I have a number of critters after my chooks....mid morning while I was reloading the feeders, a red tailed hawk flew through at roof top level (I own a ranch house) then circled and repeated the fly over.....he was setting up an ambush using the house to block the chooks view....heard him screeching and flying nearby for about 10 minutes....
I seen some black birds chase off and attack the hawks. That was something to see! There are way too many critters out there that want chicken
I have another critter that is causing problems here. The dreaded gypsy moth caterpillars are back. The last time they were in epidemic they killed about 40 trees in my back yard. It's horrible when they come and eat everything and you hear them eating and pooping and fall out of the trees on you
Critters is wht my birds are 95% in tractors if weather is nice. The ones fenced in are too close to house for most predators with the dog and cats roaming. I do wonder if the harsh winter has increased attacks. This year was the first in 10 that anything went after my birds. They got 5 of my daughters market turkey's for a. 4 h project.
Really bummed out, I had high hopes that the broodies would do better than me.
Here is where things stand.
I will not be having any extra Beltsville this season, out of the 12 eggs, I had 1 stinker, 2 no development, 2 yet to be determined, found 3 dead this morning, they looked like they were malformed and head funny looking heads...but I am happy to say I got 4 healthy looking Beltsville turkey, hopefully I can raise and breed from them...did I mention that they are hatching on day 24 also.
Out of the dozen budkeye, I do not hold much hope, 2 no development, 4 stinkies, the 6 remaining have not done anything yet...they should hatch today.
I wonder if the broodies are having trouble controlling their thermostats with this weird weather?
The incubator gave me 14 quail so far today, need lots more.
oh no!! Booooo.. I just sent you a PM. how are your Moscovy eggs going? Mt Pekin is not going to stop laying on these eggs until they hatch, which will never happen, since they are not fertile, poor girl! She is the best ever! you should see how nicely she covers them when shoes does get up, you would never know there are eggs or that it is a nest! And she attacked the dog once, poor guy was so confused!! LOL
Sooo..... My new chickens were allowed to be integrated with my other four girls yesterday. Right away they were asserting themselves and chasing my original girls away. A few times thy have gotten fierce enough that they pulled feathers out. The two girls seems to be spending a lot of time by themselves. I know chickens tend to go in pairs, but will they eventually chill out? Again they are free ranging so they have opportunities to get away from each other. Why can't we all just get along?
Ha! Funny ANNE!! These girls always got picked on in my coop, always noticed them Hop and Run when it was time for scratch! LOL Now they are the bullies! I hope they calm down for you!
x4 on the black bowls....heavy duty rubber and only about $5 at TSC......
On another note....mr fox came back for a visit this morning...fortunately I was already awake when the chooks sounded the alarm...I banged the screen window a couple of time and he took of running....my glw lost a few tail feather but was not bitten....so far its fox "0" and me "4"....I guess I will have to be extra vigilant over the next few days cause he will be back...
I always see the black bowls but never get them, I did pick up the plastic blue ones, they hold my Oyster Shells and Grit
And as for a fox! I had one show up a few time, he even got a meal, (the chickens fault really, she kept jumping the fence and free ranged herself, she just stopped putting herself away at night, found a cozy spot in a tree, well needless to say all I found were her tail feathers!
But then Mr Fox came back the next day, and I let my dog out, all I saw in the woods was a zig zag of Dog and fox... needless to say I have not seen him since... Then one day(before the dog chased him away the following day) it was funny too when I saw him, I ran out of the house, no shoes or socks, prolly still in my PJs (and I dont sleep in much.. lol) yell and waving my hands, GET GET OUTTA HERE!!!! SHEEWWW GO ON!!! The fox and prolly anyone else that was watching me was like, ***? and walked away slowly!! LOL
Well just dropped my son off at football practice. A 5 to 10 minute drive took 30 minutes. They have Rt 80 shut down in the Poconos. Please avoid the Poconos if you can. Rt 80 both directions are shut down due to a hazardous spill. I live on a cul-de-sac that is right off of Rt 611 where all the traffic has to go now I just hope it will be cleared up by the time I need to pick my son up at 6pm.
I seen some black birds chase off and attack the hawks. That was something to see! There are way too many critters out there that want chicken
I have another critter that is causing problems here. The dreaded gypsy moth caterpillars are back. The last time they were in epidemic they killed about 40 trees in my back yard. It's horrible when they come and eat everything and you hear them eating and pooping and fall out of the trees on you
I have been allergic to them my whole life. I get itchy just thinking about them (and so I am alternating scratching and typing). I really hope they keep away from my house!
My only predator attack was on my kitchen window today. A fly got stuck in a web, and the spider came running! Just as the spider was about to pounce, the fly broke free. Exciting stuff!
My little hunter yesterday (my 6 pound cat) was stalking a young buck in my yard yesterday. Silly kitty loves to try to get the deer. She is behind the tree on the right lol
Hey all. I will have call ducklings for sale starting Fourth of July weekend. They are 5 for $40 or 10 for $75. Or $10 each. I am accepting paypal deposits. Deposits get first dibs or email me [email protected] to put name on waiting list.
I believe they have had studies done on the issue, with broodies often scoring higher percentages until you get into the more expensive and fancier incubators, then it is a draw or some studies with the commercial incubators show a slight edge to the incubator. I know it has been mentioned on some of the broody threads but I haven't researched it personally because for us hasn't been an 'either/or' decision.... between work schedules and camping/fishing trips the broodies are the best option, plus the joy of watching a mama hen do her thing....and do all of the work after the hatch!
Thanks
...I know it does happen, but is always frustrating wondering if we could have intervened at some point to give the hen a better outcome. Mother nature can be a cruel teacher sometimes. I will be much happier next year if we are able to provide our own hatching eggs to the broodies. This year we have had 80-85% hatch rates with our own barnyard mix eggs, and only about 30-35% with bought eggs.. which has meant multiple hatches just to try to get a good trio or quad for our own eggs next year.
Thank you for getting back to me on all this....kinda figured the broodies would win out, incubators are a very "controlled" thing...and we get to watch the whole process.. then we can give them to broodies
If I were you I would be setting a box trap up to nip the problem in the bud! Raccoon and possums can cause a lot of havoc in a single visit...
Love your having a motion sensor light for your coop!
DH has a live trap out, that was originally for the rabbits..hahaha, moving up in animals now...
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knew we HAD to have a sensor light, with all the animals around..geesh! Raccoons, opossums, coyotes,bobcats, bear...oh, and the neighborhood cats, dogs....hahahaha
I occasionally cut the intestines open on purpose when doing an older rooster just to check for worms.
I have to ask why you would worm a meatie, worms would be in the in testing and that part you are not eating, I doubt that Cornish x would have time to build a heavy worm load anyway.
well, to be honest..i don't know why i would now.....was reading way too much, and there are too many opinions sometimes..so, I figured I would ask here, because you all have never steered me wrong. ...plus..i know what you look like..hahahaha
...anyway, not going to be worming. They are going to camp this weekend most likely. My curiosity is very peaked now ...I am going to have a science class. Get to know/understand things a little better, now is the best opportunity I think anyway. Thank you for your input Wing. I do appreciate it!
