Our Mixed Flock Journey!

[drstratton]

My first year in missouri was 2001 and I remember over a foot of snow, since then it's been light almost every year except a few ice storms. I live in the far sw corner

That's more snow than I want! I'm glad your winters have been better since then!

 

[N F C]

I also don't like them locked up. They seem so happy to be out and about. That leaves them a little responsible for themselves. You're are even better off with roosters to help.

Maybe you could create a pseudo patio cover for them with some pipes and netting? Or barring that some predator proof enclosures for them to duck under.

@drstratton
Rene, Bob's post reminded me of a FL lady I used to chat with...she improvised some knee-high tables for her flock to have cover. The tables she made were basically just 4 legs with some sort of scrap(?) top. She did it for shade but that would work well for your hawk protection too.

 

[drstratton]

The weather definitely depends on your location! And it's touching that your son wants you guys closer to them

It really does depend on location, we see the same thing here in WA!
Yeah, it makes us feel good...I just wish the desire to be closer to us, was enough incentive for them to not move so far away...lol

 

[drstratton]

Yup. That getting shook out of your bed with panic in adult voices is not fun stuff! Of course then we moved to California and earthquakes ain’t fun either lol.

I think we were in the northwest portion of the state. I don’t have to worry about snow now. Bad downdrafts do happen here though

Yep, I know what you mean...a little scary for kids! I've experienced lots of different drills having gone to so many different schools in different states...just like you in CA, earthquake and when we lived on the coast we had Tsunami drills!

 

[drstratton]

Very true. If it’s not tornadoes, hurricanes, heat, snow, or earthquakes it’s the volcanoes.

Volcanoes...yep we have those...I can get to the closest one in 2 hours...

 

[drstratton]

I also don't like them locked up. They seem so happy to be out and about. That leaves them a little responsible for themselves. You're are even better off with roosters to help.

Maybe you could create a pseudo patio cover for them with some pipes and netting? Or barring that some predator proof enclosures for them to duck under.

Yeah, I was looking today and thinking that I could put up some bird netting...it would be a bit of a stretch with the current set up, but it might be doable with a few more posts! I want to do something...although I am encouraged by the fact they all had enough sense to go into the enclosed pen when that hawk came back around! I need to talk to Dale and see what he thinks...a few structures, netting or see how it goes now that they know there is danger from the sky!

 

[drstratton]

How about one of those patio umbrellas?

It could serve a dual purpose....protection from predators and shade for me when I'm out there enjoying them...in the summer of course...it's currently too chilly to sit around outside...

 

[drstratton]

@drstratton
Rene, Bob's post reminded me of a FL lady I used to chat with...she improvised some knee-high tables for her flock to have cover. The tables she made were basically just 4 legs with some sort of scrap(?) top. She did it for shade but that would work well for your hawk protection too.

Thank you Debby, that's a great suggestion too...I think we have plenty of scrap stuff available!

 

[Ribh]

Volcanoes...yep we have those...I can get to the closest one in 2 hours...

Our island is part of an extinct volcano. For all intents & purposes we sit on a volcanic rim.

 

[drstratton]

Our island is part of an extinct volcano. For all intents & purposes we sit on a volcanic rim.

Let's just hope it stays extinct...we don't want to see any of this... We live 2.5 hours from Mt Rainier & Mt St Helen's! I remember the ash fallout when St Helen's blew her top in 1980! I was in Portland, Oregon at the time. My husband lived in Moses Lake, WA & they really had a lot of ash dump there!