Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[smkchick]

Al, we do have lots of crows. And I live in a suburban neighborhood, so we don't really have a lot of hawks. When one's around, all the neighbors talk about it. My friend told me it swooped down and picked off a squirrel while she was in the backyard. I'll keep feeding those crows! I love to watch them chase the hawks too.

I'm a teacher who was laid off in budget cuts because I'm not bilingual (don't get me started!). I can go back on a temporary leave, but there are two choices. I will probably have to go with the one that makes me unhappy but gives me more seniority because I'll have to fight for a job next September. It's sad but the other job would be in my old school for a friend who's having her third child. She will probably give up time with her newborn only to guarantee her job in the fall. Her choice is worse than mine. She'll never get back that baby's first few months.

I think I'm going to leave Gladys under lock and key today and see how she does. If Bobby is home, he can report back on how she handles it. She's got him hooked. Yesterday I mentioned more chicks and he didn't even flinch!! Good thing, because it's tough to ninja in chickens when there's only 1 in the yard...

 

[ChickenAl]

What a shame to have been put in a situation like this. I want to, but won't get started either. Not much of anything seems fair anymore. Hang in there. Sooner or later things will get better. Maybe an occupy Long Island group needs to get started.

Sounds like you have all the chicken math under control. Hey, what's a few more chickens added to the flock? Always room for more, then you simply construct more run and coop area!

Keep feeding those crows. They are great to have around. I never knew how much I appreciated them until we got chickens.

Good idea leaving Gladys in lockdown for a day or so.

 

[smkchick]

Yeah. I broke the news to Bobby that Gladys was to stay in the coop. I told him to keep an eye on her reaction. He asked "what if she freaks out?" I said "too bad". I can see where this is going. He's going to mollycoddle my chickens...

 

[newchick13]

Yup, the lock down is the key. I had my girls in lockdown immediately after they left the brooder so they would figure out that was their new home. The first week after lockdown it was tough getting them to go in the coop. One special night though it just clicked. In the beginning I started turning on a light around 5pm so that when it got dark a few hours later they would gravitate to the light...or maybe crack worms were what did it. Now that they are older they file in, one by one, with my roo Beast being the last. He sort of does this casual lap around the run to make sure all the girls are tucked in.

I have a ton of hawks that circle my property. I think it has to do with the steady supply of food from the reservoir. Not just fish, but the little critters that congregate around it. The ghetto crows are a blast...They scare of the crows here pretty well (at least for enough time for what ever the hawk was getting ready to eat to find cover)

 

[magsrags]

Yesterday arouind 12 crows went crowing overhead. I like them for kleeping away the hawks and your right. They do not like them one bit! Maybe if I feed the crows they'll stick around.LOL




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[stoopid]

I've watched them fight over a squirrel. Hawk killed it, crows antagonized him into dropping it, back an forth mid air. Went on for quite a while. Guess I'm gonna have to welcome the crows. Yuck.
I thought I had enough squirrels and chipmunks to keep everyone fed. Nope, they seem to like chicken best.

 

[ChickenAl]

The one thing about crows, and this was from a scientific study, do not piss them off! They have the ability to remember your face and will squawk at you every time thereafter. They will also pass this on to other crows in the vicinity. I am not lying or kidding about this. I used to not like them until we got chickens. Now they are our friends. Also, watch your chicken's reaction to crows squawking. They will stop cold and if they feel a threat they run back in the run or coop. I found it amazing they know what crows getting agitated means.

So feed the crows and let them be the guards for your chickens.

Have a good all.

 

[stoopid]

Oh yeah, I know that. I think that they are one of the few birds that make tools, too.

 

[newchick13]

All that being said, they still p!$$ me off when they suck the birdseed out of all my feeders! They are like vacuums!

 

[stoopid]

I'd rather have them eat birdseed than my babies! Does get expensive, though.
I scrape up all the bird food that my parrots throw all over the floor, and recycle that.
The chickens love it, and it isn't such a painful process... Got a delivery of parrot food last nite. $180.00 for maybe a month... not quite sure, I really have to keep up on this!
But sometimes I really DON'T want to know how good all the kids eat. I thing dinner for the humans tonite will be pancakes and eggs! AGAIN!