WHAT YA GOT SWAP Chat Thread

[SilkieSensation]

Cool thing, my scovies and runners run together free range during the day and they never inter-breed. Very cool!

Hmmmm...maybe I can put them all out together then. The pen & shelter are big enough, I just didn't want mules.

 

[daze333]

Hmmmm...maybe I can put them all out together then. The pen & shelter are big enough, I just didn't want mules.

I don't know if it depends on the birds or not, but mine have plenty of their own girls and stick to themselves. They don't even really hang out together. Good luck!

 

[tdhenson86]

I also find that Feb is the worst month for eagles for us. I think they are trying to feed their babies. We have our breeding pens all covered in netting, but the free ranging chickens, ducks and geese have to watch out. We run out every time there is honking going on during Feb, funny because that is breeding season for geese too! We get our exercise! We haven't lost any this year yet. Knock on wood! Yes I think more birds and also more buildings/coops/obstacles/trees help too. My one pasture is more open and that is the one they always get birds form. The other one is very full of birds and buildings and they have never gotten ones on that side.
Blasted eagles!

YIKES!!! I had never even thought of that. We have hawks here, but eagles are slowly making a comeback just north of us. If they end up in our area, that will be someone else to watch out for.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I don't know if it depends on the birds or not, but mine have plenty of their own girls and stick to themselves. They don't even really hang out together. Good luck!

My ratios are 5:2 for all of my ducks except the calls which are 4:1. I have noticed my younger scovies & my runners pretty much ignore each other so I may give it a try, at least temporarily until I can get another pen built. I hate having these guys caged instead of outside running around in the sun.

 

[Bettacreek]

I've never had a problem with hawks, and we had dozens of them at the prison. I'll have to plant our yard up with hiding places and such for our feathered butts.

 

[luluann]

You guys are really going to have to stop with the ducks and goslings! I have been bugging dbf for some more ducks and a few goslings. He has already agreed yeterday!! So I will see if he agrees still when we go to the coop on Friday!!! Lol

 

[Bettacreek]

Order them now, BEFORE going! Lol.

 

[chiqita]

all this talk of birds of prey reminded me we have not gotten the nesting hawks yet! maybe shes moved, she teaches her babies to hunt here and is a terror on my chickens....

 

[luluann]

Bettacreek I may just trick him and order some online some where. I am wanting blue Swedish.

 

[rbaker0345]

We are fortunate to only have Ospreys and Coopershawks around our house. The coopershawk tried to pick one of my chickens up once and she was too heavy. Honestly, she's obese, but even if she were svelt, a coopershawk only has a 14" wingspan, and weighs half as much as even my smallest LF.

The Ospreys are only interested in my Koi, but the pond is too small and shallow for them to try.

I have heard that if you criss-cross your yard with strands of fishing line, it will keep the birds of prey away. They'll think you have some sort of voodoo force-field up to ward them off and they'll stay away from your yard. As an extra bonus, your neighbors will enjoy the challenge of trying to figure out what the heck the crazy chicken neighbor is doing now.