Virginia

[chrishw]

Ugh, I caught my 6Th opossum last night.  This one is a baby though (About a foot long) and I heard munching last night under the house on the poison I put out. 

 

Only did this one time, and had a largish animal die up in a corner that you can't tell where nor reach without pulling up the floor in several rooms and the house smells like death for a month....


Of course I've got a polecat the other night. He ate a chicken several nights ago. Now he is in a trap angled in such a way I can't shoot him, and can't get near enough to cover without him peeing on me. I meant to get some spider wire for a fishing pole today with the goal of snaring the trap and spining it around to shoot it followed by lowering the trap down the hill til he stops stinkin

 

[Maggiesdad]

Only did this one time, and had a largish animal die up in a corner that you can't tell where nor reach without pulling up the floor in several rooms and the house smells like death for a month....


Of course I've got a polecat the other night. He ate a chicken several nights ago. Now he is in a trap angled in such a way I can't shoot him, and can't get near enough to cover without him peeing on me. I meant to get some spider wire for a fishing pole today with the goal of snaring the trap and spining it around to shoot it followed by lowering the trap down the hill til he stops stinkin

LOL I'm rollin' picturing this one! You gots to Mcguyver those blasted critters!

Live action!

 

[chickeneer45]

I an very close to Ashland and would be happy to get a chick there. How much does one cost? thanks.

I have a 2-3 week old Marans chick that is alone too. I could meet you in Ashland.

 

[ki4got]

ok well the predators are having a good laugh (and several meals) at my expense... I've got live traps, you think i'd catch something? no! but footprints all over it the next morning!

so now, I've lost the only chick I got from my foley blrw hen (who also got killed), one of 2 of Gunnar's sfh sons, another pullet from the same lines I picked up, on top of my red dorking roo and all the chicks and cochin hens I've got missing now...

so now, not only is nobody laying, i won't be producing many purebred eggs now until next spring! at this rate they'll leave me with either hens or roos of a single breed but nobody i can breed together.

 

[Glenmar]

I an very close to Ashland and would be happy to get a chick there. How much does one cost? thanks.

If you want that one chick, you could have it for $5. It is a blue/splash Marans.
I am going to be in Ashland delivering some other chicks on Sunday of you want to meet.

email me [email protected]

 

[HaplessRunner]

ok well the predators are having a good laugh (and several meals) at my expense... I've got live traps, you think i'd catch something? no! but footprints all over it the next morning!

so now, I've lost the only chick I got from my foley blrw hen (who also got killed), one of 2 of Gunnar's sfh sons, another pullet from the same lines I picked up, on top of my red dorking roo and all the chicks and cochin hens I've got missing now...

so now, not only is nobody laying, i won't be producing many purebred eggs now until next spring! at this rate they'll leave me with either hens or roos of a single breed but nobody i can breed together.

Sorry for your losses, Karen. I know that is frustrating.

I looked out my back door yesterday and saw two dogs running around my electric netting wanting to get at my chickens. They were large dogs and looked like american bulldogs with some pitbull. I went out to see them and the dark one left but the white one came up to me and allowed me to pet her. While petting, I got the phone numbers off the dog tag and left messages on the land line and cell phone. So two days have passed and no return calls. I had left a message earlier so they may be screening me out. I will try calling from my office tomorrow which has a Maryland number.

I would like to be nice about it and have them keep their dogs away from my chickens. But If I do not hear from them, the next time Animal Control will be called. If they actually get into the chickens, I do have a shotgun readily available and will not hesitate to protect my chickens.

 

[ki4got]

Quote: glad to hear that they didn't get anyone... I don't know what's taking these guys... or even if it's during the day or night. they go to bed, I shut the door, but hadn't been doing a head count. in the morning it's all I can do to get out of the way when I open the coop. LOL

but i'm definitely counting heads from now on. tomorrow morning i'm penning all the cochins. I've got too much invested in the silver laced and reds, not to mention my mille fleur and mottled pens. at least they handle confinement better than the sfh and dorkings do.

 

[chrishw]

ok well the predators are having a good laugh (and several meals) at my expense...  I've got live traps, you think i'd catch something?  no!  but footprints all over it the next morning!

so now, I've lost the only chick I got from my foley blrw hen (who also got killed), one of 2 of Gunnar's sfh sons, another pullet from the same lines I picked up, on top of my red dorking roo and all the chicks and cochin hens I've got missing now...

so now, not only is nobody laying, i won't be producing many purebred eggs now until next spring!  at this rate they'll leave me with either hens or roos of a single breed but nobody i can breed together.

Any idea what tracks they are? Skunk, possum, coon, coyote? If its the first three there are lots of tricks, the last ya just need to draw them in, spotlight them, and shoot um

 

[pysankigirl]

That sounds perfect! What breed would you recommend? And where can I get pullets without going to a swap?

I would have to point out that Maggiesdad has Maradunna Basque available...one of the nicest breeds I have. I love them. I got a couple of them from him at a swap and have been thrilled with them. just sayin'

ok well the predators are having a good laugh (and several meals) at my expense... I've got live traps, you think i'd catch something? no! but footprints all over it the next morning!

so now, I've lost the only chick I got from my foley blrw hen (who also got killed), one of 2 of Gunnar's sfh sons, another pullet from the same lines I picked up, on top of my red dorking roo and all the chicks and cochin hens I've got missing now...

so now, not only is nobody laying, i won't be producing many purebred eggs now until next spring! at this rate they'll leave me with either hens or roos of a single breed but nobody i can breed together.

oh, karen...I so understand your frustration. hugs.
I haven't had a kill in 3 weeks (since we got that additional elec net fencing) I highly recommend the premier 3" net. my girls have the illusion of freeranging but the protection of the fence. the new charger I got from them kicks butt, too. I am scared to touch it and the one I got locally I would routinely grab the fence to see if it was doing anything.

 

[ki4got]

Quote: the footprints on top of the trap are raccoon.
going to set up a webcam asap. just a matter of finding a place to put an older laptop and network it.