OHio ~ Come on Buckeyes, let me know your out there!

[big medicine]

When I was a kid I remember going into Dad's barn one morning. He had two old horse stalls on the far side that he had partitioned and wired off from the rest of the barn. Birds went out into a fenced run through a small opening maybe a foot square. Anyway on that particular morning I walk into the pen/stall and see a headless bird laying there and the rest were crowded off to one side. On the other side, up on the kick boards, sat a large great horned owl. It apparently after getting in could not find it's way back out.

I have been a firm believer in buttoning up all openings in all coops at dark since.

 

[chicknmania]

Thanks! And yes, will definitely go to swappers days anyways. We're only 15 min away and somehow have never made it. Weird,cause I LOVE flea markets and yard sales! Will post again when new news about the boys fates. Thanks again to all for the support and advice!

Oh definitely go then. We always do. It's a tradition. And we aren't too far, either,.

 

[cabinchicky]

OHhappychick, thank you! Being pain free is such a blessing but go thru birth again would be too close to how I had felt before surgery. Spasms, nerve pain oh yeah nope. I am just sore still and bruised. I can't do squat around here either, grrr. Bored to tears.I think my kids are getting use to my flip flop sounds from me visiting them so much. Hubby is still healing too and doing great.

 

[minihorse927]

The total owl damage is 3 snowy call hens(my good breeder hens of course), my best grey call drake, a pet quality black bibbed drake, and a buff guinea hen. He was back there this morning but I scared him off. I installed fishing line across the top in a grid pattern to try to deter him until I can wire it all in.

 

[Fowl Menagerie]

sorry about your losses mini horse . I also lost 4 call ducks in one night earlier this year. Completely my fault as I had previous losses. I usually shut everyone up at night except big geese, but neglected to one night, and next morning 4 missing. I have since seen the shadow fly off the barn roof when I go out after dark, but no more losses. A much bigger threat for me was from a weasel. It killed about 20 birds in a single night and returned about a week later for 20 more. He was eventually eliminated. That is when I began shutting up everything every night. Weasels can get through any hole that they get their head through. I have lost several Muscovy ducks over the summer to either a fox or coyote and lost some geese to neighbors dog. Muscovies have learned to come in at night with chickens and neighbors dog has since moved away, so for now everything is going good. [knock on wood] Good luck with owl. I think you are on the right track as a Great Horned Owl is a very large bird and needs a large opening to get into pen. I have plastic netting over a dog kennel that houses calls and some bantam chickens and so far it has discouraged hawks and owls.

 

[minihorse927]

sorry about your losses mini horse . I also lost 4 call ducks in one night earlier this year. Completely my fault as I had previous losses. I usually shut everyone up at night except big geese, but neglected to one night, and next morning 4 missing. I have since seen the shadow fly off the barn roof when I go out after dark, but no more losses. A much bigger threat for me was from a weasel.  It killed about 20 birds in a single night and returned about a week later for 20 more.  He was eventually eliminated. That is when I began shutting up everything every night. Weasels can get through any hole that they get their head through. I have lost several Muscovy ducks over the summer to either a fox or coyote and lost some geese to neighbors dog.  Muscovies have learned to come in at night with chickens and neighbors dog has since moved away, so for now everything is going good.  [knock on wood] Good luck with owl. I think you are on the right track as a Great Horned Owl is a very large bird and needs a large opening to get into pen. I have plastic netting over a dog kennel that houses calls and some bantam chickens and so far it has discouraged hawks and owls.  

I thought about trying to use plastic deer netting but thought he might just tear through it. The hawks haven't even thought about terrorizing my place size I acquired the Guinea hens. Their squawking has made them want nothing to do work any bird on my property. Of course this owl comes in quietly and they don't notice him until it's too late. The Guinea hen he got had been dropped. She had puncture wounds where he tried to pack her off but I imagine she fought him and he dropped her. I found her barely alive and tried to save her but she had broken bones and I figured he punctured her lungs cause she was having trouble breathing. She didn't live for 10 minutes after I found her.

He could of at least picked all the pet quality ducks.
I've got a trio left of snowy babies. I'm hoping the two hens turn out to be something. I worked on that line for 3 or 4 years and almost had them where I wanted them. Now I have 1 snowy hen left and 2 snowy drakes worth breeding and 1 pet quality pair of snowy.

 

[cabinchicky]

Minihorse, sorry for your losses. Hugs to you.

 

[PoultryQueen101]

Aws! Poor minihorse. If I knew you lived closer, I would help you find more birds.

 

[PoultryQueen101]

I too, hope to make it to swappers. I know I live here, but do they have like live animals and stuff?

 

[minihorse927]

Minihorse, sorry for your losses. Hugs to you.

Aws! Poor minihorse. If I knew you lived closer, I would help you find more birds.

I appreciate it. I'm hoping everything goes well and the two little hens growing out turn out decent. If not I'll be shopping here for more snowy hens if I get lucky enough.