Everything is pretty good in Morrisville at Russo's Roost. Me and my rooster are seeing eye to eye lately after he thought he was the better of the two of us. Here's what I have found. He becomes aggressive towards running shoes with night reflectors on them, even in the daytime, he goes bonkers. ALso, he has chosen a prefered hen and he has clawed out the feathers on the sholders and most of her back down by the base of her tail, she is wearing an apron now and I put bag balm on the bare skin twice a day. There hasn't been any canabalism in the flock yet, I am watching carefully though.
I had a mink visit my property and stream but he seems to have moved on, now I am watching for Raccoon's one got into the pen at night, chicks were locked away in the coop, and dug around a little bit. He burrowed under the shed and coop to get into the pen. I put down some Critter Ridder, (dehydrated coyote urine) and I set a trap near the area. It hasn't been back at all but now we have rain for the next couple of days so that will wash away the critter ridder.
We came across a bunch of old music CD's for $1.00 at a yard sale, kept the cases to re-use and strung the CD's over the pen to deter hawks and other flying prey, so far so good but then again, I didn't have a problem with that last year but I have seen more hawks patroling the area this year.
Does anyone have any experience with "Nite Guard" it is a solar powered red light that supposedly will keep every immaginable pest out of your pen and garden. It makes predators think they are being watched, I wonder how they know that, anyway, if you want to see what I am talking about go to
www.niteguard.com in the meanwhile, I would love to hear any experience anyone has with this product.
I didn't add any birds to my flock yet this year. I told my local "Guy's farm and yard" store that if they have any RIR's left over to call me and I would consider adding a few, other then that I am good until next year. I wonder what my wife has in store for the birthday celebration as my 6 chicks turn 1 year old in early May.
I haven't had any luck selling fresh eggs, I put a sign at the end of the driveway that saye "Fresh Eggs for Sale Today" but I haevn't had any takers at all. Does anyone have any suggestions?
OK, I'll shut up now
