Sdwd

[Suzierd]

We are out here but like Crazyhen said every body is busy. Last year at this time we were already into dry spell so I was watering. This year it has rained perfect for the grass and weeds. I have cut grass more this year already than I did all last year. Ya see we bought a very good garden / fruit irrigation system this winter and I haven't even installed it because I need to keep cutting grass and spraying weeds. I guess you could call it rain insurance LOL . We had so much rain the garden washed out and had to replant the majority of it. But heres some chicken PICs longest daylight day of year getting the last bugs at last light. The moon is already up middle of horizon.[ I can see on original but downsize lost it ]

May I ask if that electric fence keeps the chickens safe from fox? My neighbor has one but he said it didn't work well when it rained.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
It may depend how long of a ground rod he has. On one coop I have an 8 footer and on another coop I have a 6 footer. The coop with the longer 8 foot ground rod seems to be a little better. The longer rod actually serves 5 coops and pens.

 

[drumstick diva]

Regarding Kathy in Mo. There is more heartache in the family. She got word the other day that her step grand daughter Kyrin was airlifted to a hospital after being found unconscious on the bathroom floor. Her glucose level was 800 and she is on life support. Kathy went back to Iowa to be there.

 

[Suzierd]

It may depend how long of a ground rod he has. On one coop I have an 8 footer and on another coop I have a 6 footer. The coop with the longer 8 foot ground rod seems to be a little better. The longer rod actually serves 5 coops and pens.

Good to know, thanks. Any trouble with foxes getting inside the fence?

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I had one fox dig under a gate and kill 4 birds. Since, I have buried wire under all of the gates. I put a body of one of the birds it killed in a trap and the next morning found the fox in the trap with the dead bird in it's mouth. I guess it couldn't resist the temptation.

 

[Suzierd]

I had one fox dig under a gate and kill 4 birds. Since, I have buried wire under all of the gates. I put a body of one of the birds it killed in a trap and the next morning found the fox in the trap with the dead bird in it's mouth. I guess it couldn't resist the temptation.

Was the gate to the electric fence? Are the gates not electric? Sorry for all the questions I'm trying to learn about electric fences, I'm thinking that might be a way I can free range safely. I saw a fox about 30 feet from the front porch the other day and it has me worried. I have one free range chicken right now and was planning to add more soon. Now I don't want to do it, and was thinking of penning up the one that does free range. I lock them up at night but that doesn't help with a fox. This one was here at about 9:00 AM. I saw one running around in a field down the road at noon in the heat. Very sorry to hear about your loss. Darn fox would just eat mice and ground squirrels I would love them.

 

[catdaddyfro]

Regarding Kathy in Mo. There is more heartache in the family. She got word the other day that her step grand daughter Kyrin was airlifted to a hospital after being found unconscious on the bathroom floor. Her glucose level was 800 and she is on life support. Kathy went back to Iowa to be there.

update:

• 
• Treat Dispenser No More
• 

• Location: Houston,TX
• Joined: 8/2010
• Posts: 7,384
• offline

Kathy just posted on the Stella's social club thread that her niece is alive and recovering. The doctors and nurses say it's nothing short of a miracle, that the girl should be dead. But she's not, she's recovering!

 

[rancher hicks]

Hi all, Just an update. Have broodies hatching Del chicks for me. 5 so far with the loss of 3. To much to explain. Anyhow there are two del hens and a frizzle mothering chicks. An Ee is on eggs still.

I've EE's dying to brood eggs but it's to late in the year here. One the other hand they refuse to give up even though I take their eggs each day so I may give them two or three eggs each.

I've got other BM chicks running around too.

I traded for two BR roo chicks since my roo is not doing his job. He is being beaten up by the BM roo. If I separate them and keep them apart is there any chance he'll go back to breeding?

Right now they are both loose in the yard and can get at each other.

I have a new job. Part time but draining, so I'm not on much.

Well take care, miles to go before I sleep.

Rancher

 

[finnfur]

May I ask if that electric fence keeps the chickens safe from fox? My neighbor has one but he said it didn't work well when it rained.

If you notice on my previous PIC the fence perimeter is brown / bare. My ground rod is rusty rebar only 4' and down about 18" but we have clay soil . Quality/long Ground rod is more important in dry soil than wet but when it rains and vegetation touches the positive fence [+] strands it grounds it out. When grounded it will not produce a heavy enough shock to deter predators . I spray Gly [ roundup] to keep vegetation free 6" on both sides of fence and corners where I can't mow close.
The alternate would be be move fence temporarily and mow very short once a week as needed . With the rain we have had that would be twice a week here.
I chose the GLY because I replant that area in winter with winter wheat/clover when the chickens move to the retired Garden area. We have 2>3 areas we move it to. Take wife and I about 1 hour to move fence and trailer to new location. I could do it myself but the 168' lengths are a little two much for one person to manage neatly . If I was doing it myself I would get several
of the 100' instead of 168 . We have two 168s and a 100. use the 100 to keep a certain group separate for a purpose like a breeding trio etc.
The coop door is always open 24/7 but is inside inclosure . I have Game cameras and have many pictures of Fox , Coyote , Racoon , Possum , skunk and Bear close to the enclosure.
I have not had a chicken loss from those predators yet [ have lost two to Redtail hawks before I put Scarehawks out ]
So far it has worked. But you know life that could change tomorrow LOL
These are all April 2012 -Camera 20 feet from Enet - April is busy in Critter Kingdom

 

[Suzierd]

If you notice on my previous PIC the fence perimeter is brown / bare. My ground rod is rusty rebar only 4' and down about 18" but we have clay soil . Quality/long Ground rod is more important in dry soil than wet but when it rains and vegetation touches the positive fence [+] strands it grounds it out. When grounded it will not produce a heavy enough shock to deter predators . I spray Gly [ roundup] to keep vegetation free 6" on both sides of fence and corners where I can't mow close. The alternate would be be move fence temporarily and mow very short once a week as needed . With the rain we have had that would be twice a week here. I chose the GLY because I replant that area in winter with winter wheat/clover when the chickens move to the retired Garden area. We have 2>3 areas we move it to. Take wife and I about 1 hour to move fence and trailer to new location. I could do it myself but the 168' lengths are a little two much for one person to manage neatly . If I was doing it myself I would get several of the 100' instead of 168 . We have two 168s and a 100. use the 100 to keep a certain group separate for a purpose like a breeding trio etc. The coop door is always open 24/7 but is inside inclosure . I have Game cameras and have many pictures of Fox , Coyote , Racoon , Possum , skunk and Bear close to the enclosure. I have not had a chicken loss from those predators yet [ have lost two to Redtail hawks before I put Scarehawks out ] So far it has worked. But you know life that could change tomorrow LOL These are all April 2012 -Camera 20 feet from Enet - April is busy in Critter Kingdom

Very impressed it kept a bear out! Wow. I think the round up is a good idea, how often do you spray? I won't move mine it's only for 4 to 6 chickens. I have a white hen I really like that I'm afraid to let roam because of the hawks, do you find that the white ones stand out more for predators? Would love to see a pic of your scare hawk, I need to make one. The fox I seen right by the house scares me more then the hawks. So many things to worry bout.