Stella's Social Club

[drumstick diva]

Yesterday I read about Washington re-introducing more fisher cats in a few locations. Who knows maybe California is doing the same. You know like how often does anyone say 'We really need fisher cats." lol

PS we've had skunks during the day (rarely) and opossums and they were around off and on for weeks so I don't think they were rabid. Suburban wild life adapts very quickly to garbage pick -up days and when the dogs & cats, etc. get fed outside.

I found out mothballs can help send skunks on their way if you catch them before they finish building a den.

My niece's first dog got skunked twice - so either they like the smell or don't think the skunk is the one releasing "endorphins" -lol.

 

[1muttsfan]

Fishers and other weasels, as well as fox, coyote, bobcat, wolves, hawks, owls and eagles are all predators that, when left alone, balance our natural environment. They control the number of small critters such as mice, rats and voles that do serious damage to crops, as well as spread disease. They remove the old and sick from populations, and clean up the dead.

While I understand the frustration, anger and sorrow when birds are killed (I've had my losses too), we do have a tendency to put birds in unprotected housing. Any coop and run can be made predator-proof, sometimes it just takes a predator to make us want to.

 

[Happy Chooks]

While I understand the frustration, anger and sorrow when birds are killed (I've had my losses too), we do have a tendency to put birds in unprotected housing. Any coop and run can be made predator-proof, sometimes it just takes a predator to make us want to.

I agree, and I've learned a lot over 7 years on how to protect my chickens. This coop has been great for about 6 years now, no losses except when I added the netting to the top because the hawks were picking off the babies. All of a sudden, something found it's way in and it's super frustrating. I certainly built this coop a lot stronger than my first coop. The coop construction thread is here.

Anyhow, I spent this afternoon adding wire to the bottom of the fencing and adding chicken wire folded outwards to the top of most of the posts. (I ran out of chicken wire) This should keep the critter from having easy access through the wire and keep it from climbing the wood lodge poles and chewing through the netting. I will let the birds out tomorrow and see how it goes. The trap is also set on the outside of the run.

Now I'm exhausted. I ran 7.5 miles this morning (after 5 miles yesterday), did an hour of yoga, ran a bunch of errands, then did fencing work for a couple hours. Now it's time to relax before I need to cook dinner.

 

[ronott1]

I agree, and I've learned a lot over 7 years on how to protect my chickens. This coop has been great for about 6 years now, no losses except when I added the netting to the top because the hawks were picking off the babies. All of a sudden, something found it's way in and it's super frustrating. I certainly built this coop a lot stronger than my first coop. The coop construction thread is here.

Anyhow, I spent this afternoon adding wire to the bottom of the fencing and adding chicken wire folded outwards to the top of most of the posts. (I ran out of chicken wire) This should keep the critter from having easy access through the wire and keep it from climbing the wood lodge poles and chewing through the netting. I will let the birds out tomorrow and see how it goes. The trap is also set on the outside of the run.

Now I'm exhausted. I ran 7.5 miles this morning (after 5 miles yesterday), did an hour of yoga, ran a bunch of errands, then did fencing work for a couple hours. Now it's time to relax before I need to cook dinner.

An article I read said to use metal sheeting a couple of feet up from the bottom of the fencing for ferrets, mink and the ilk.

 

[1muttsfan]

You can buy inexpensive aluminum in long sheets, I used it to wrap the posts my bird feeders hang from to keep squirrels and other pests out. I think it's called trim coil.

 

[drumstick diva]

Kelly are you training for a mini marathon?

 

[Happy Chooks]

I can't wrap the posts, as the fencing is attached to them. So I put chicken wire at the top and it curves outward and down, so the critter can't get to the top and chew the netting. I thought about electric around the bottom, but we are HUGE in fire risk here.

Diva - Yes, I'm training for my 1st 1/2 marathon in February. It is a trail race, and there are some really big hills to get up. One of them is named Cardiac Trail. I haven't been up it yet, but I think it's over a 1,000 foot climb. I've done 10K's before, but this will be the longest distance yet for me. (13 miles) The organizers motto is "because flat is boring".

 

[1muttsfan]

great motto! I am so glad I am too old for all of that foolishness

 

[Happy Chooks]

This was the start of my run yesterday. Such a stunning canyon covered in fog.

 

[mlm Mike]

This was the start of my run yesterday. Such a stunning canyon covered in fog.

Beautiful!