Ribh's D'Coopage

[Ribh]

Hello everyone
I had to lock the chooks in their coop all day yesterday. Biy oh boy, they were unhappy, snappy chooks when I got home from work. But they hadn't been hurt by predators so I'm calling it a draw.

Do you have a fox around?

 

[MaryJanet]

A couple of years ago my first flock of three chooks were killed by foxes. Two were taken and my favourite one beheaded and left behind. She used to hop up and sit next to me for talks and cuddles.

I took a break from chickens for a while then spent some of my tax return on a proper coop with a fox proof floor, to which I added further fox proofing. So far, so good.

The foxes live in the sand dunes and around the port where there are lots of different industries. So, although I'm surrounded by housing, there are ample hidey holes for foxes aroundabouts.

 

[Ribh]

A couple of years ago my first flock of three chooks were killed by foxes. Two were taken and my favourite one beheaded and left behind. She used to hop up and sit next to me for talks and cuddles.

I took a break from chickens for a while then spent some of my tax return on a proper coop with a fox proof floor, to which I added further fox proofing. So far, so good.

The foxes live in the sand dunes and around the port where there are lots of different industries. So, although I'm surrounded by housing, there are ample hidey holes for foxes aroundabouts.

Foxes are great adapters. I like them ~ just not around chooks. What a terrible way to lose your little flock! No wonder you took a break! The worst I ever saw was as a kid. I was a Guide & did community service with an older couple [Mr & Mrs Love; she was 6'4" in her stockinged feet, he was 4'6"] & they had a flock of about 30 black leghorns. I arrived one day to find dogs had taken out the lot. There were bodies & feathers everywhere. It was a massacre. You don't forget things like that. Dogs are way worse killers than cats, who have such a bad rap.

 

[MaryJanet]

Good point. Some of my neighbours walk their dogs off the leash but they're very diligent about keeping the dogs out of my yard, which I'm grateful for.

 

[Ribh]

Btw, how did you write that quote about unicorns under your message board? That’s where I was trying to put my quote of “chickens be crazy”...

Click on your name or account. A whole heap of stuff should drop down. The 2nd one on the left hand side is signature. Click on that. That will take you to edit signature. Write your stuff in the box. Hit save changes &~ Voila!

 

[Ribh]

@ some point last night it went down to just 5 degrees ~ almost unheard off. Even so the girls had to wait while the temperature rose 4 degrees before I braved the elements. I know you hardy northern types think we're terrible wooses but this cold is not enjoyable. Even my girls, cold hardy as they be, went rushing for the sunniest spots this morning.

 

[MaryJanet]

How are your bees going ribh?

 

[MaryJanet]

And that video is delightful Lottie Soooo cute.

 

[MaryJanet]

Here's a photo of Mary I took ten minutes ago. Do you think she's still moulting?

 

[Ribh]

How are your bees going ribh?

I think they are ok...They're not usually very active when I'm letting the girls in & out but they seem to be out & about if I check in the middle of the day.