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Today's chicken news...: got my second chocolate egg(a BO and two GLWs are still laying also)....and that PIA hawk returned to say hello...I went out and chased him/her off...will have to repeat this until the hawk give up stopping by....
 
stake said:
Today's chicken news...: got my second chocolate egg(a BO and two GLWs are still laying also)....and that PIA hawk returned to say hello...I went out and chased him/her off...will have to repeat this until the hawk give up stopping by....
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Congrats on the egg!! Glad you were able to run off the hawk in time... hate that there is no good defense against the darned things. The helpless feelings that we go through when trying to deal with predators has to be one of the worst things we encounter when raising our own birds!
 
fisherlady said:
Congrats on the egg!! Glad you were able to run off the hawk in time... hate that there is no good defense against the darned things. The helpless feelings that we go through when trying to deal with predators has to be one of the worst things we encounter when raising our own birds!
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Yeah Fisher, hawks are a pain...and I have alot of them...I think the strategy is to build alot of thickets for the birds to hang under....and plants that stay bushed out all winter long....I am moving an English laurel from my front yard to back....I may get a couple of pines or holly trees going too....fortunately my dogs have chased the foxes a couple of times so they give me wide berth.....

I also had another idea....find a supply of road kill and make a spot for the hawks to feed away from the chooks...probably not doable in my neighborhood but still working on it....
 
stake said:
Yeah Fisher, hawks are a pain...and I have alot of them...I think the strategy is to build alot of thickets for the birds to hang under....and plants that stay bushed out all winter long....I am moving an English laurel from my front yard to back....I may get a couple of pines or holly trees going too....fortunately my dogs have chased the foxes a couple of times so they give me wide berth.....

I also had another idea....find a supply of road kill and make a spot for the hawks to feed away from the chooks...probably not doable in my neighborhood but still working on it....
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Like the ideas, especially the road kill distraction... but bet the neighbors may not be as understanding... LOL

I've wondered about windmill type structures, tall towers or pole with streamers tied to the blades to create noise or motion to bother uninvited birds.... even something like those old fashioned clothes line spinner things set up to turn with the breeze. I am lucky about having lots of trees around our place, but still have a number of places we deliberately leave open or set up to allow for hiding spots for the birds. Our dogs also do a good job with deterring 4 footed critters, but still a worry. I don't think there is a perfect answer, allowing chickens to range in the yard and do 'chicken ' stuff is both risky and rewarding.
 
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fisherlady said:
Like the ideas, especially the road kill distraction... but bet the neighbors may not be as understanding... LOL

I've wondered about windmill type structures, tall towers or pole with streamers tied to the blades to create noise or motion to bother uninvited birds.... even something like those old fashioned clothes line spinner things set up to turn with the breeze. I am lucky about having lots of trees around our place, but still have a number of places we deliberately leave open or set up to allow for hiding spots for the birds. Our dogs also do a good job with deterring 4 footed critters, but still a worry. I don't think there is a perfect answer, allowing chickens to range in the yard and do 'chicken ' stuff is both risky and rewarding.
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Fisher:

I hung a bunch of CDs on fishing line....I did notice after losing a couple of chicks a few of them were missing after heavy weather...I think my backyard is somewhat secure against attacks against the big girls...but the babies were vulnerable...and its late in the season....
 
wingstone said:
first order of the day......I have 5 days off......YAY for me....will I get work done or sit on my bum....I vote bum

I have been keeping mealworms for quite a few years,  They are kept in a simple rubbermaid tote like most would use for a brooder ,,,no lid, never had any escape,,,I use plain old fashioned oatmeal and sprinkle some oatbran  on top about every six months...I have them in an old tv cabinet with doors...they like the dark.....I also throw a handful of baby carrots on top every sunday.


Ray...Galgo....any one else that's local give a loud shout next time you are near me, I have 1000's of these mealworms would gladly share, just need time to go thru them.

We do not call them mealworms at my house,,, they are known as chicken crack.
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I vote for bum also!
I'll let you know when I'm in the area again. I had to dump my bins this spring. I finally had them happy & reproducing, and I got an Indian meal moth infestation in one of the bins... The ducks had no problem emptying the bins for me. : ).
 
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