San Diego Chicken meetup and Chat thread

[dedicateddourly]

Thanks for the condolences everyone. I just finished another crying bout. We're going to expand the secure run this week and then I'd like to add more pullets soon.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

So Sorry

I haven't lost one yet, but I did have one attacked pretty bad. I felt terrible since I had let them out to free range. They enjoy it so much, you try to weigh it out.
I love that two of my dogs are chicken friendly, but sometimes wonder if that's good because if a stray or coyote comes into the yard they're not going to be afraid.

I was working on a new pen and had taken down the fence. I let the chickens free range. I went in the house to get something. When I came back where do you think all
the chickens were? Practically in the road. Four acres and they decide to try their luck crossing the road.

 

[perchie.girl]

Lost em over the course of about three weeks. coop failure and my failure to secure it in all places. WRT preditors if you remove one another will just fill his niche. better to teach em the fence bites. Hot wire.... Only takes once.

deb

Thanks, deb. This was my first chicken death. My husband was actually home at the time and saw the coyote run off with Bridget in its mouth. Maybe it's time to buy a shotgun.

Sorry about your guineas. Did you lose them all in one go?

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Here's a link to the Meet up thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/618432/san-diego-meetup-feb-25-2012#post_8238797

Hope to see you there!!

 

[dfdesigns]

Oh, I am so sorry... poor Bridget! It is so hard to watch it happen.. that's gone on twice here (that I witnessed), and several more times that I didn't. **** coyotes!

What we did to make things very safe here:

We fenced off a big area - like 300x150 - up where my existing coop was. Along the back fence (which was white rail fence covered in no-climb) we added 6 foot + tall wood boards to add to the height and make a physical visual barrier. (The coyotes would be right on the other side of my fence, and would just hop in when they were hungry. That's not an easy feat now.) We sunk poles in the middle of the run that go up to about 14 feet, and then draped netting over the whole thing. Now they are safe from coyotes and hawks and (hopefully) every other predator we might have. A side benefit to that solid back fence is a dramatic drop-off in squirrels raiding their food. Safe chickens make for a happy caretaker!

I got a new shotgun for my birthday. It's amazing how your needs and wants change as you get older...

Big hugs to you, Renee!

 

[perchie.girl]

This sounds like what I want to do.....

deb

Oh, I am so sorry... poor Bridget! It is so hard to watch it happen.. that's gone on twice here (that I witnessed), and several more times that I didn't. **** coyotes!

What we did to make things very safe here:

We fenced off a big area - like 300x150 - up where my existing coop was. Along the back fence (which was white rail fence covered in no-climb) we added 6 foot + tall wood boards to add to the height and make a physical visual barrier. (The coyotes would be right on the other side of my fence, and would just hop in when they were hungry. That's not an easy feat now.) We sunk poles in the middle of the run that go up to about 14 feet, and then draped netting over the whole thing. Now they are safe from coyotes and hawks and (hopefully) every other predator we might have. A side benefit to that solid back fence is a dramatic drop-off in squirrels raiding their food. Safe chickens make for a happy caretaker!

I got a new shotgun for my birthday. It's amazing how your needs and wants change as you get older...

Big hugs to you, Renee!

 

[gambit2178]

I'm so sorry to hear about Bridget...that is heart breaking! My thoughts are with you and your family. I'm so scarred to let my roam free, I have this hawk that is persistent and hopes to get lucky one day.

 

[OvertheHenHouse]

Bridget joined our family one year and 8 months ago. We raised her from chickhood with her two flockmates. She was always a problem chicken - everything seemed to happen to her, and it worried us to no end. She went through a soft-shell phase and actually took a trip to the vet because of it. I always worried that she'd become an internal layer. She also went through a bout of avian pox which she recovered from nicely. And she was the one, of course, to become broody last spring. Above is a pic of her with one of her babies and another baby's butt. She hatched 7 chicks and was a wonderful mother. And when her boys matured, she was the one who got the bulk of their lustful attention. Bridget was our friendliest girl, always the first to meet you at the door. Always the one who demanded treats. She gave back though, as she was our best layer. A coyote got her this morning. I feel so guilty. We moved into our new house 2 weeks ago and let the chickens free-range all day in their huge fenced yard. I knew that we were playing with fire, with the chickens not totally secure, but they were SO happy. We're going to build a large run for them soon, as the existing secure run is too small for the remaining chickens to be in all day.

Bridget, I'm so sorry, and I'll miss you so much.

I am so, so sorry for your loss. She's beautiful - that's a wonderful picture of her.

 

[All-American-Chick]

would anyone beable to take up my 2 spots for the MM feed order?
Please let me know and cari.
If no one is interested Ill still order just $$ is tight right now.
thanks
renee

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I can take them if no one else needs them.