Washingtonians

[Chicken Rustler]

Hi Washingtonians,
I need to ask a question of all you Wa peeps. I either have a rat or a chipmunk getting into the bottom of my coop. I found a little hole dug under the wooden edge this morning. It is shallow and only about 3" in diameter. I think it's getting in to steal dropped feed in the run. I have an A frame, so the hens are locked up in the top portion at night, below the coop is the bare grass. I took the feeder and locked it into a steel can this evening. So, hopefully this little intruder will not come back. I also put some heavy stones along the areas where there are small gaps.

Darn it, so far I haven't had any prob with this! But I guess the intruder is hungry now that it's fall.

Any thoughts?

Sounds like you need a "no dig" skirt around the coop. Is it a tractor??

 

[angelavl]

yes, it's the little tractor in my profile pic.

I just went back outside and sure enough a new hole, from this evening! The chickens didn't seem to make a sound, so they must not feel threatened. I'm tempted to go back out and roll some chicken wire around the base right now. If it's a rat, do they bother chickens or are they after spilled feed?

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Fricken CR!! We are on the phone trying to find breast cancer awareness avatars, and I'm having problems saving them! and he's stealin my favorites to use on here!!! The bum!!!

gonna be

 

[Chicken Rustler]

yes, it's the little tractor in my profile pic.

I just went back outside and sure enough a new hole, from this evening! The chickens didn't seem to make a sound, so they must not feel threatened. I'm tempted to go back out and roll some chicken wire around the base right now. If it's a rat, do they bother chickens or are they after spilled feed?

They will go for spilled feed I have also heard of them taking eggs and maybe birds.

 

[angelavl]

And so the war begins...

Thanks for your help. G'night!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
Oh my gosh!!! It took me FOREVER to figure out how to change my avatar!! DUH!! LOL!
What ever CR!!! I'm gonna be watchen you too!! LOL! And yes I do have a big mouth!! But, I got some cool avatars, I had to change computers, I don't know what's up with my tiny notebook, except it's too tiny for me to work with!! LOL!
Well, hope everyone is well and the weather is holding out! It's nice here during the day but getting cold at night!
Speaking of which I really need to go to bed!! Nite all!

 

[Rainwolf]

 I look forward to showing him around the museum.  

OK so are ya gonna tell What museum??? Please!

I work part time at The Museum of Flight. Renee's son is interested in flying and robotics and other things we have there.

Robin you might get to know a couple freshmens that now go to AHS
One just started her internship (i think that is what she called it) at the museum!
My niece is going to AHS and I'm so proud she is working so hard to maintain good grades.

And so the war begins...

Thanks for your help. G'night!

If it is a rat put out a 5 gallon bucket with a little peanut butter on the rim to attract attention and then put 6" of water in the bucket and cover the water surface with something edible and floating... I think someone used sunflower seeds? you want them to jump in and get stuck in the water and unable to jump out..



Heads up for anyone who eats peanut butter
Large recall in Washington area of many brands.
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/CORENetwork/ucm320413.htm

 

[Chickielady]

Met up with itsren and FireWifeJess this afternoon at Reber Ranch. It was so nice to put faces with names, and chat chicken! Renee's oldest DS made me an origami X-wing fighter and a Yoda, which are awesome!

While I was waiting outside the store, a Reber employee came by and commented on my feed sack tote that I got from Chickielady. He really liked it, and said he would love to get some in the store and have customers bring back their empty sacks for that. I know I love mine.

My internet is so slow right now !
I figured logging on earlier would be faster but it is just the opposite.
Anyways, I have loads of feed sack totes, and have made no effort to sell them other than at the poultry shows...so if anyone wants any, PM me !

 

[Chickielady]

All this quilt talking and pics brings back a lot of happy memories of my wife. Thanks to all.

 

[Chickielady]

I hope you guys can stand more chicken pics -

Integration has begun for real in the yard. DH has been amazingly tolerant of having chickens in the house, but the time has come for them to be grown up chickens. Too bad we can't re purpose chicken dust because I'm left with a ton of it in the computer room which can't be good for the computer! (DH has been hinting he needs a new one anyway. He may get his wish soon.)

Utilizing my X-pen which I LOVE for integration. For those who ever need to quarantine or gradually introduce chickens to one another, this is a great relatively inexpensive tool. Occasionally you can find the collapsible pens on Craigslist. I would definitely recommend you invest in a folding cover for it. Since I'm using it for chicks or bantams, I don't want them to get carried away, so a cover is clipped to the pen. The girls have an opportunity to visit during the day through the sides of their pens and at night the silkies sleep in a small crate INSIDE the X-pen so they're more secure.

My original Silkies are in the VF coop on the left. Covered X-pen set up next to it for the next few days until I feel pretty certain everyone can live together peacefully.



Also,here are a few photos of my pet quality girl that I picked up from Catdance as a souvenir the day KMHunter and I visited. This hen will never win any beauty contests, but what she lacks in looks she makes up for in personality!
This was a girl taken from a Silkie holding pen with about 30 other Silkies so she'd not had any individual attention. A few weeks in the house with me though and she's turned into a love monger. She craves attention and relaxes as soon as I pick her up. She adores being held and petted. Introducing the fabulous "Pearlie June!"

"What do you mean I wouldn't win any beauty contests?"


"Have you taken a look at my fabulously fluffy butt lately? How's that for beauty?"


"Beauty Schmeauty - I rule the roost. Now leave me alone. It's lunchtime".



Soon Pearlie June and the FRF babies as of yet un-named, will be joining my original Catdance babies, Isadora and Lucille. Lucille is my DD's lavender and also the chick in my avatar, and Isadora is my pretty black pullet. I'm thinking about possibly entering Isadora in the next poultry show in November. It would be my first time so I'd have to find out how to enter and how to groom and prep a chicken for her show debut! I think she has nice type, but to my very untrained eye I really don't know. I guess entering her for a judge's critique would be a good educational experience for me.
I did hear something interesting from Karen Larsen of Catdance. She says winning in a poultry show can often just be capturing the right moment in time. What constitutes a quality show chicken one day might not apply at the next show. Different judge, different condition of the chicken. I thought that was interesting.

Here are our lovelies, Isadora and Lucille hanging out in their run under the VF coop. Not great picture quality - a quick and dirty shot with the iPhone.

Funny comments, great pics !