NY chicken lover!!!!

[miquwid]

stupid smart phone ugh

anyhoo I want to say good morning to everyone me and the boys had a great run except for the marking everything in this concrete jungle so embarrassing lampost side of buildings people steps I just pretend I can't see them. yeah I'm sure my birds will try and eat the flowers I do have a garden growing am trying to keep them out of the dogs out of but I lefts lot of high grass and weeds for the birds to forage through I only now the front part of my yard in the very front part of our backyard but the rest of the yard is all them plus it leaves lots of room for bugs, and I love watching them go crazy for bugs!

Rancher I wish you all the best!

 

[JLaw]

Gypsy from how I read this they came under trees from run side. How about useing deer netting under tree line. Like hang it in the lower branches but high enough for you to walk under? Sorta like a reverse fence. Sorry just trying to picture how this is set up. Sorry to hear about your loss.

Sorry about your loss chicks rancher.

My dreams don't reoccur really I just have lots of weird dreams where I'm back in the marines except people and things I know now are with me. One dream I was back in Iraq and I was putting my pit bull in an army dog kennel.

Miquwid nice birds I want to see that black and white one grow out I like the look of it.

Well it's been warm out at night so I put my 4.5 week old Cochin bantams out side in the coop with the girls. Had them in the rabbit cage though. I've had them in coop before without the cage but I was ther watching them then. Going to let them out when I get home and may not put them back in when I go to work if they are getting along.

My leghorn is confusing me on weather it's roo or hen. Comb growing good at7-8 weeks its like half light pink rest yellow still, no dark red. It also don't seem to take charge at all. When I do treats it's one of last to come over even then don't really come close to me. When I had the younger bantams in coop without cage it just sat on roost bar didn't inspect them or anything. I so hope not a roo.

Jlaw

 

[Framac]

Good Morning Everyone!
Been a bit of a lurker lately but I had some questions for some of our CNY peeps. I had a hawk attack. I lost one of my two EE's and I'm nursing a Red back to health - she had a smaller puncture on her side, has trouble walking but she's eating and drinking and standing up favoring the other leg. I have her in a kitty crate to limit her mobility so perhaps she can heal. The wound is scabbing and she's alert so I have hope. My babies are about 11-12 weeks old.

My EE we were forced to put down ourselves as she was in so much pain and her side was torn apart.. it wasn't fixable.

So here's my question.

I have their coop under a HUGE line of Maples, the overhang covers everything including their run making it near impossible to see anything from above (Of COURSE the hawks went to the other side of the property and came in at an angle). We will be putting up wires crisscrossing from the coop to the run poles in hopes of decapitating any that fly in (and I'm seriously considering a pellet gun - closest thing to a firearm that I'll allow in my house. Even hubby doesn't think he can shoot a hawk with his bow lol..). Has anyone had success with other methods? I don't want wire mesh over the top as we have 4 foot posts and getting in would be painful on our backs. Other than deer netting (which we will also be getting) has anyone had any luck in deterring hawks in the area? I've got a bird preserve like 2 miles away so the population is slightly overwhelming. Counted 12 circling the fields around us last week. Any tricks I can use? We were devastated by this attack and would really like to prevent another if at all possible. THe ladies have been in their coop for 3 days in hopes that the hawks won't see a meal anymore and go back to circling fields.

ANY advice is appreciated and I do know that this is part of raising chickens, to deal with predators. I think it bothered me so much b/c it was such a waste of life, I probably would have felt better if the hawk had taken the chicken with it so I knew it had gotten a full meal.

I think that Deer Netting with tent style posts in the center might work best.

As a note, it is illegal to shoot hawks with anything..... Be careful what you say in an open forum like this.

Framac

 

[Gypsy Blue]

Framac, I was under the impression that if they threatened livlihood that was different. Sadly, I see i was misinformed. Tented deer netting sounds promising... I still wouldn't mind shooting them but if it's against the law, well, I am law abiding so I'll follow. I suppose I'm just angry and sad about it all...

 

[Framac]

Gypsy, I should have started my last post with the fact that I am sorry to hear about your losses to a preditor. That is never a thing that anyone likes to go through.

Hawks, I believe are protected under a national law. Racoons, Possoms, Coyotes, and Foxes are are fine to put down if they are killing your animals, but hawks are not. I just did not want you to do something then get in trouble for it.

 

[Gypsy Blue]

Framac,
Completely understand, I appreciate the heads up as I was obviously misinformed! At least it sort of justifies my "chicken math" about getting 18 chickens lol.. We knew that there would be predator issues given where we live, I had just wished it didn't happen so soon! A hard lesson indeed!

 

[miquwid]

Gypsy a friend in my area says the deer netting works well and several farms have said it works too. I will b putting some up myself.

Jlaw thanks as soon as my little feathers out more they are outside permanently can't wait!

 

[JLaw]

Just found this about hawks.

http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.net/hawks.php

They are fed. Protected but they talk of useing pyro tics for scaring them

 

[JLaw]

Grr so I let the vanities out and low and behold the leghorn desires to flare neck feathers and peck/ stalk the little guys. Gave them all grapes and food and 30 min later all the bigger chickens was just laying around fat and happy. Little bantams was eating and drinking since they wasn't being bullied into a corner.

On way to mother inlaws to see about Ameche of tin for a smaller coop. Have a feeling I may need it after this weekend.

Jlaw

 

[Framac]

Framac,
Completely understand, I appreciate the heads up as I was obviously misinformed! At least it sort of justifies my "chicken math" about getting 18 chickens lol.. We knew that there would be predator issues given where we live, I had just wished it didn't happen so soon! A hard lesson indeed!

No one here need to "JUSTIFY" chicken math...... we know all to well.