Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

A couple of other ideas....I use 4x4 landscape ties around my pens....another idea is crushed oyster shells(not the stuff for egg shells)...have herd of folks putting a layer ontop of their bulbs  to keep the squirrels out....any critter trying to dig through would end up with lacerated paws.....just a thought...
I'm trying to picture what a landscape tie is vs a regular 4x4. Do you have a pic? Also, do you just sprinkle the crushed oyster shells around the perimeter?
 
Welcome back and congrats on your eggs! I'm only on my third set of shipped eggs so I'm not overly experienced yet but I do let my eggs rest upright in a carton for a day before setting. My lady group that I got about a week ago had horrible air cells, even after the 24 hour rest so I did an experiment. I went ahead and put half right onto the auto turner and the other half, with the worst air cells got lined up along the side and didn't get turned for 2 days. Every egg has developement lol. 3 are possible blood rings but I'm not positive yet and they were from the ones that didn't get turned for the extra 2 days. More testing is needed lol. Good luck on your hatch!

I appreciate you sharing this. I wonder also, what type of turner? I just got this octagon and I turned it on and maybe an hour or 2 later I returned thinking it was broken because it was such a gradual movement. Lol. Of course after monitoring it more closely, noticed it was just so gradual.
 
Thank you guys for being so welcoming. I started reading this thread at the end, forgive me if I miss stuff. I would love to actually meet more chicken folks too. My youngest wants to be a farmer, living among the Amish, she wanted a buggy too ;)
Anyway, trying to foster this and get her into FFA and the agriculture program. So this was our first step.

I'm sorry about all of your losses. I hear we have lots of predators so guidance is welcome.

I bought a used Amish style coop pretty cheap that is 4x6 on the inside (not including nest boxes). I'm revamping it to adda poop tray, adding a roost then doing the blackjack 57 on floor (pressure washed and dried already a few wks back) and then painting walls. I was considering buying a chain link dog kennel and adding hardware cloth on the lower 2 ft and apron, just to get us started. I am open to suggestions. Thanks for your input and support.
 
Would really like to know why the predators are being so terrible...never had problems like this before..I have my own theory but it is just a guess...
My brother gave me one of his small guns, not sure it will do the job though, especially with coyote...I think it is a 410, reminds of a little squirrel hunting gun.
 
I'm trying to picture what a landscape tie is vs a regular 4x4. Do you have a pic? Also, do you just sprinkle the crushed oyster shells around the perimeter?
A 'landscape tie' is 3"x5"..... the 3" sides are rounded out, when stacked on top of each other (like in making a planter) it gives the impression of a 'log cabin' look..... Picture this shape (___) with a line across the top also (can't draw the top line with the keyboard)

The oyster shells would be a very coarse crush, not finely crushed like the type used for feed supplement. This would allow a lot of very sharp edged good sized pieces. It would have to be put down in a relatively deep layer, maybe 2" and probably would need something along the outside edge to keep it in place. alternative to an outside border would be to dig a wide, shallow trench around the perimeter and fill it with the shell pieces.

I bring back a bushel of oyster shells at least twice a year from visiting family in Maryland. I will have to start stashing it somewhere and when I get a decent amount I can smash it up with a sledge hammer and use it as an addition to the outside sandstone perimeter defense system.
 
A 'landscape tie' is 3"x5"..... the 3" sides are rounded out, when stacked on top of each other (like in making a planter) it gives the impression of a 'log cabin' look.....   Picture this shape (___) with a line across the top also (can't draw the top line with the keyboard)

The oyster shells would be a very coarse crush, not finely crushed like the type used for feed supplement.  This would allow a lot of very sharp edged good sized pieces.  It would have to be put down in a relatively deep layer, maybe 2" and probably would need something along the outside edge to keep it in place. alternative to an outside border would be to dig a wide, shallow trench around the perimeter and fill it with the shell pieces.

I bring back a bushel of oyster shells at least twice a year from visiting family in Maryland.  I will have to start stashing it somewhere and when I get a decent amount I can smash it up with a sledge hammer and use it as an addition to the outside sandstone perimeter defense system.


Thank you for clarifying your points. I will definitely keep that in mind. I'm eager to put all of this in practice.
 
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Would really like to know why the predators are being so terrible...never had problems like this before..I have my own theory but it is just a guess...
My brother gave me one of his small guns, not sure it will do the job though, especially with coyote...I think it is a 410, reminds of a little squirrel hunting gun.

I would take a run around that giant housing development of McMansions that is a few miles off. It makes sense that they would be drawn to a place like that for easy garbage picking. On days the garbage isn't fresh they will range further afield looking for easy meals. They ran across your place during one of their forays and keep coming back now that they know it is available.

I have found that someone creating an easy garbage access brings in scavengers in no time. Our neighbor created a disgusting garbage dump behind their garage and within months we were battling rats which we have never had problems with before.

It only takes one problem neighbor.....
 
Would really like to know why the predators are being so terrible...never had problems like this before..I have my own theory but it is just a guess...

My brother gave me one of his small guns, not sure it will do the job though, especially with coyote...I think it is a 410, reminds of a little squirrel hunting gun.



I would take a run around that giant housing development of McMansions that is a few miles off.  It makes sense that they would be drawn to a place like that for easy garbage picking.  On days the garbage isn't fresh they will range further afield looking for easy meals.   They ran across your place during one of their forays and keep coming back now that they know it is available.

I have found that someone creating an easy garbage access brings in scavengers in no time.  Our neighbor created a disgusting garbage dump behind their garage and within months we were battling rats which we have never had problems with before. 

It only takes one problem neighbor.....


I have more than 1 theory, but one of them is almost the opposite, last fall a neighbor moved, this particular neighbor was known for noisy shotguns at night and most likely never bought meat...you get the picture...I believe they may have been keeping the predator numbers down.....2nd theory being lack of activity, to cold yet for us to be out for long days and smorgasboard for them....I believe those critters know we are not there much, no cars in and out, no lights at night... just to quiet.
 
Would really like to know why the predators are being so terrible...never had problems like this before..I have my own theory but it is just a guess...
My brother gave me one of his small guns, not sure it will do the job though, especially with coyote...I think it is a 410, reminds of a little squirrel hunting gun.

That little ole 410 will do quite well, especially if you use slugs. They are quite capable of taking deer. If you really think you need more or would like to try some other options, come by some day :) just plan in advance. Not sure exactly what you are up against, but I'm assuming coyote. I have several options there.
 

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