The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

[aoxa]

You did nothing wrong about getting your dog fixed. It was the responsible thing to do. You have a problem and you are fixing it. Relax, you are doing all you can do!
On a better note..I am on the way to the State Championship Football game. My grandson is playing and we are so proud of him. He plays on Varsity even if he is the youngest. A wonderful grownup kid! We are so excited. Have a great day, I will see you all tomorrow!

 

Thanks Delisha

Have fun with your grandson! Hope they win!

 

[thedragonlady]

Good to know

My legs are already itching from the dryness.
Any tips on preventing hawk attacks Bee? Does my plan on pop holes seem better than having those doors wide open?

Also, I think I may just pen my silkies for now. Unless they have good sight. Right now they are just too easy to pick off, and they are too valuable to risk it. I always bring in fresh sod for my penned birds. It's sad, but they don't go that far from the barn, and are easy to spot.

This is the boy the hawk almost got.

You might try hanging 2 pieces of overlapping bird netting in that door way leaving it open a foot from the ground. I don't think a hawk would come in through that, but you'll be able to walk through.The birds will learn to use it if you put it into place at night. They'll figure it out in the morning when they want to go out. Worth a try.

 

[aoxa]

You might try hanging 2 pieces of overlapping bird netting in that door way leaving it open a foot from the ground. I don't think a hawk would come in through that, but you'll be able to walk through.The birds will learn to use it if you put it into place at night. They'll figure it out in the morning when they want to go out. Worth a try.

Interesting option. I don't need to get in and out from this doorway. I have another door behind where this picture is taken. Access all over the place

I was thinking a pop door would also help with the cool breeze that comes in. It can be quite chilly in this part of the barn.

 

[thedragonlady]

The big hawk that hit two of my chickens a couple days ago (and must have been extraordinarily inept because it didn't kill or seriously maim either of them) was back yesterday, scaring the heck out of them. I kept them in the coop and covered run -- not enough space, but it's just till today when we are stringing fishing line or twine and making hawk-hides.

Question: I've read that fishing line can work to deter hawks (and herons from ponds, etc.) because it's shiny, which is confusing to the hawk. My husband doesn't believe this and wants to use twine. I think any self-respecting hawk would dive in and around twine with no problem -- it's kind of like thin vines.

Any opinions or experience with this? I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

Use the heavy monofilament line. They will just perch on the twine as they will on a wire covered run. Hawks can't seen to figure out the monofilament that shines. I used to re-hab raptors for the GA. DNR, and I used it to keep them IN while they were convalesing.

 

[thedragonlady]

Interesting option. I don't need to get in and out from this doorway. I have another door behind where this picture is taken. Access all over the place

I was thinking a pop door would also help with the cool breeze that comes in. It can be quite chilly in this part of the barn.

Closing up that doorway would be ideal if you can put in a poop door too. I'd put up 4 posts, 2 on either side of the poop door about 10 feet out, and 4' wide, and put more netting over them to the ground on either side and to within a foot of the ground facing the poop door. Hawks don't like tunnels.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Haven't got my sulfur yet! Will have it soon.

Y'all wanna see pics of The Bat I took today?? This is totally off topic of the thread but it will give you an idea of from whence I come......

She is dressed up here for a re-enactment at a local historic site that does fall tours of the Blennerhassett Island and mansion here locally~she is one of the servants in the show and does clogging around a bonfire. Jake does no clogging whatsoever...he's more of a butt-sniffin' dog. Dancin' is fer sissies.

Blennerhasset Island? My DH talks about it quite often, as he hails from Parkersburg WV. I couldn't resist, had post a comment on this one. Okay, back to reading. I am page...88 I think.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

You might try hanging 2 pieces of overlapping bird netting in that door way leaving it open a foot from the ground. I don't think a hawk would come in through that, but you'll be able to walk through.The birds will learn to use it if you put it into place at night. They'll figure it out in the morning when they want to go out. Worth a try.

Ohhh . . . good idea! You could even use the plastic poultry netting that comes in rolls. It's a bit heavier and is easily seen.

 

[colburg]

thanks for the link for the hoop coop Bee,think that will be my next project .do u remember what size the cattle panels were to get the right height of the hoop? i might have to hunt around here in aus to find them, thanks Pete

The cattle panels I used are 16' x 54" and from the pics, Bee's look to be the same.

I love your hoop coop and I hopefully can make one next spring to replace my doll house coop. I cant have 20 chickens, we are limited to 6, but it sure would be nice to able to be able to walk into my coop
Did you end up putting wheels on it? I was thinking I could roll that coop around my acre lot and them girls would be in their glory

My hens wouldnt know what to do with all that room

I put wheels on my hoop coop. It's about 6'6" tall in the middle, and currently houses 43 12 week old chicks. It has tin siding to cover the roost/nest area.

 

[mrsamplias]

First thing I'm doing this weekend is creating pop doors instead of having those barn doors wide open. I don't want those hawks going in the barn. Right now everyone is in for the day. This rooster that was picked up and dropped has a puncture wound, but it's not bad.

I feel a little helpless, as I'm at work and not there to count my birds

I didn't think we had hawk issues here. Serves me right for saying that.

At least everyone is safe for now..

I guess this hawk was HUGE - according to my FIL at least.

We had our first hawk sighting here. I didn't think that we had any hawks in our city. I heard the girls squawking and our dog going nuts. I went outside, and saw a hawk flying away from our yard. The chickens had run for cover under some bushes. They were still squawking a bit, but safe.

 

[aoxa]

We had our first hawk sighting here. I didn't think that we had any hawks in our city.  I heard the girls squawking and our dog going nuts. I went outside, and saw a hawk flying away from our yard. The chickens had run for cover under some bushes. They were still squawking a bit, but safe. 

It's scary, isn't it?!