Washingtonians

[justbugged]

Okay I have done my part to keep the Washington thread on top. So off to bed for me and the pups.

 

[cheryl98117]

G'morning BYC!!! Anyone awake yet? lol
Justbugged!!! Such cute toddlers!!! Glad its you thathas them and not me! Don't think I could handle pups that age right now. But they sure are cute, and I bet entertaining to watch!

 

[Ogress]

Good Morning! I'm (regretfully) usually up by 6 to get DS on the 6:35 school bus. Either I need to go to bed earlier, or get the school district to start the middle school a little later in the day. I don't see either as possible. Guess I'll have tofuel myself up with some caffeine.

 

[cheryl98117]

Quote:
lol My other haf woke me up this AM at the usual 4:30. I rolled away from him, and told him, "get up and make your own coffee!

" Then I fell right back to sleep. He seems to think that I have to get up before he does... Maby he thinks I take longer to get ready? Dunno

, but if thats the case, he's saddly mistaken. I'm ready to go within 15-20 minutes of waking up, him on the other hand, it takes him 45 minuted just to wake up and get dressed. lol I was crabby this morning.

edited for spelling, guess I need more coffee. lol

 

[Illia]

Anyone else get some thunder and lightning this morning? We're on a huge streak for electric storms this winter I guess. . .

Had VERY distant lightning at 3AM, then bright lightning flashes at 4AM, but absolutely no thunder, then distant thunder at 5AM, then very close by thunder at 6AM, and after that was just buckets and buckets of rain. . .

 

[DIYSeattle]

Dog tracks tend to be more round than coyote tracks. This is only one track and its hard to tell if its more oval or moreround to me. You should be able to tell better if you see any more tracks. Also coyotes tend to track more straight than domestic dogs for some reason, meaning their front and back feet are in a straighter line, domestic dogs tend to walk with their back feet a little off to one side or the other (dogtracking). If you can see several tracks you shoul dbe able to easily tell teh difference. Sometimes with only one poor track or bad pic it is hard to say. I want to hinkthat it is a coyote track but I cant tell how far the lower part of the track goes past that little pebble in the pic. Domestic dogs are also more prone to just killing and tearing up animals as opposed to eating them. That also makes me think it was more likley coyotes. Dogs make a lot of noise when they do things like that generally, and coyotes are quiet generally until after they have eaten.

Also body gripping traps, aka foothold traps, snares, and conibears are not legal in the state of Washington. Snares are an effective way of managing coyotes as they will not likely go into a cage trap (very young ones might one time but if the rest see it or it doesnt get caught it willnever go in one again). Pretty much any management tools that are effective in Washington are illegal. There is no closed season on coyotes to my knowldege unless they changed teh regulations in the last year or so. A rabbit distress call can sometimes bring them in running so you can looka them but they will onyl do that once or twice at most. Beefing up your security is your best bet. It is very likely they may come back.


This talks about the difference in the two a little.

http://www.wildernesscollege.com/coyote-tracks.html

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Good Morning too. Better morning than yesterday. Just wanted to thank everyone for their condolences and help.

Chicky, thanks for the pics on your predator proof run. I know it's hard to believe but since in 15 years we have not had predator problems I guess I got kind of lax in my thinking. Put netting over the runs for hawks and eagles and everyone is in chainlink runs with a coop inside except for the one they got into. Wasn't exactly on high alert. Mostly need to put a real latch on the door and get a LGD and electric. We just need to fence across the front of the property to keep the LGD in then I can let it run loose down there. Thinking on buying a dog sized havahart trap. Something sprung my coon trap last night but nothing in it this morning.

So thankful for the ones I have left and that I have eggs in the incubator from the ones taken. And Dawns daughters Bantam Cochins are pipping as I type and will be hatching this evening and tomorrow. So excited to see them. My babies live on through their babies.

 

[cheryl98117]

Quote:
We got some winds, and light drizzle. But no thunder or lightning.

I did however sleep badly, as the county had crews out replacing a power pole that was snapped off at the ground from a car accident yesterday... That was a nasty wreck, single fatality I believe. Anyways the work on the pole finally stopped at 3AM. So I was able to get and hours worth of decent sleep.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Thanks, DIY. My post was sittng while I took my son to work and didn't see yours till I posted. I'm not sure the print is from the predator. It was just the only one out there I could find other than our own dogs and appeared different due to the claw marks. Could just be the neighbor dog who needs a nail trim. Don't even know how fresh it was since I'm not experienced at that kind of stuff. I will definately be watching the ground more and when it stops raining I'm going to sprinkle flour outside the coop to see if I can get something. Makes sense from all the info it may have been a coyote since it didn't leave any chickens, there was no noise and could have a litter she was carting them off to feed them. I think if it was a whole pack there should have been much more tracks although one animal coming back 11 times should have left some too. Maybe the mud was starting to dry out too much and the print I found was old.

We are also putting a light down there along with electric. I will be able to see everything from my bedroom window. Thinking of getting a baby monitor too. Maybe screaming chickens will alert me. Tried to keep the bathroom window open last nite but DH kept closing it!

 

[hallerlake]

I love that spiral egg basket.


Quote:
Awesome! Congrats!! I love that spiral egg pic!!