NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Fox prints are so delicate, some times you'd almost assume they were a big house cat. A good way to tell the difference with canine vs. feline prints is that cats pull their claws in, so there will be no toenail imprint. With a fox, coyote or even someone's pet dog, you should see toenail imprints in the snow. Of course, depending on the snow, prints are not always clear. I've had a gray and red fox here on my back trails, along with coyotes. I need to have a very good predator-proof pen and coop.

Interesting link: http://www.bear-tracker.com/redfox.html

TOB

I spent a good deal of time on line trying to find tracks that were not so clear. Looking for the pattern of their "gait". Rabbits and Squirrels are pretty easy. Dogs usually step all over the place. In deep snow it is hard to tell.

My point being if they tracks which are not "tracks" but "Prints" were as clear as the pictures posted I wouldn't need to ask nor look for an answer.

 

[rancher hicks]

Morning All,
We're getting more snow today, doesn't seem to be sticking much though so that's good.

Adora - Beautiful boys you have there!!!

I saw this on CL the other day and thought it was neat...

I did see this and it sucks to be poor. Our property borders a Creek and that would be so cool. We at one time were going to have a pond dug. Can you imagine keeping Ducks in that floating out in the middle of the pond? Of course egg collection would be a chore.

 

[Lynzi777]

I did see this and it sucks to be poor. Our property borders a Creek and that would be so cool. We at one time were going to have a pond dug. Can you imagine keeping Ducks in that floating out in the middle of the pond? Of course egg collection would be a chore.

Yea I'd say $2500 is just a tad outta my price range. LOL Would definitely be cool to use for ducks sitting out in the middle of a pond somewhere.

 

[Adoravachick]

Morning All,
We're getting more snow today, doesn't seem to be sticking much though so that's good.

Adora - Beautiful boys you have there!!!

I saw this on CL the other day and thought it was neat...

Thanks for the compliment of the boys. I really like that "boat". It reminds me of Noah's Arc.

5 babies hatched yesterday! My husband actually let them stay in the sunroom overnight.

That was a first. Theyare cuties, 3 blues and 2 splash.
Shortly after hatch.
Today, picture time for the baby files. Very cooperative. My daughters are thrilled to have the chicks in the house!

 

[happyhensny]

Wahooooo!!! 27 eggs today from 35 girls! Many are teeny, tiny since they are the BA's that just started to lay. I sell the very small eggs for $1 a dozen.
It seems my other hens (other than the black australorps) never went through a phase of laying tiny eggs. When they laid and egg from the beginning it was normal sized. What's up with the BA's doing that? How long do they lay tiny eggs for before they are normal sized?

Well I do wish these BR's would move. I think it's just to cold for them in their coop. Though it would be hard to understand since the rooster is the only one without frostbite to his comb. I think it's cuz he sleeps on the floor, though now it's on a bale of straw I put in there.
I'm fixin to hang some white Christmas lights inside the run. I added and adapter so I can plug in more than one thing.

I'll be warming up the back room to receive chicks tomorrow so when and if they hatch on Saturday I can take them right out there. No more brooding in the office. Lord have mercy the dust what like I don't know what.

My husband temporarily fenced off a good part of the upper back yard with bird netting (to be replaced with chicken wire when the ground softens) so that our dogs don't run down into the woods unsupervised. So, I let the troops out to mosey around back there for a couple of hours. The goofy things were more interested in following me around than in exploring. It's like having groupies.

I did have words with Captain Morgan, my chief rooster. He kept giving me stinkeye, and then rushed up to me, grabbed the front of my skirt with his beak and tried flogging me. I usually wear ankle-length skirts because they're comfortable, so he only got a beakful of cloth, and was sent off-balance when I stepped backwards. I shoved him away none too gently with my foot, deflected another attempted bite with the corner of my jacket, and then stalked him all over the yard for a while until he ran like he had devils on his tailfeathers every time I approached him. Respect mah authoritah, rooster!

Those Roos get their hormones all up in a lather this time of year. I would be cautious around him though. We have had sweet boys from start to finish but the sassy ones seem to always end up in the soup pot. Sorry.


When we had snow on the ground last week there were some bobcat tracks 2 feet from the Peafowl/pheasant pen. Good thing its made of chain-link dog kennel panels and the top is wired with welded wire fencing. Pretty secure. NOTHING is predator proof. If you catch a predator with a trap it usually needs to be "eliminated" Hate that. Coons, fox, etc should not be relocated. I do believe it is against the law and where you might bring the critter there may be people around with chickens too!

 

[Henicillin]

Oh, I'll send the Captain straight to freezer camp if he doesn't straighten out. He'd make fine soup.

 

[happyhensny]

Dosen't that stink though? I plan on hatching this spring so we will have extra boys I am sure if you need another. Our Rooster came from the Big E Northeastern Poultry Congress - a breeder there. He is huge and a wonderful guy. This is my daughter and Midnight at the Altamont Fair this past August. This picture was in the Times Union! He also placed 1st or 2nd in think...

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks for the compliment of the boys. I really like that "boat". It reminds me of Noah's Arc.

5 babies hatched yesterday! My husband actually let them stay in the sunroom overnight.

That was a first. Theyare cuties, 3 blues and 2 splash.
Shortly after hatch.
Today, picture time for the baby files. Very cooperative. My daughters are thrilled to have the chicks in the house!

Just how old are you that you can remember Noah's ark?

 

[Adoravachick]

Just how old are you that you can remember Noah's ark?

Old enough....

Noah's Ark fascinates me.

 

[Adoravachick]

Dosen't that stink though? I plan on hatching this spring so we will have extra boys I am sure if you need another. Our Rooster came from the Big E Northeastern Poultry Congress - a breeder there. He is huge and a wonderful guy. This is my daughter and Midnight at the Altamont Fair this past August. This picture was in the Times Union! He also placed 1st or 2nd in think...

I love seeing this kind of joy. Great pic!