The Front Porch Swing

[Blooie]

I forgot to type this up the other day. Right after the day that a small-looking coyote came right up to the front door of the house and snagged a hen that was out free-ranging one of our employees had his own interesting coyote encounter.

We have a landscape maintenance business. One of our guys was at a home where chickens range in the yard. The employee was using a leaf blower, which you know would probably freak out the chickens. But instead of running away from our employee, the chicken got right between his legs and stayed there, no matter how the employee danced around trying to "let her get away" so he wouldn't step on her. Then the employee looked up, and there was a coyote just a few yards away, watching the chicken. The employee was really impressed that the chicken would know to come to him, a "stranger" human, for protection from the coyote.

I'm thinking it is peek coyote season here right now. I'm impressed (and horrified, of course) at the smarts the coyote showed in "hunting" the chicken right from our front yard. We have a long driveway with two large circles. One of the circles comes past the front door of the house, and is only used by visitors (so isn't used much). Inside that circle is where my First Favorite Tree lives. It is a large grassy circle with a tall boxwood all the way around it except for two openings in direct alignment with the front door, so it looks like a path. The coyote waited for the free-ranging chickens to venture from the back yard of the house (where their coop is) around to the front yard, then waited for the chickens to come across the driveway at the front door and into one of the openings so they could forage in grassy area inside the circle of hedge. The coyote came in through the other opening (closer to the fields) and when the chickens panicked and tried to find their way back out, he was able to pick one off. He did this at least twice in this same spot before I decided it wasn't a fluke and realized I can't free-range the flock until we have more fencing.

Two nights ago I took Gust out at about 9:30, and there was a raccoon on the back deck. It reminded me of the rounder of my two gray tabby cats (the one with the big bottom), so it must be young. Gust ran to it, and it jumped off the high side of the deck to the patio below and disappeared into the night. Now Gust goes looking for it whenever we let him out, but we can't let him run around the yard right now because there are traps set.

"We" called in the professional trappers, and I have been told they set up 4 baited traps at least a week ago, but "we" have not caught a single raccoon. If I know how things work around here, the traps that are set on our property are the most dangerous and least effective kind. The kind that is more likely to kill a food-motivated Golden Lab than catch a raccoon. When I asked about this, I got evasive eye maneuvers and unintelligible double-speak. I think we're paying a general "service fee" for having the traps maintained. I suggested perhaps we could negotiate a trapping contract that paid more on numbers of predators caught than on numbers of traps and numbers of days those traps are in place.

On the bright side, maybe one of the raccoon traps will catch a young coyote.

I am so dreading the first time we have any kind of predator snooping around here. I know it'll scare the heck out of me (um, we have established that I'm a a skeerdy cat, haven't we?) and even though I honestly think we've done everything possible to secure our run and coop, there's always the one little detail that goes unnoticed. We have a fortune in hardware cloth all the way around the perimeter of the run and 2 feet up the sides, and around the perimeter of the coop and up the sides. The windows are done and we reinforced the chicken tunnel, then covered it with a solid piece of leftover siding. There are two latches on each people door - one in the normal spot with a lock and one down low with a difficult gate type mechanism and a caribiner that has a little screw you have to turn to open it. The pop door locks - sometimes even I have to tussle a little with it to get it open.

So I think we've got everything as safe as it can be. The far side of the lot across the road has thick trees and underbrush, and the irrigation canals run there. It's close enough that if a bird lands in the trees when I happen to looking that way I can see it clearly. We hear lots of owls and coyotes and I took a pretty amazing photo of a hawk in my backyard feasting on a starling, so I'm not naive enough to think that we are safe just because we live in town. We worked very hard on our coop and run, and if the worst should happen I guess I'd have to accept it, find where we failed and fix it.

I stuck pictures of Motel Chix on the April coop contest. If you haven't looked there, take a peek - there are some awesome coops up there. But there are a couple where you look at them and think, "Okay, it's cute. So where's the protection factor?" I dunno, maybe because we probably over-thought and over-built I'm just looking for things. My OCD kicks in at the oddest times!

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I am so dreading the first time we have any kind of predator snooping around here.  I know it'll scare the heck out of me (um, we have established that I'm a a skeerdy cat, haven't we?) and even though I honestly think we've done everything possible to secure our run and coop, there's always the one little detail that goes unnoticed.  We have a fortune in hardware cloth all the way around the perimeter of the run and 2 feet up the sides, and around the perimeter of the coop and up the sides.  The windows are done and we reinforced the chicken tunnel, then covered it with a solid piece of leftover siding.  There are two latches on each people door - one in the normal spot with a lock and one down low with a difficult gate type mechanism and a caribiner that has a little screw you have to turn to open it.  The pop door locks - sometimes even I have to tussle a little with it to get it open.

So I think we've got everything as safe as it can be.  The far side of the lot across the road has thick trees and underbrush, and the irrigation canals run there.  It's close enough that if a bird lands in the trees when I happen to looking that way I can see it clearly.  We hear lots of owls and coyotes and I took a pretty amazing photo of a hawk in my backyard feasting on a starling, so I'm not naive enough to think that we are safe just because we live in town.  We worked very hard on our coop and run, and if the worst should happen I guess I'd have to accept it, find where we failed and fix it.

I stuck pictures of Motel Chix on the April coop contest.  If you haven't looked there, take a peek - there are some awesome coops up there.  But there are a couple where you look at them and think, "Okay, it's cute.  So where's the protection factor?"  I dunno, maybe because we probably over-thought and over-built I'm just looking for things.  My OCD kicks in at the oddest times!

I liked Motel Chix on the April coop contest. It's a place my hens would feel safe hanging out! It looks like you've got lots of natural shade too, which is what I'm missing for the most part.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

As an online chat newbie ( is this an online chat site?) can anyone tell me what "lurking" and "trolling" is? I gather lurking is not too bad but trolling is really bad and I would not like to be guilty of either accidentally. I have made the mistake of doubling my responses, I think all us newbies do that for a while, and I think I have "parroted", mentioned something on a thread I read on another thread. And I have taken on some experts that I should not have taken on for sure!! But to avoid lurking do I have to announce I am reading a thread even if I have no comment to make? And to avoid trolling, what the heck is that, do I just have to not be evil? or can one be an accidental troll?

 

[LindaB220]

As an online chat newbie ( is this an online chat site?) can anyone tell me what "lurking" and "trolling" is? I gather lurking is not too bad but trolling is really bad and I would not like to be guilty of either accidentally. I have made the mistake of doubling my responses, I think all us newbies do that for a while, and I think I have "parroted", mentioned something on a thread I read on another thread. And I have taken on some experts that I should not have taken on for sure!! But to avoid lurking do I have to announce I am reading a thread even if I have no comment to make? And to avoid trolling, what the heck is that, do I just have to not be evil? or can one be an accidental troll?

Hey heartsizedfarm, are you a troll? What I mean is are you trying to annoy people by your remarks? We have a lot of fun on this forum, but we do respect others and expect the same. We're not a chat line exactly. We check in a couple of times a day. Tell about our chickens and ask questions for info. There are a lot of very experienced people on here that are delighted to help you with problems. IF you are sincere. Respectfully Linda

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

As an online chat newbie ( is this an online chat site?) can anyone tell me what "lurking" and "trolling" is? I gather lurking is not too bad but trolling is really bad and I would not like to be guilty of either accidentally. I have made the mistake of doubling my responses, I think all us newbies do that for a while, and I think I have "parroted", mentioned something on a thread I read on another thread. And I have taken on some experts that I should not have taken on for sure!! But to avoid lurking do I have to announce I am reading a thread even if I have no comment to make? And to avoid trolling, what the heck is that, do I just have to not be evil? or can one be an accidental troll?

Lurking is totally fine! It just means following a thread without making comments. Some forums that can be creepy (purely social forums), but in informational forums it is expected.

Trolling is trying to start trouble. Like by making inflammatory comments in a thread that people feel the need to respond to. It is disruptive and upsetting and some people are VERY good at it. I do think some people do it deliberately for the power trip, but other people just lack social skills or stability so cause trouble rather accidentally.

An example of trolling here at BYC that pops to mind because it caught me was someone who visited a thread about a DIY chicken feeder and made a lot of comments about how much better store-bought feeders are than home-made feeders, and how if someone doesn't find store-bought feeders to work well for their birds it's just because they don't know how to use them properly. Obviously those comments were disruptive in that thread.

Another example: someone started a thread about where to buy GMO poultry feed, and said in the first post they didn't want it to be a debate about GMOs, but just information about where to get GMO-free feeds. Of course the Pro-GMO people had to drop by and call the people discussing sources for non-GMO products idiots and stuff.

Both these examples represent simple differences of opinion, but result in thread disruption and strife.

Other forms of trolling are more overt and obviously hostile.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Hey  heartsizedfarm,  are you a troll?  What I mean is are you trying to annoy people by your remarks?   We have a lot of fun on this forum, but we do respect others and expect the same.   We're not a chat  line  exactly.  We check in a couple of times a day.  Tell about our chickens and ask questions for info.  There are a lot of very experienced people on here that are delighted to help you with problems.  IF you are sincere.    Respectfully Linda    

Nope I definitely don't try to annoy people intentionally. Is that what a troll is? I may annoy people unintentionally just because of who I am? But I feel respect, and I practise respect. And lots of times I try to be a bit of a healer on threads. not always very successfully.

What really interests me is that there are so many people on this site that are really creative. Coops, meals, stories, photos, paintings, gardens, clothing, jewellery, etc. There's an interesting creative lets-imagine-the-world-a-better-place kind of energy here.

 

[Beekissed]

Bee, I truly believe his is an opportunity from God for both of them. Doug needs to pass on his knowledge and his son has other interests.
I hope your son is the answer to my prayers. I feel it will help Doug focus again on what he really loves and is so good at and at the same time give Eli a chance to learn a trade that will carry him through many years. Gunsmithing and not just "parts changing " is a dying craft and one that may become more necessary as time goes by and rules and regulations change. We will be available when he has the time to come.

I think so too and I told Eli that very thing...."God is addressing your life in many ways right now, so sit up and pay attention!" He's given him a great new job he didn't even have to apply for and now this wonderful opportunity to learn something he was contemplating going to school to learn, has always had a passion for and is practically obsessed with. Eli has a natural ability to see how things work~always has~and can fix just about anything, but guns are what he likes to tinker with and dreams of designing and making. He couldn't believe this opportunity and when he talks about it, his face just lights up.

Eli was born old, with a heart for old timey skills and crafting. He is just a man's man, but has a heart that is large and tender and a laugh that makes you want to join along. I depend on him a lot in my life and he's one of my best friends. I can't wait until you meet him!

@Blooie- Careful with those chickens on your shoulder. You can lose an eye.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/877118/a-warning-about-shoulder-chickens#post_13336150

Yep, one of those BEEPS (Bee tips), among many: Don't put a chicken up by your eyeballs.

I think that one is a couple above "Stop staring at poop! Watch your flock instead."

As an online chat newbie ( is this an online chat site?) can anyone tell me what "lurking" and "trolling" is? I gather lurking is not too bad but trolling is really bad and I would not like to be guilty of either accidentally. I have made the mistake of doubling my responses, I think all us newbies do that for a while, and I think I have "parroted", mentioned something on a thread I read on another thread. And I have taken on some experts that I should not have taken on for sure!! But to avoid lurking do I have to announce I am reading a thread even if I have no comment to make? And to avoid trolling, what the heck is that, do I just have to not be evil? or can one be an accidental troll?

Lurking is good because you can absorb information, get the feel for a thread and get to know folks, without ever entering into the drama. Trolling, on the other hand, is as bad as it sounds...this is a person who merely enters the thread to stir up stink and cause trouble. One can be an accidental troll if they aren't very good at social cues and think they are just having conversation but are clearly offending everyone along the way.

The rule of thumb for internet forums is don't enter threads you know will make you mad...say you don't eat meat and are a card holding PETA member~don't go to the meat chicken forum section looking for a fight or simply to read about what the "bad" people are doing. It's calculated to make you angry and your mouth will eventually write checks your body can't cash. Avoid threads you aren't really interested in, will not participate actively in and can't hold your temper in. Try to make a positive contribution wherever you go on the forum...if you can't, read other places.

Unless you have experience or some darn good information, it's a little bit of a trolling episode if you take on resident "experts" on a topic without knowing all the facts, having good experience on the matter or some solid evidence from the science community(they don't respect anecdotal evidence much around here). Merely quoting other threads is not evidence, experience or knowledge but just parroting what you've read and it's calculated to get a negative response unless you preface it with "I read/found/saw this on another thread/blog site and can't verify the truth of it but it sounds reasonable to me".

If in doubt, stay or bow out.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I am so dreading the first time we have any kind of predator snooping around here.  I know it'll scare the heck out of me (um, we have established that I'm a a skeerdy cat, haven't we?) and even though I honestly think we've done everything possible to secure our run and coop, there's always the one little detail that goes unnoticed.  We have a fortune in hardware cloth all the way around the perimeter of the run and 2 feet up the sides, and around the perimeter of the coop and up the sides.  The windows are done and we reinforced the chicken tunnel, then covered it with a solid piece of leftover siding.  There are two latches on each people door - one in the normal spot with a lock and one down low with a difficult gate type mechanism and a caribiner that has a little screw you have to turn to open it.  The pop door locks - sometimes even I have to tussle a little with it to get it open.

So I think we've got everything as safe as it can be.  The far side of the lot across the road has thick trees and underbrush, and the irrigation canals run there.  It's close enough that if a bird lands in the trees when I happen to looking that way I can see it clearly.  We hear lots of owls and coyotes and I took a pretty amazing photo of a hawk in my backyard feasting on a starling, so I'm not naive enough to think that we are safe just because we live in town.  We worked very hard on our coop and run, and if the worst should happen I guess I'd have to accept it, find where we failed and fix it.

I stuck pictures of Motel Chix on the April coop contest.  If you haven't looked there, take a peek - there are some awesome coops up there.  But there are a couple where you look at them and think, "Okay, it's cute.  So where's the protection factor?"  I dunno, maybe because we probably over-thought and over-built I'm just looking for things.  My OCD kicks in at the oddest times!

I think your setup is more secure than mine. My runs aren't fully covered and my coop isn't as sturdy. So I think you'll be more than fine.

Things were pretty blissful here for the first year or year and a half -- excluding the days when I had too many rapidly maturing birds loose in my office. Then we started seeing the first signs of weak genetics due to choosing low-quality hatchery birds. And now predators. The predators seem to only be a threat outside the coop & run area. I'm in a panic that raccoons might figure out my nesting boxes, though.

I am SO glad I insisted on wrapping the whole circumference of the coop in 1/2" hardware cloth so the raccoons can't reach through it. That stuff is painfully expensive, but much better than chicken wire.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Lurking is totally fine! It just means following a thread without making comments. Some forums that can be creepy (purely social forums), but in informational forums it is expected.

Trolling is trying to start trouble. Like by making inflammatory comments in a thread that people feel the need to respond to. It is disruptive and upsetting and some people are VERY good at it. I do think some people do it deliberately for the power trip, but other people just lack social skills or stability so cause trouble rather accidentally.

An example of trolling here at BYC that pops to mind because it caught me was someone who visited a thread about a DIY chicken feeder and made a lot of comments about how much better store-bought feeders are than home-made feeders, and how if someone doesn't find store-bought feeders to work well for their birds it's just because they don't know how to use them properly. Obviously those comments were disruptive in that thread.

Another example: someone started a thread about where to buy GMO poultry feed, and said in the first post they didn't want it to be a debate about GMOs, but just information about where to get GMO-free feeds. Of course the Pro-GMO people had to drop by and call the people discussing sources for non-GMO products idiots and stuff.

Both these examples represent simple differences of opinion, but result in thread disruption and strife.

Other forms of trolling are more overt and obviously hostile.

There are Pro GMO people on this site!

Kidding. Thanks for this. I think the thing with being new is being uncomfortable with being, well, new. I appreciate the helpful info and advice.

 

[Beekissed]

Sometimes when you see a coop that is not predator proof it may be because they have dogs instead. That's why I don't have runs or predator proofing on my coop...I have a Jake. When I do this spring's expansion and tweaking of the coop, I'll be lining the walls of the cattle panels with deer netting only. It's cheaper and it's only there to contain chickens, not keep out preds.