NY chicken lover!!!!

[Henicillin]

I have been thinking of trying turkeys. I will have to do more research. Maybe I should just do meaties......

I want to do both, but I still haven't pulled the trigger on the fifteen-poult order from Porter's (I want their "experimental crosses" for six bucks apiece). Maybe I should and then put the extras up on Craigslist. A hoop house sounds like it would be a great idea for them. I'd also like a few ducks, and a couple of feeder pigs. I'll see what happens in a couple of months.

I've only had a couple of frozen eggs crack, and I fed them to the dogs. The ones that don't crack come into the house with the others, and seem to be just fine.

The new fridge comes tomorrow!

I'm thrilled - it gets a wee bit old to keep running things back and forth between the garage and back porch according to how cold it is outside.

 

[Henicillin]

In other news I've applied for the job at Purely Poultry. It would work out great for me and them since I'm retired and have plenty of time. With the exception of my volunteer job, but I can be free for their hours. Plus I have no kids to deal with and no distractions. I know this house was a God send because it had everything I need or wanted and more. Such as this fourth bedroom which is now an office.

Fingers crossed for good luck!

 

[happyhensny]

Rancher - good luck to you!

Heni - We went without a fridge, I know what you mean. Fortunately it is winter for you! We had summer. Hot out side and only had a "dorm" fridge with no freezer for a family of 5. Barely fit a gallon of milk. Pain in the you know where!

 

[Framac]

Does anyone have an extra Peahen that they would be willing to part with? A friend of my wife's was at the dump one day (about 2 years ago) and found a chick roaming around the dump. She took it home and raised it and it seems to be an India blue peacock. She was hoping to get him a lady friend.

Looks like it might be a nicer day today. Stay warm people.

Chris

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes.

Framac - I don't have peas. Good garden o' peas, my neighbors would have a cow. Now that I think of it I always wondered where Cows came from.

Anyhow if I did you could have it. We stayed at a hotel in TX once and they had one. It was noisy. I'd like some Guinea hens but they are even worse.

On another note I realized that something is after my chickens in the hoop coop. I did see prints and haven't researched them but I think it's a weasel or mink. Can they get through chicken wire? Whatever it is it can't get through the hardware cloth, thank the Lord. It chewed through the felt covering the coop part but it got through the chicken wire into the run.

How can I deal with it?

 

[stonykill]

I had a weasel get through chicken wire and kill 9 sumatra's. They can squeeze in thru a tiny space. They are hard to trap. The best solution I have, solid wood enclosure for the birds at night.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes.

Framac - I don't have peas. Good garden o' peas, my neighbors would have a cow. Now that I think of it I always wondered where Cows came from.

Anyhow if I did you could have it. We stayed at a hotel in TX once and they had one. It was noisy. I'd like some Guinea hens but they are even worse.

On another note I realized that something is after my chickens in the hoop coop. I did see prints and haven't researched them but I think it's a weasel or mink. Can they get through chicken wire? Whatever it is it can't get through the hardware cloth, thank the Lord. It chewed through the felt covering the coop part but it got through the chicken wire into the run.

How can I deal with it?

 

[rancher hicks]

I had a weasel get through chicken wire and kill 9 sumatra's. They can squeeze in thru a tiny space. They are hard to trap. The best solution I have, solid wood enclosure for the birds at night.

How did you know it was a weasel? What did you do about it? How did you deal with it? What would you use to trap it? What baits do they go for? I did see prints that appear to be a house cat. I do see rabbit tracks too. Do they keep trying or will it give up? Are they night time prowlers or evening or daytime?

Thanks, Rancher

 

[stonykill]

Well the 1st thing I did was butcher the 9 chickens it killed. It just ate the necks of a few, and killed the rest for the fun of it. I used guts from the dead chickens and a hav a hart trap to catch it. My .410 did the deed. It won't give up until it kills your birds. At least that's been my luck with predetors. They are mainly night time predetors. They will hunt during the day if hungry enough.

I've also had minks around. I had my son go out with his .22 and pick them off one by one.

I again have chickens in that coop. Now it is as tight as fort knox. That is the only way I know to keep chickens safe at night. Wood coop to sleep in, door screwed in tight, no wire with holes larger than 1/4 inch in the coop area.

Good luck, both minks and weasels are tough to kill.

How did you know it was a weasel? What did you do about it? How did you deal with it? What would you use to trap it? What baits do they go for? I did see prints that appear to be a house cat. I do see rabbit tracks too. Do they keep trying or will it give up? Are they night time prowlers or evening or daytime?

Thanks, Rancher

 

[greymane]

Chickens carry a disease that is deadly to turkeys. It's called blackhead disease and yes it is here in NY. I learn that the hard way. =(

Hmm...this concerns me. I will have to look into it. Our two Jersey Buff turkeys (Jimmy and Penny) have been housed with our Red Stars. They have been together for about six months and we have had no issues (Jimmy is a great guardian), but I don't want to take any chances.

 

[greymane]

Well the 1st thing I did was butcher the 9 chickens it killed. It just ate the necks of a few, and killed the rest for the fun of it. I used guts from the dead chickens and a hav a hart trap to catch it. My .410 did the deed. It won't give up until it kills your birds. At least that's been my luck with predetors. They are mainly night time predetors. They will hunt during the day if hungry enough.

I've also had minks around. I had my son go out with his .22 and pick them off one by one.

I am thinking about contacting those guys from "Sons of Guns" to have them build me an automated predator defense system.