Plymouth Rock thread!

[emenheiser]

But they black is APA in the bantams. The Blue is in the large. Never understood that one since it takes black to make the blue.

Birds from a program that is breeding for show quality Black rocks will ruin the color in a blue strain in a heartbeat. There is a big difference between Black rocks, and blacks from a Blue Rock line.

 

[LaLa Chickie]

Lost my sweet Betty to an unknown predator last week...all the others are fine. A very sad day for me I feel like I can't ever let them roam the back yard again, but for now they are on shut down...

 

[normanack]

Lost my sweet Betty to an unknown predator last week...all the others are fine. A very sad day for me I feel like I can't ever let them roam the back yard again, but for now they are on shut down...

I'm so sorry. :-(

 

[rancher hicks]

Lost my sweet Betty to an unknown predator last week...all the others are fine. A very sad day for me I feel like I can't ever let them roam the back yard again, but for now they are on shut down...

It's never easy.

 

[LaLa Chickie]

Thank you...I am so tired of losing my hens to hungry wild life....I'm so careful and they still get them...

 

[rancher hicks]

Thank you...I am so tired of losing my hens to hungry wild life....I'm so careful and they still get them...

Have you posted pics of your area? Sometimes folks have some helpful ideas. I know they've helped me.

 

[cmom]

Lost my sweet Betty to an unknown predator last week...all the others are fine. A very sad day for me I feel like I can't ever let them roam the back yard again, but for now they aI

I put a game camera out and have gotten pictures/video of foxes, skunks, owls, coyote, and a bobcat. For the most part we have put traps out and caught the predators that have killed our chicken. I shot at a coyote that had killed several of my birds and was chasing a pullet through our back yard. I'm pretty sure I hit him but only had bird shot in my gun. He has come back but I haven't gotten him yet. We have many acres around us but they go after the chickens for an easy meal. I have come across a den a few years back on the back 40.

 

[LaLa Chickie]

I have 1/2 acre for back yard all fenced in and the hens locked up at night. This happens any time of the day usually when they are having dirt baths. They hadn't been out a couple days when they got Betty...we know of Fox, Coyote, Hawks and Owls...we've seen the Coyote take them, and glide over our 5ft fence like birds with hens in mouths. The Fox we saw only because she came to me on my driveway, looking not well and layed til Animal Control came for her and caught her. They said she had ingested most likely gopher poison and they put her down. That was upsetting, I wanted her to go to the Wildlife Sanctuary in our area. I know a Hawk got a small dog in the area. I've seen BobCat paw prints long ago, but not lately. So, I have kept the hens locked up this week, they are all mad at me... Today, later when I can sit out with them, I will let them out to get more exercise before the rain hits. I love my Barred Rocks, Betty and Boops are my last ones that would have been 3 in March and Jessica is just 1yr old now and now Betty is gone. I will wait til Spring and our new Coop is put up on the upper level before we get any more...I have 2 Light Brahmas LaLa and ChaCha, 1 Americauna 14yrs old Madonna who hid on top of our patio table behind pots when Betty was snatched, the others were in their coop at dusk....

That's Betty in the front....I miss her

 

[LaLa Chickie]

I guess I should have mentioned the open area behind us is 100's if not 1000's acres open mountain range and vegetation. We know we have Coyotes we've seen them and also chased them, but they are sooooo fast and it is so easy for them. A couple weeks ago I heard them the Pups practicing their howling at 3:30am. I had a bad feeling one of my hens was going to disappear soon, now that the weather is changing and less Rabbits.

 

[rancher hicks]

I guess I should have mentioned the open area behind us is 100's if not 1000's acres open mountain range and vegetation. We know we have Coyotes we've seen them and also chased them, but they are sooooo fast and it is so easy for them. A couple weeks ago I heard them the Pups practicing their howling at 3:30am. I had a bad feeling one of my hens was going to disappear soon, now that the weather is changing and less Rabbits.

Can you hunt them in your area?

If you can and do set traps I'd advise setting as far away from your property as you can.

I know I have a fox around but hesitate to set a trap cuz I'd hate to draw them to my area. I did lose a bird to a hawk, that I think was passing through.

Some folks use electric fencing but I can't afford it and don't really want to spend the money on it. I don't know how much longer I'll have chickens at my age. Every winter gets harder.