks picked on them or the other quail. Anyway, that is just so bad for your daughter - they say quail are very delicate and hard to raise.

Hugs for her and you - take an empty incubator and give it another try!

 

[horsekeeper]

Sorry to hear that, happyhensny. I'm working on my first coop and I do live right next to the woods and fields. I need to know how to predator proof my coop to keep out everything from rats and weasels to coyotes, so I'm asking the question: Did the critter destroy the wire to get in or squeeze through? 17 silkies are nervous and wondering.

Until the next paycheck, only the deck is finished; 2x6 frame on concrete foundation piers with 3/4 plywood and vinyl flooring. The plan is to attach a 1" x 1" wire skirt from the frame at ground level, bury as far as can be dug in clay (flat on the ground) and cover with dirt to replant grass. Stack landscape timbers around the coop to prevent chickens and varmints from getting underneath. Sound okay so far or should I be doing something different?

Thinking about the quail and my own project, I was wondering if a double fence would solve the problem. Varmint wire outside and bird wire 6-8" inside so there won't be any reaching through. Probably expensive, but so is replacing the birds we put so much time, love, and money into.

 

[Fyrekitten]

Horsekeeper:

I would recommend that when you dig your wire in that you add some heavy gravel to deter additional digging. My husband staked our fencing into the ground with fencing and then with 6 inch pieces of bent heavy wire every foot - we then put heavy stone and larger rocks around the foundation - we live in and right next to the woods. Close enough that a mama bear and 2 cubs were less than thirty feet from my home two weeks ago and this past week a fox played in my front yard for a while. No birds were lost to any predators other than the hen that got stuck in the pen with four of my piggies and couldn't be rescued in time. NOT PRETTY....... Don't forget to fence the top of the coop also. Our coop was about 2-1/2 feet off the ground which I think also helped with such predators. We have plenty of weasel, fox, coyote, hawks and owls around so we fell lucky.

Also, nothing like a good roo to keep an eye on the girls and let you know if something is nearby!

Good luck!

 

[rancher hicks]

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Sorry...told ya I thought it was a roo....

You know I don't hear well.

If you go to an auction please let me know.

Well the girl didn't come and get the chicks so they are still here. I even said I'd take back the roos.

I've spent all morning and afternoon getting ready for my trip. Making sure there is food in the jugs and moved the chicks to the back room. I expected to vaccumm some but have to wait. I'm double dog tired.

Been going round and round with a women about trading work for chickens. Here's who I'm going to see.

Henry Michael Palmer

 

[vmdanielsen]

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I have had excellent luck with premier1 poultry netting. The second night I had the chickens (about a year ago) I had a couple of foxes hanging about and they didn't get a chicken. We also hear coyotes nearby regularly and still we have all the chickens. (we have almost lost some for different reasons...prolapsed vent, one had eaten some blueboard insulation in the winter, got really ill and hasn't come back into lay [I keep whispering chicken soup to her!!]). But we have not lost any to predation,yet. I keep the fencer on at all times. It is easy to move if you want to keep them on fresh pasture. It did get a little droopy with all the snow we had this winter.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
One the new chicken mags has a great article on Quail. I for a second thought about it, but came to my senses real fast. Now if you have a mind send me a pm and tell you a secret remedy for coons.

 

[Fyrekitten]

I heard that chicken fence is amazing too. Plan to get some when I start my next flock.

Rancher, if I had a home already and knew the rulings I might take a couple of those babies off your hand - too far to go.

Renee: I think they must have X-rayed those poor eggs - not a one hatched and most ended up not being fertile - I know it wasn't your eggs - I'M 100 % that it was they @#** PO again. I can always tell because of the NO HATCH rate. I could kick them in the kenickies!....

I was soo excited about those Silkies and Orpingtons and got nothing - boo hoo to the fourth power!