Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[barbiegirl]

Hi it's been a few days on this thread and already had a few pages to catch up on. I just want to say I love BYC. A few weeks ago I found the thread on building ur own Incubator and figured I would try it I just got it done in the knick of time one of the two broody girl decided to quit her job so I had to do something since the other hen already had enough eggs to keep her busy so I put them in the incubator. I was afraid I wouldn't have a hatch because when I found the eggs they were cold well I came home today one was hatching and is now drying off in the incubator. I named him/her kracken so I can yell release the kracken when I let her out of the coop in the future lol kracken is a silkie mix and is very healthy and strong already here is her first picture I am so excited it's the first time I have ever incubated anything let alone hatch something I feel like a proud mom

Congrats on your new baby

 

[Chaos18]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-a-long-join-us-if-you-dare/510#post_15876897

Thank you so much.

 

[stake]

I have a silkie and 2 littles in an XL dog crate just so I can watch them. They will be out in the real world when they have more feathers.

I'm not actually in PA but there are not many BYCers in my area. Im in Western MD in the pinched in part. Cumberland. PA state line is about 15 minutes from here.

Howdy Napdog:

Welcome to the thread,,,

 

[napdognewfie]

Thanks. Just call me newfie.

 

[emorems0]

So I think it's a weasel we're dealing with at the chicken tractor. I used wire to bind all the gaps between the rows of chicken wire. I lashed the side door for feed acces closed so it didn't gap at all and I strung a tarp up over the main door at night to take care of any gaps there. This morning I came out to a headless chicken jammed into the corner of the tractor. The chicken wire was pulled up a little in the corner for about a three inch opening... So something small got in there, killed a chicken (one of my sister's RIRs), but couldn't fit the chicken through the hole. Sound like a weasel? I put the rest of the birds in plastic crates for the night. It's a big annoyance because I have 3 small children to put to bed too, but I'm not sure how else to keep them safe. This **** thing is persistent!

I did talk to Silkie, she's been really busy building new pens I think she said. But I was wrong about the genders of the EE chicks I got from her... Turns out one has a rose comb which threw me off. Having lost two of my sisters RIRs now, I am planning on getting a pair of pullets from Chiques Chicks when I go back for Halloween. My sister said she wanted a mixed flock and pretty eggs and she is certainly going to get it!

 

[stake]

So I think it's a weasel we're dealing with at the chicken tractor. I used wire to bind all the gaps between the rows of chicken wire. I lashed the side door for feed acces closed so it didn't gap at all and I strung a tarp up over the main door at night to take care of any gaps there. This morning I came out to a headless chicken jammed into the corner of the tractor. The chicken wire was pulled up a little in the corner for about a three inch opening... So something small got in there, killed a chicken (one of my sister's RIRs), but couldn't fit the chicken through the hole. Sound like a weasel? I put the rest of the birds in plastic crates for the night. It's a big annoyance because I have 3 small children to put to bed too, but I'm not sure how else to keep them safe. This **** thing is persistent!

I did talk to Silkie, she's been really busy building new pens I think she said. But I was wrong about the genders of the EE chicks I got from her... Turns out one has a rose comb which threw me off. Having lost two of my sisters RIRs now, I am planning on getting a pair of pullets from Chiques Chicks when I go back for Halloween. My sister said she wanted a mixed flock and pretty eggs and she is certainly going to get it!

emore:

I had only one occurrence of a headless chicken,,,,my understanding is racoon....mostly because I am suburban and there's no weasels in my neck of the woods..(and racoon have been seen in the area). Its a PIA when the local critter get dialed in on your flock as a food source.., some thoughts

1. audio, turn on a radio and let it play
2. random motion lights
3. I started burning a chimera
IMHO there is no single answer....just do different things on different nights, send different messages to the critters to stay away......my two cents....

 

[napdognewfie]

Put up smaller wire. Something like 1/2" hardware cloth. Make sure there are NO openings bigger than 1/2" anywhere so nothing can reach in or squeeze through. Extend the fence about 18" flat on the ground to prevent something from digging under. Either put a solid roof over or hardware cloth so nothing climbs over the top.

I prefer to critter proof the entire fenced area around the coop. If you forget to close the door, they are still safe.

This will make it weasel, hawk and coon proof if you add a really good latch the coons can't open.

 

[napdognewfie]

Or electric poultry netting.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Hi it's been a few days on this thread and already had a few pages to catch up on. I just want to say I love BYC. A few weeks ago I found the thread on building ur own Incubator and figured I would try it I just got it done in the knick of time one of the two broody girl decided to quit her job so I had to do something since the other hen already had enough eggs to keep her busy so I put them in the incubator. I was afraid I wouldn't have a hatch because when I found the eggs they were cold well I came home today one was hatching and is now drying off in the incubator. I named him/her kracken so I can yell release the kracken when I let her out of the coop in the future lol kracken is a silkie mix and is very healthy and strong already here is her first picture

I am so excited it's the first time I have ever incubated anything let alone hatch something I feel like a proud mom

Congratulations! Well done! And I love the name, that's hilarious.

Ah! I see we have new victims people here on the thread! Welcome to both (or more, but I see two) of you!
Yeah, I know I should just get it over with. And, I should just replace all the eggs. Know what really gets me? She was messing around the first week of September, and had several eggs half incubated before giving up. I was gone for 8 days, and it seems my return broke her. I waited a few days before using up the last of the chick feed. Now I will have to get more. At least with a broody, I can let her take care of everything. No chicks in the house! e

That's the best thing ever, when the broodys take over, they do it so much better than us anyways!

So I think it's a weasel we're dealing with at the chicken tractor. I used wire to bind all the gaps between the rows of chicken wire. I lashed the side door for feed acces closed so it didn't gap at all and I strung a tarp up over the main door at night to take care of any gaps there. This morning I came out to a headless chicken jammed into the corner of the tractor. The chicken wire was pulled up a little in the corner for about a three inch opening... So something small got in there, killed a chicken (one of my sister's RIRs), but couldn't fit the chicken through the hole. Sound like a weasel? I put the rest of the birds in plastic crates for the night. It's a big annoyance because I have 3 small children to put to bed too, but I'm not sure how else to keep them safe. This **** thing is persistent!

I did talk to Silkie, she's been really busy building new pens I think she said. But I was wrong about the genders of the EE chicks I got from her... Turns out one has a rose comb which threw me off. Having lost two of my sisters RIRs now, I am planning on getting a pair of pullets from Chiques Chicks when I go back for Halloween. My sister said she wanted a mixed flock and pretty eggs and she is certainly going to get it!

So sorry for your loss, that's heartbreaking. I hope you find out what it is and can deal with it.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

What is it with my brown chickens wanting to roost in the trees? Every night I have to go find my Rhodebar girl in the arborvitae, and put her in the coop with the others. I have to stand on a closed trash can to reach her, and I'm 5'8" lol! I had to do the same with my brown Cubalaya hen. I think it may be because they were single chicks, and haven't learned to "fit in" with the girls yet. Has anyone had this kind of issue with a "lone" chicken?