Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[MizzHen]

ducks and geese do well in our wisconsin winters.
be prepared, they are very messy if kept in a coop.
their main goal in life is to empty the waterer as quickly and by any means they can.
they do well if left outside with their choice if they want to go into a shelter.
mine preferred to bed down under a raised pen with the North, East, and West ends closed off and the whole South end wide open .  a good bed of straw on the ground.


however, Muscovys do not do as well.
muscovys do not pull their feet up off the ground like ducks and geese do.  then they end up with severely frozen feet.
I have seen those muscovys sold at auction with no feet.

I kept some one winter, but I kept them in a pen with a foot deep bed of straw.  they did just fine.

I bought 6  pullets from the Marathon feed mill last spring.
they were barred rocks.  the one that the eagle didn't get turned out to be a very good layer.  I sold her last week..

I see eagles and vulctures flying around my house sometimes, too. I was hoping the Barred rock would be able to camouflage a little better and not have much to worry about. Any tips on how to deter winged predators and still free range? I'm hoping that keeping the coop close to the house and having enough pines and shrubs around will help avoid any casualties. That's the last thing my kids need to witness with their new pets.

 

[birds4kids]

Vultures are of zero concern. Proximity to house doesn't mean as much as you would hope with winged stuff, I have seen a red tail hawk scratch at the downspout because a chipmunk ran up it, some hawks specifically hunt around bird feeders. Dogs would be my primary worry.

If they free range consistently I would expect an occasional loss. I let mine out sometimes, and sometimes for hours at a time and have not had a problem YET but I figure it will happen. I see others in the area with free ranging flocks but don't know their loss levels, I know there is a dog in the area that has taken out a few flocks. In my yard over the last 6 years we have had cooper's hawk, Owls, Red Tail hawk, raccoons, opossum, skunk, red fox, stray dogs and cats, and that is just what I have seen on my less than acre in Greenville. Had the chickens almost 2 years, even with all that long as the chickens are locked up at night so far so good.

Who knows maybe tonight will be the nigh we lose something.

I expected predator battles but sofar so good. If I left them loose all day every day though I am positive something would happen.

 

[dustergrl]

I have had birds for two years so far and have yet to lose one. They free-range.

 

[jvls1942]

I think the best deterrent for the winged predators are dogs.
Not tiny dogs, but a dog that weighs about 25 pounds.

last year I had all the birds loose. the guineas were way out in the hay field. on the other side of the hay field is a tall tree.
A large hawk flew into that tree and sat there for well over a half hour with the guineas almost underneath him.
the dogs were on my side of the field with me and just lying there.
that hawk was not about to come down as long as the dogs were there.
he finally just flew away..

the eagle that was eating my little half grown chicks did his attacking behind the garage, out of sight of the dogs.

I have Maremma LGD. like the picture in my avatar.

I am not bothered by any four legged animals. No stray dogs, no cats either.

.,.....jiminwisc.......

 

[Daethen]

I have a run built with chain link even above. We have had bald eagles perched in the trees in our yard. We did lose one dog but I have no real proof that it was an eagle. We have 4 little dogs that could easily be carried off but I think they survive because we have a 95 lb. german shepherd that sticks right by them when they are outside. I don't think I would lose any to birds but I think my german shepherd might get fat.

 

[jvls1942]

I have a run built with chain link even above. We have had bald eagles perched in the trees in our yard. We did lose one dog but I have no real proof that it was an eagle. We have 4 little dogs that could easily be carried off but I think they survive because we have a 95 lb. german shepherd that sticks right by them when they are outside. I don't think I would lose any to birds but I think my german shepherd might get fat.

German shepherds are smart dogs.
get yourself a lawn chair. put the dog on a leash and go sit in
the chicken coop.
let him know that he is supposed to ignore the chickens.
You won't have to beat him, just tighten up the leash and tell him "NO" if he makes a wrong move. depending upon the dog. it shouldn't take more than a half an hour. and only one session should do it.

......

 

[Daethen]

I think he has a thing for my little oegh rooster. They sit on opposite sides of the chain link and stare at each other. The little roo likes to race out the door whenever I open it. The dog never hurts him and he is ready to go back in almost immediately. I am going to work on them free ranging for a while each day this summer. The little dogs on the other hand.........

 

[MizzHen]

How about protecting your run? Does everyone dig the wire walls down about a foot or two or is there better ways to deter digging animals? I am just in the beginning stages of building my first coop and run. If I can learn from others' experiences starting out, that may save me from some major mistakes. I plan to free range the chickens as well, but only when I'm at home and can keep an eye on them. I'd like to make a pretty good sized run.

 

[MizzHen]

ducks can most definitely be kept over winter here, think the "Appleton" part would be a bigger deal than the weather even if it is becoming more chicken friendly.

I live in Greenville and one of my daughters is asking for ducks.

My address is Appleton, but I'm actually in the Town of Center on two acres. That gives me a little more freedom than the "town folks" I need to think on the ducks for a while. I would think if you don't clip their wings, they'd probably want to fly south when the others go by.

 

[birds4kids]

I use tractors so no dug down wire for me BUT my yard is horrible clay, a friend a few miles away has sand and has had some issues with raccoons digging.
Far as flying south, believe that instinct is bred out of livestock and livestock tends to fly poorly since they are often bred for heavier body.

I use the tractor because it spreads the mess and the wear and tear on the lawn. If you pen 6 chickens in a couple hundred square foot run it will be barren.