NY chicken lover!!!!

[Karin J.]

Happyhensny... I am so very sorry for your loss.

-Karin

 

[ancona91]

Good Morning, Everyone!!!
Ah....the predators....what a constant pain in the butt!!!! I'm sorry to hear about all your losses....I hate losing any of my animals. During the day I let most of the ducks, chickens, geese and turkeys free range.....but I'm very careful to make sure all of them are locked in the barn and their very large dog crates at night. Thankfully, I haven't lost any to predation in over 4 years........and the last offender was a Barred owl. ....add them to your list for sure.
The story about the above-named owl: During mid-January of 2006, I went to put the ducks in for the night.....I found one dead with it's head eaten off. The next night I go out to find an owl sitting in the dog crate with one of my ducks. Reacting spontaneously(and obviously without thinking) I grabbed the owl and the duck and brought them both inside my house. After putting them both in separate crates, I could see the duck had an injured eye....but it wasn't too bad. I kept the owl overnight and released it the next day. It retuned the next week.....once again I found it in the duck crate. Picking it up (again with no gloves on) I decided something was definitely wrong with the owl. Brought it to a wildlife rehabber and learned it was an older owl that was obviously having trouble hunting. The rehabber couldn't believe I actually picked the owl up twice without having me hands ripped to shreds....I was very lucky. Anyway, a rehabber who specializes in raptors kept the owl....so all worked out well.
When I first started raising ducks 8+ years ago I had problems with(and lost some ducks to) mink, raccoons,owls and fischers. I quickly leaned in order to keep them safe they need to be lockd in a secure building or cage at night. Or else they get picked off one by one(sometimes two by two) by all the hungry predators out there. All of my previous losses occurred during winter....when natural prey is very scarce. Never had a problem during the rest of the year. Luckily I've never had a problem with the foxes, coyotes and hawks.......we have plenty of them around here too. I think the 5 rather large,protective geese tend to help......plus I also have 25 roosters who give the "alert signal" when something is awry, such as a hawk sighting.......sounds like a bunch of dinosaurs out there(smile). Have a great day, everyone......and please keep all your feathered friends safe!!!!
Kathy

 

[MissCluck]

So sorry to the New Yorkers with predator losses! I caught a raccoon in a Havahart trap just the other day. I relocated it to a wildlife area far away from my chickens.

I think having a Jack Russell terrier is a little bit of a deterrant for some of the predators - but I have to keep the terrier away from the birds as he's a predator too!

 

[trilyn]

Happyhens. I'm so sorry for your loss.

I lost three myself this past week and its such a horrible feeling.
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Is it alright to post a wanted list? I'm gonna!

I'm looking for some more orpingtons, any color will do, just not hatchery stock. I want the big, old fat fluffy things! I've got one buff who looks just a tad lonely.

Also, aren't the ones from breeders more likely to go broody? The one I've got has noo interest whatsoever.

Surprisingly, my barred rock has gone broody and is sitting on 11 eggs!

I'm also looking for some heritage Rhode Island Red stock, anyone in NY have them?? Would love either chicks or eggs. I was looking at Pine Grove's (William) and am in love, but thought I'd give NY'ers a chance to speak up, would rather support locals anyhow.

I've got some Del eggs from rancher, can't wait til they hatch out! So, I'm okay with those for now, won't be adding anymore this year. I don't think....

If anyone can help me out, I'd really appreciate it.

If anyone is interested, I've got EE/Lavender Ameraucana eggs that are available, as well as eggs going into lockdown today as a matter of fact, if they hatch out-chicks for sale! The roo is from chicken stalker, silly girl, she let him go!! lol His chicks are absolutely adorable as you all know and the crosses are turning out to be either black or lav. Rancher has had a few hatch out and omigod, they are soooooo cute!! Maybe if we're nice he'll post some pics!!

Well, thank you all for looking!

Trish

 

[rcentner]

Quote:
I *know*, does BYC sell sweatshirts? We need to start wearing stuff so we know each other.

I've been spring cleaning here. Wow, it takes a LONG time to clean up after winter! Plus they poo right behind you!

Ummm, I *think* I know who you mean, does his name start with the letter *J*? Did you happen to see how they housed their rabbits? I was avoiding him and his *friend* since we had words (okay, email words) after they killed one of my bucks and then had the nerve to blame me! Long story... My impression is that they are hoarders. I refused to sell them anything ever again. Banned them from my property. They had the nerve to say I should give them stuff for free rather than sell or eat it, that I didn't *love* my stuff since I sold/ate it.

So I was kinda hiding there with sunglasses on and my hood up. None of my male friends could go and I wanted someone to protect me from the crazy people...

I was kinda dissapointed, I thought it was going to be this huge auction with lots of stuff!

well, I do not recall his name, but I do believe that we are talking about the same guy cause he also has a "partner". His rabbits run around with all the chickens/ducks/geese/peacocks. the only thing he has separate are quail?(I think they were quail). It was very poop filled in the coops and definately not predator proof. It was wierd cause he wanted to sell stuff, but not the ones I wanted. He raises chicks and sells those too. I feel bad cause they took home a chicken that has leg mites and the rest of his flock may be doomed.

There was an ok amount of stuff there, but that was my 1st auction EVER, of any kind so who am I to really say. more bunnies than I would have thought.

I was wearing a red hooded jacket and jeans with sandals (a little colder than I thought it would be). I only bought the BR rooster which they sold after the livestock. Did u see that pretty cow that was there? it was cute.
Good experience for me.

edited after reading more:

So sorry happy hens,

hope u kill that raccoon, I am still trying for my fox....getting to the point where I will have to deal with the pups if I don't get her soon. I hate learning the hard way and hope I don't learn anything new right now.

 

[shannonpixie]

I'm sorry HappyHensNY- that's terrible.

Something to consider before I get my chickens...I didn't really think of predators.

I'm about an hour West from you.

 

[six little chicks]

Hi all- I'm from Almond, NY Hornell area, about an hour from Rochester, I just started raising chicks this year. If anyone has any advice for the area, as far as preditors, and such please feel free to let me know.

HappyHensNY- I am so sorry...

edited to fix spelling error.

 

[Sachasmom]

OMG, it *IS* the same guy!

I sold them rabbits, I wish I hadn't. I tried to give them *guidance* but its obvious they wanna do what they wanna do.

I'm the epitomy of nice, but I really lost it on the *partner*, I didn't hear a thing from the other guy, but I have to assume his friend spoke for him, since they seemed to be together in business. They just took no ownership in causing the death of the buck, which I didn't hear about until a month later. He got real offended when I said I needed pictures of the cage they put him in... I'm pretty sure they put them TOGETHER in a ground pen probably full of chicken poop. With a zillion other bunnies probably.

Its funny though that they wouldn't take better care of stuff, I guess that happens to lots of people who want to save everything?

If I know you are coming here, I run around and clean. I worry that someone will come here and be like offended that my rabbits pooped or something? Or by the giant pile of compost... Or by my clutter. I have lots of that! Or the mud. Or by the fact that I am not a builder, and my structures are very rednecky! I always warn people to watch their step on my porch, since it is a Fav chicken hang out, so ya know what that means!

I don't get people that don't clean for farm guests? I can get behind sometimes, and spring is never fun, but wow, I've seen some gross places. Like Animal Control take your stuff away gross. You gotta wonder why someone doesn't turn these people in???

Hey Trilyn, what do you have the Lav Roo with? I need some Lavs, how close are you to Ithaca? I'll be there for a rabbit show on the 12th. I'd get some eggs, but I would just kill them.

/8*

 

[happyhensny]

My other pens are chain link dog kennels. I am going out now to run wire in the ground and try to lock up the coops tighter I guess.

 

[six little chicks]

Did anyone go to the Bath, NY chicken auction on May 1st?