NY chicken lover!!!!

[Lynzi777]

Apparently it is breeding season for coyotes?
We has seen and heard them in our yard in in the field across from the house every day for the past week. We have a couple big ones running around, no that I have seen where they cut through the yard I'm convinced they are what got my 3 I lost this summer.
The one we saw next to the coop the other morning looked like the size of a German Shepard, and the thing was mangy. We couldn't get the gun out fast enough to put it out of its misery, darn things are smart. 
On the upside, someone wanted some eggs for hatching for their grandkids. Princesschick, we're gonna have grandchicks!!! 

We have many coyotes out here as well. I had family up for Christmas and one of the nightsy sister came downstairs in the morning wondering what all the racket was outside all night. I told her if it was a bunch of screaming/howling/barking it was the pack of coyotes that runs around down in the valley and near the creek. I've heard them every week at night since then. Have yet to see any in my yard but I wonder if they ever venture towards the horse farm down the road from me. Would they go after a horse if it was left out night??

I've had a hawk sitting in a tree in my front yard this week. It's making me nervous about letting the silkies out this spring. He seems to be eyeing them. I'd love to let them out now that we can see grass again but it's not worth risking the chance of losing one or more of them. Especially the chicks. :-(

 

[marquisella]

I bumped into an old acquaintance who recently hatched a handful of eggs for herself (not sure of breed). She told me she got 3 or 4 roos and just 1 pullet. She wanted to give me a roo, but I respectfully declined.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems I hear this a lot from folks who hatch. Is there some truth to it that a higher percentage of chicks hatched are roos?

TOB

The percentages are based on 100. So if you hatch out 100 chicks, then it should be half hens half roos. So when we hatch out only 10 or so, it could be 10 out of those 50% roos....

They also say a hen can determine the sex of her chicks....dont really know about that..

 

[rancher hicks]

We have many coyotes out here as well. I had family up for Christmas and one of the nightsy sister came downstairs in the morning wondering what all the racket was outside all night. I told her if it was a bunch of screaming/howling/barking it was the pack of coyotes that runs around down in the valley and near the creek. I've heard them every week at night since then. Have yet to see any in my yard but I wonder if they ever venture towards the horse farm down the road from me. Would they go after a horse if it was left out night??

I've had a hawk sitting in a tree in my front yard this week. It's making me nervous about letting the silkies out this spring. He seems to be eyeing them. I'd love to let them out now that we can see grass again but it's not worth risking the chance of losing one or more of them. Especially the chicks. :-(

Well I've been going out off and on since the morning and not seen it. But I figure if I get a pellet gun and can aim good enough I can hit the branch it's sitting on and scare it away. If it comes back. If it were to get in a run, it would have to die. No way it would get out alive.

I'm still marking my territory and not seen nor heard any coyote. I hope I don't have to defend my chickens from one, but am looking for a gun in case I do.

 

[rancher hicks]

The percentages are based on 100. So if you hatch out 100 chicks, then it should be half hens half roos. So when we hatch out only 10 or so, it could be 10 out of those 50% roos....

They also say a hen can determine the sex of her chicks....dont really know about that..

I'm curious to know how they came to this conclusion. Surely when I had a hen sitting on eggs and three turned out to be ducklings, she would have known those eggs were quacked. She didn't care she hatched them just the same.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Sorry about your youngster being lost to a hawk, Rancher. Did you see it happen? How awful.

When the husband repeatedly asks why our run has to be covered, I keep reminding him of the many hawks that visit our backyard already to pick off birds at the feeders. They're already here. To add chickens to their menu is not in my future plans. I know a covered run is not feasible for everyone, especially large flock owners. Having only a small coop and flock planned, this will work for me. Just have to keep reminding hubby it's necessary!

TOB

A covered run is necessary against all predators . Foxes , coons , hawks , etc ..if they cant fly in.. they climb in or climb up , or crawl under .
We were very lucky ours wasnt covered for a long time ..it wasnt real visible from the air ..our run was under a tree .
You can give them a wood cover on part of the run or put the run up to another building like we did
See the roof on the run ? It is the same width as the coop ..The back of the shed shares the back of the run My Hubbys Great idea to save materials ! you can see how close the coop is to our house also .
Please excuse the bare backs / butts on the rescue hens ..we have rehabilitated 3 of them ..One is still that way ..I dont think she will ever change .
this is the 1st part & the the run continues out another 4-6 foot & is cover with hardware cloth / galvanized fencing . Right now the top is covered with a brown tarp ( all I had ) to keep the snow out .

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: Rancher - They have bb guns / pellet guns at Dicks Carousel Mall for 39.99 .
They have ammunition for bb guns ..
You can not buy 22 bullets anywhere ..If they get them in they sell out instantly ..

 

[featherz]

I have 2" flight netting over two of my coop runs and it held up great during all the snow (which fell right through it). I have electric fencing and hot wires to deter ground predators, so the netting is just to hopefully hold off the flying ones. So far so good (knocking on my desk).

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

I brought a bag of veggie scraps down for the birds with some bread. Once the cheeps saw me they went crazy with excitement. Silly and noisy birds!

Haven't seen the hawk that likes to sit and watch for our birds the past 2 weeks. DH scared it off the last time it was here.

 

[Lynzi777]

Rancher - They have bb guns / pellet guns at Dicks Carousel Mall for 39.99 .
They have ammunition for bb guns ..
You can not  buy 22 bullets anywhere ..If they get them in they sell out instantly ..

Man, and I just returned from the mall today...should have picked one up! LOL I can see the look on my husbands face if I ever brought one of those home! Then again, it probably would have made the perfect V-Day gift for him! LOL

 

[Tough Old Bird]

We have always had coyotes criss-crossing over our property. We own a game camera and get photo's of them now and again, as well as some actual sightings, though these are more rare. Most often, we hear them vocalizing in typical coyote fashion. At my cottage in Ontario, there are plenty and I typically hear them once or twice a night during our summer visits. We have always had pets and have never had a problem here or in Canada. Of course, I have never had chickens! We'll need beefed up quarters, obviously, but I don't have any bones to pick with them. Just a healthy respect -- and an awareness that they are a predator to be recognized and prepared for.

I don't know how you free rangers do it. I'd be pulling my hair out and stressing over potential attacks by land and sky!!

TOB