***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Crescent Moon Ranch]

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Ahhhhh....What a cutie!

 

[tgperg]

Dang this heat. I lost my first birds to it today. I had two little ducklings that would have been three weeks old tomorrow. Found 'em deader than doornails being chewed up by ants in their little brooder. They had tons of water and tons of food. The other birds out there were fine. I'm getting plumb discouraged and feel like giving up, maybe starting over next spring. Not sure what to do. This makes 24 birds I've lost since the first of May. Had three hatches this year so far, and I have four teenage chickens for my trouble. The coyotes, bobcats, snakes, and hawks are breaking my heart here.

Traci

 

[artsyrobin]

i am so sorry! what is your setup like? fencing and all?

 

[mjgigax]

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Neat color on that little guy.

 

[tgperg]

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Well, we've been letting them free range during the day. Our five acres is partially fenced. They don't leave our property though. I have a large coop that I lock them in at night. We didn't have any significant losses all last year, and nothing this spring until May, and then BOOM! It's discouraging. I may try mobile tractors next year. I really don't like stationary runs. They get so bare so quickly.

Traci

 

[mjgigax]

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That hurts! I love everything about chickens and such except when they suffer, especially the little ones.

 

[Kassaundra]

Traci, so sorry for your losses, it is sure hard to lose them.

Robin, absolute cutie pies!!!!!!! Just hope for your sake they don't inherit their mom's voice!!!!

 

[nnbreeder]

Quote:
Well, we've been letting them free range during the day. Our five acres is partially fenced. They don't leave our property though. I have a large coop that I lock them in at night. We didn't have any significant losses all last year, and nothing this spring until May, and then BOOM! It's discouraging. I may try mobile tractors next year. I really don't like stationary runs. They get so bare so quickly.

Traci

Traci build some wet brooders for the ducks. This site will explain it.

http://www.faithvalleywaterfowl.com/housing.html

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote:
Well, we've been letting them free range during the day. Our five acres is partially fenced. They don't leave our property though. I have a large coop that I lock them in at night. We didn't have any significant losses all last year, and nothing this spring until May, and then BOOM! It's discouraging. I may try mobile tractors next year. I really don't like stationary runs. They get so bare so quickly.

Traci

you know- that is exactly what happened here- and talking to a few folks, apparently the mild winter and sudden rains flushed critters out that were hungry- i free ranged mine on ten acres, lost all but 1 duck, my goose, 2 hens- so you aren't alone! so i made some changes- 2 dump dogs that i was trying to get rid of have been worked with and one runs at night, one during the day- never together as then they would play- i want them focused on interlopers- when we first started doing that they patrolled the area of the creek i lost the two hens, and that still seems to be their focus- the birds are only out an hour or so in the morning and right before dusk- which is really annoying since i enjoy being able to let them run all day.... the point is, don't give up on it, i don't know that the dogs make any diff to flying predators, but foxes, coyotes, bobcats- i don't worry now

 

[artsyrobin]

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oh i know!! she is a motor beak! Good grief that girl puts rooster to shame!! and she is a smart little thing- you can see her studying the fence for a hole