Surprise guests in the pea pen...

[zazouse]

That's good to know, I always figured they must eat eggs because in my experience they don't bother birds and everyone seems to label them as predators. The problem is that if your fencing is loose enough to allow skunks in, its also loose enough to allow real predators, especially weasels and maybe coons in.

 

[zazouse]

OK, I think/hope I have really guest-proofed the pen now...tonight will be the test.
But in the meantime...
EEK! I have no idea how this guy fit his huge head through the only tiny hole in the pen???!!???



Zaz is so right, you have NO IDEA what happens out there when you are not looking.

Possums are great climbers

 

[new 2 pfowl]

WestKnoll Amy - that fuzzy thing is wheatgrass; I have pots of wheatgrass growing in the pen - he loves to pick at it!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I thought it was another critter!

 

[casportpony]

Inspired by Zaz, I bought a trail camera...

Peggy...



and guests...



Needless to say this is quite distressing!

I've seen skunks squeeze through 2x4 welded wire, so that's no surprise to me. Looks like it's time for some 1x1 welded wire around the bottom.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

OK, I think/hope I have really guest-proofed the pen now...tonight will be the test.
But in the meantime...
EEK! I have no idea how this guy fit his huge head through the only tiny hole in the pen???!!???



Zaz is so right, you have NO IDEA what happens out there when you are not looking.

OMG! Why isn't Peggy on his perch?

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

The skunks MIGHT eat the eggs but most likely not in my experience. Skunks are the only critters we don't mind in the yard. They are actually quite friendly. We have a family that will let you walk right up to them. You just have to be careful not to startle them or you will be taking a long bath in with gallons of soap. Our barn cats have learned the hard way.

The ones in our yard will not harm birds large or small. They just walk around looking for and digging up grubs. We have tried giving them eggs and they were not interested.

Interestingly enough we have a pair of almost all white that come up every night. I will get a picture this weekend.

My skunks love eggs, but not the chickens.

-Kathy

 

[new 2 pfowl]

OMG! Why isn't Peggy on his perch?

-Kathy

Despite my efforts, I haven't been able to make a perch that he will actually sleep on - he just sleeps on the ground!
There is a perch in the pen, and I know there isn't anything wrong with it because Squeaky slept on it when she was in the pen, too.
Not sure what this means???

I guess Peggy just likes to do his own thing...

 

[zazouse]

Despite my efforts, I haven't been able to make a perch that he will actually sleep on - he just sleeps on the ground!
There is a perch in the pen, and I know there isn't anything wrong with it because Squeaky slept on it when she was in the pen, too.
Not sure what this means???

I guess Peggy just likes to do his own thing...

Do you have plastic fencing on the bottom of the kennel Peggy is in?

I might also mention that my chain link fencing on my panels only had a few tie downs on the bottom holding the fencing, i put my wiener dog in one and he got right out by pushing the bottom of the fence so i learned to add more tie wraps to secure the bottom better.

 

[new 2 pfowl]

Thanks for the suggestions, Zaz.
I do have hardware cloth but not all the way around - I guess I had better do it!

The critters were getting in through that little triangular space where the two chain link panels meet, not through the chain link itself.
That space is now closed off...we'll see if they figure out another way to get in for the All-You-Can-Eat-Organic-Seed-Buffet!