The Old Folks Home

[chickadoodles]

Wow that's horrible Wickedchickens6 I am so sorry!

 

[perchie.girl]

Guineas are wonderful... the more the better...

deb

 

[microchick]

I've seriously considered Guineas, @Wickedchicken6 as both DH and I have had brushes with Lyme disease. I've had two go rounds with it and part of the inflammatory problem I have in my joints can be traced back to the the Lyme disease along with the Rheumatic fever which caused the non typical RA. I would do anything to lower the tick population around us. We use so much DEET in the summer that I'm surprised we both haven't grown primordial tails by now.

I get enough exercise chasing chickens right now that I figure adding any more activity is just going to be a waste of time, LOL.

Do go with the hot wire plan. I currently have one line up but come spring I am thinking of adding two more lines, one above the existing line which is about 4-6 inches above the ground (slightly uneven ground accounts for the variation). It has stopped over enthusiastic dogs and yes, my birds have gotten loose and encountered it. It gives them a jolt but doesn't hurt them permanently. Our Parmak Magnum 12 charger is ranked for cattle and will handle 30 miles of line. Wet noses encounter it once and that is it. I've watched my birds stick their head through the fencing (chain link) to grab a morsel on the other side and have tried to call them away telling them that they aren't going to be happy if they touch that hot wire. Sure enough. Somebodies wattles will encounter the wire, they will squawk, jump and run but that is the end of sticking their heads through the fence.

If you go with the wire and want to warn off any predators quickly, after you pen up your birds, drape some little pieces of bacon over the wire. Trust me that predator will not come back again any time soon.

 

[bruceha2000]

Guineas are wonderful... the more the better...

deb

But the noise factor!

 

[Kusanar]

*Snip*

If you go with the wire and want to warn off any predators quickly, after you pen up your birds, drape some little pieces of bacon over the wire. Trust me that predator will not come back again any time soon.

lol, I've heard of people putting up electric fence to keep deer out of the garden and putting aluminum foil with peanut butter smeared on it to make them get a nice jolt.... apparently they run away with their tongues hanging out....

 

[miss heny]

We. Gotta set up hot wire anyway for the goats,cow, and horses. But here possums are not pets or to be fed because they also carry stuff that kills horses, of which I already lost a horse to. :/

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Wow that's horrible Wickedchickens6 I am so sorry!

Please forgive me, I'm not exactly sure whether you're referring to the raccoons getting my chicks or my back...but thank you regardless.

 

[Beer can]

Beautiful Hamburgs! @Wickedchicken6

 

[pennyJo1960]

I guess I am not in such bad shape god left me with a bit of
vision and for the time I still can get around my chickens see I
do go everyday to clean them.. I can remember to feed and water them
have two people that care deeply for me I for them
my life is enviable to those that look at us three

 

[Beer can]

I shot a opossum in the coop one night few yrs ago. Woke DW up and asked her if she wanted to help skin it, 'what for' , I'm going to eat it. 'Have you been drinking! Those things carry diseases, throw it over the bank and go to bed!'
Hmm, it was pretty ugly, I couldn't process it. I did make good use of it though. Set it up around the corner of our house teeth snarling for the kids when they went out for the school bus, scared the bejesus out of them :-D
Then tossed it in the field where oldest DD got awesome pics of a giant bald eagle eating it. She submitted the pics to WBNG TV news and they featured it that night for pic of the day