Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Cockatrice6420]

With 5 acres there is no way I can keep all the predators out.  If they want to find a way in, they will.  I blocked off under all the gates on the front of the property to keep the neighbor's dogs from chasing the horses.  They can still get in if they want to climb the fence or run past the house and go through a different gate.  The dogs respect bullets flying by them, so that seems to have kept them away for two years.  

Yesterday the entire flock avoided a hawk attack.  Most of my birds are too large for a hawk to grab, but there are a few pullet that are still under 3 pounds.  I opened the back door to chase the hawk away.  When I came back in two of the pullets had run in the house and were hiding in the hallway.  I has hoping my rooster was more of a fighter, but nope, he ran with the hens.  

The most damage I've had done were done by neighborhood dogs. I've lost one hen to a northern harrier, the bird landed on my hen and was eating her alive on the rock wall, very disturbing. The rest of the flock was huddled up and freaking out.

 

[ochochicas]

I forgot to add earlier that dogs will come back to easy targets (as will coyotes, bobcat, and other animals). Years ago dogs killed one of my neighbor's pigs. They came back later and tried to kill the other pig. They tore her ears off and bit off her tail, but she managed to survive. Next they went after the alpacas and killed all of them. The neighbors finally had to call in professionals to get rid of the dogs as they were getting more and more aggressive.

Sorry to hear about your hen Cockatrice. I think my rooster would go after a hawk if a hen was making enough of a fuss. Yesterday they were all laying in the bushes or the barn and being really quiet so the hawk wouldn't know where they went. They hid for over an hour before finally coming out again. We have enough trees that a swift attack on the chickens is a little difficult from the air, but the hawk yesterday sure did surprise everyone!

 

[CGilbert]

There's a bad coyote problem in my area. But, because coyotes are territorial and we have a black lab. They avoid our house for about a quarter mile in all directions. She's good protection from most predators

 

[Cockatrice6420]

There's a bad coyote problem in my area. But, because coyotes are territorial and we have a black lab. They avoid our house for about a quarter mile in all directions. She's good protection from most predators

I cut everyone's hair in my house and dump it outside where the little native birds collect and disrepute in ground, bush, and tree nests, I think that is helping to keep yotes out of my yard. I see sign and scat around the line but never in our yard.

 

[elizmartin]

I live on 7 plus acres and it took about 8 years to get it completely fenced with 5' high horse no climb. anywhere the soil is soft or is low or at the creek openings barbed wire is stuffed. Half was salvaged from where we used to live the rest purchased on sale. I am working on a secondary fence with the cheaper livestock fence so there is a buffer except when allowed to mow it down. once a neighbor hit the fence with his mower creating a large hole….i discovered it when i looked out the window and my sheep were heading toward his house.

 

[Amberjem]

 

[Tytyvyllus]

I've been Mia here for a while, so sorry I'm late in saying Welcome to the group!

I'm in Tracyton.

I'm late too! I'm in Bremerton near hwy 303.

 

[Cockatrice6420]

I'm late too! I'm in Bremerton near hwy 303.

We're in Belfair, looks like the whole Puget Sound/Hood Canal area is represented!

 

[Chickielady]

So are we then, en-egg-blers?

eggzactly

 

[Tytyvyllus]

Check out these cute little babies I've got hanging out in my garage!