South Carolina

[huckleberryfarm]

Quote:
Hardware Clothe I got mine at TSC. Expensive but I feel well worth it!

Definitely hardware cloth but you don't necessarily have to do the whole thing in it. Depends on how tall you run is. We have chicken wire at the top and hardware cloth at the bottom. It's aproned out around the bottom to deter predators from digging.

 

[Joycats]

Quote:
Hardware Clothe I got mine at TSC. Expensive but I feel well worth it!

I recommend hardware cloth if possible. It's much stronger plus it's smaller and baby chicks can't pop through it like they can chicken wire so your grower pen could serve as a broody pen too.

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Speaking from a very recent (as in the past 3 hours) experience - do not get too lax in securing the birds. Hardware cloth is the best, although any small welded wire should work. 1/2 inch square or 1" square.

 

[Joycats]

Quote:
I prefer 1/2 x 1/2 but I've even had bantam babies pop thru that. I sometimes use 1/4 x 1/4 depending on what it's for. So Kim, what happened? Your chickens ok?

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

We lost 27 chicks & chickens, 1 duckduck, and a young goat was severely injured but surviving right now.

Neighbor's dog got loose. First time ever. We are trying to get him caught now. He is still loose. Neighbor & DH are waiting on him to come back.

We lost 15 marans we hatched - about 6-8weeks old, my barred cochin roo, four pet quality silkies (from my hatchery stock), 3 EE chicks- 4-6 wks old, 3 gold laced wyandotte chicks (same age as EEs) 1 silver laced wyandotte chick (same age as EEs).

Let me just say, I expected to lose chickens. I expected it to be one of our dogs, or a stray dog. Never this dog.

 

[Joycats]

Quote:
That is such a tragedy. I am so very sorry. I know you're heartbroken, my heart breaks for you.

 

[tigercreek]

I feel for you Chicky, had pretty much the same thing happen 2 nights ago. I lost 18, 6 week old chicks. To a coon, I think. Just a note on wire size. I would not be surprized to find out that a coon can reach it's paw thru 1 inch wire, I think I will go with 1/2 inch. ..........stan

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Kimberly, I would be heartbroken. I know you all feel bad. Poor duckduck! Poor Nicole! My heart goes out to you all!

And on a happier note, has anyone read the announcement above? Click on the carton of eggs if you have a lot of eggs every week. Susanne and Joy, this applies to you since you have a good many chickens. Not sure if they require any large inspection like USDA but I suppose we will find out. I signed up and will see what they say. I probably have an extra 36 dz eggs a week I would like to sell.

 

[emptynester]

Quote:
I am so sorry that happened, I am heartbroken for you.

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Nicole is trying to get some rest. She was up until at least 5am, I think.

It breaks my heart how much she gets attached to animals & to see her so upset when she loses one. I tell her, whenever she gets to become a vet & has to put someone's animal down, she will be right there with them upset & crying.

Todd came home last night early from work - I sprained my ankle and hurt my foot up in the woods last night.

Final count: 26 birds & 1 duck
Still Missing: 3-4 chicks

Good news: One pet quality silkie, 1 marans & 1 easter egger were still alive. The marans ran up last night, and this morning Todd saw the EE chick and one of the silkie pullets in the yard and caught them to put in the tractor with the other small ones. We did not lose all of our marans - I still have a light colored one, one blue and black-they were in a separate tractor