NY chicken lover!!!!

[tao chick]

Morning all. Was up at 1130 last night because a bear broke into my silkie coop. Ripped the hardware wire out of the door. It got 3 of my juvenile silkies that I had just moves out there. I ran out like a crazed woman screaming at the bear. It had tipped over the coop as well. Dh and I righted it an I saw that only splash and little big man anD one of the babies was in there. I brought the in and put them in a cage downstairs. When my alarm went off this am I heard distress chirps outside. I ran out to find another baby had survived. It ran to me when I called. Poor things are so traumatized. I had to put splash in solitary this am as she was just being nasty to the babies. Little big man is being nice to them and allowing them to hide under him. They will be staying in the basement for a bit while we get the coop back on its base. That bear won't be leaving the next time it comes back if I have anything to do about it. I am so angry and upset over the loss of my babies. I know you all can understand that. Sorry, had to vent. Time to go fix up a temp fence outback for these survivors. Later all.

I'm so sorry to hear this! A friend of mine mentioned bear issues, but I didn't even think about how devastating a bear could be to a coop. I'd be so mad too. I'm glad little big man is protecting the babies.

 

[articfox2473]

Hello I'm in Hillsdale county Michigan . I have 7 peckin ducks and 13 Rhode Island reds . I have been searching hard for other breeds of ducks around where I live and I'm assuming there just not in demand or not popular becsuse I came up with nothing for two months now . I ended up giving up on the ads I placed and ordered baby ducklings from pure poultry . I got buffs ,cauga ,welsh harlequins and blue Swedish . All to be shipped on the 27th . The suspense is killing me ! I simply fell in love with the peckins I bought at tsc in February . There so much fun and lovable . I couldn't ask for a better hobby with my time . It's worth every second of my day . During the last two months I've noticed that the demand is out there in this county however there hard to get or find without driving forever . So I took some time and thought about it and how long I search and decided I will help breed and hatch or even incubate to help others in this area have ducklings ! I'm trying to get this rolling very soon and I hope it goes as planed . I'm currently building my coops for the 27th shipment of ducks . I'm asking for all your tips and advise . Any at all please . Do I need separate pen for each breed ? How many males do I need or do I even need males ? I'm new to all of this and have only had my peckins since February . Anyone have tips for incubating and what's the best one to get ? Will they hatch there own ? I need everyone's help so I can help others from this county and area have ducks . Thanks in advance !

 

[Metella]

Yeah, I keep my gun loaded and ready - this ain't the city - if a bear comes around it is going to be in my hand as I go outside .... Not time to unlock the gun, unlock the ammo, load and then go outside ..... Ah the good old days of a rifle above the entry door.

ha ha ha ha AND I'm not a republican

(not a democrat for that matter)

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Metalla...I was just so enraged about my babies that I didn't even stop and grab the shotgun. Just a crazed, maniacal fat woman in rubber boots and a nightgown running out the front door screaming at the bear. Maybe the sight of me in that state will be enough to keep it away! Lol I'm sure Dh was scared seeing me that way!

 

[Metella]

ha ha ha !!! I hear you - I have a baby monitor in my bedroom so I can hear if something is in there at night.

I can just see you running out there .... but good thing it wasn't a grizzly !

There may have been a grand chase round the coop then !!!! Big people have a better chance of scaring a bear away anyway! So with flapping robe and screaming face ! I'm sure that bear was heading to other spots and making a note of where not to shop next time.

 

[Glasshen]

Oh, Pharm, so sorry about last night. What an awful shock for all concerned. The Bear deserves whatever you can dream up for him, though.

 

[rancher hicks]

Morning all. Was up at 1130 last night because a bear broke into my silkie coop. Ripped the hardware wire out of the door. It got 3 of my juvenile silkies that I had just moves out there. I ran out like a crazed woman screaming at the bear. It had tipped over the coop as well. Dh and I righted it an I saw that only splash and little big man anD one of the babies was in there. I brought the in and put them in a cage downstairs. When my alarm went off this am I heard distress chirps outside. I ran out to find another baby had survived. It ran to me when I called. Poor things are so traumatized. I had to put splash in solitary this am as she was just being nasty to the babies. Little big man is being nice to them and allowing them to hide under him. They will be staying in the basement for a bit while we get the coop back on its base. That bear won't be leaving the next time it comes back if I have anything to do about it. I am so angry and upset over the loss of my babies. I know you all can understand that. Sorry, had to vent. Time to go fix up a temp fence outback for these survivors. Later all.

I am sorry to hear this. Can you call the animal control people or DEC?

Are there lights in the area? Perhaps a radio you can leave on during the night?

I don't have bears to deal with. Lately I haven't seen anything but a squirrel. No rabbits though and that has me worried.

I have a burn pit in the far back and light some stuff now and then, hoping the smell of a fire will ward off all but the most determined predator.

 

[rancher hicks]

Hello I'm in Hillsdale county Michigan . I have 7 peckin ducks and 13 Rhode Island reds . I have been searching hard for other breeds of ducks around where I live and I'm assuming there just not in demand or not popular becsuse I came up with nothing for two months now . I ended up giving up on the ads I placed and ordered baby ducklings from pure poultry . I got buffs ,cauga ,welsh harlequins and blue Swedish . All to be shipped on the 27th . The suspense is killing me ! I simply fell in love with the peckins I bought at tsc in February . There so much fun and lovable . I couldn't ask for a better hobby with my time . It's worth every second of my day . During the last two months I've noticed that the demand is out there in this county however there hard to get or find without driving forever . So I took some time and thought about it and how long I search and decided I will help breed and hatch or even incubate to help others in this area have ducklings ! I'm trying to get this rolling very soon and I hope it goes as planed . I'm currently building my coops for the 27th shipment of ducks . I'm asking for all your tips and advise . Any at all please . Do I need separate pen for each breed ? How many males do I need or do I even need males ? I'm new to all of this and have only had my peckins since February . Anyone have tips for incubating and what's the best one to get ? Will they hatch there own ? I need everyone's help so I can help others from this county and area have ducks . Thanks in advance !

 

[rancher hicks]

Metalla...I was just so enraged about my babies that I didn't even stop and grab the shotgun. Just a crazed, maniacal fat woman in rubber boots and a nightgown running out the front door screaming at the bear. Maybe the sight of me in that state will be enough to keep it away! Lol I'm sure Dh was scared seeing me that way!

Well except for the woman part it sounds like me if I hear anything a miss. If our bedroom window is open I hear the crowing at 3-4 am. Crazy roosters.

 

[Lapeerian]

The girls are 8 RIR at 15 weeks and 5 black astrolorp and 5 white leghorn at 13 weeks.

These boys are 21 weeks, so may be larger than the girls and definitely more mature. You were looking for a good size table bird after they were done laying, correct? I was watching the 4 of them last night, think the GLW/GLW/Wellie and the GLW/EE/? boys would be good. They are the biggest of the bunch and both have rose combs.
I also have a GLW/BR cross, from the TSC BR hen, so not overly large. And a GLW/Leghorn, spotted like a tetra tint and has a HUGE comb, smallest body of the bunch.
I have a Buff Orp boy, but he got stunted with illness when he was a chick, so got left behind in growth.
I'll let you check them all out and pick who you want.

As for integrating, you may want to keep these boys separated depending on size difference of the girls. The boys are not in with the flock, so may be overly rowdy with the girls, hence make sure the girls are large enough to take the advances. The separation time would be quarantine time also. My flock is healthy, no signs of illness, but the stress of moving and new germs in a new place always risks illness showing up.

I did send you a PM with info.