YO GEORGIANS! :)

[Quack Addict]

Don't be too quick to rule out foxes. I have game camera shots of them nosing around one of our feeders at 3 AM.

 

[ChickDancer]

I do have new information on the situation though. Apparently the larger trap (which sits RIGHT beside the old silkie pen) did have something in it. But the trap was not getting sprung properly. A chick corpse had been placed inside of it, where an animal could actually grab it (as opposed to the bait basket). It disappeared last night, but the trap never popped. The right side apparently isn't sliding as well as it should be. The left side completely cleared the gate, but the right side stuck.

So I switched it. I left the right side clear of the gate, and only set the left side. I tested it a few times with a thin metal pipe, and it's actually popping when I hit the plate now.

 

[farmerChef]

Use moth balls for snakes. Poke a bunch of holes in water bottles and drop some in. Hang them around the pens, the smell still gets out, but the chickens can't eat them and they don't get washed away

 

[GAMarans]

I've lost track of all of the new folks so ...



Hello to all of the new folks!

 

[sanchabird]

Thanks!! I'm actually in Atlanta, however, we have been blessed with a home on 2 acres despite being close to buckhead. I have always wanted chickens for fun, educational purposes, eggs, pets, etc. If I could live on a farm I would, so being on land and near town, was a miracle

I am nervous about buying from a hatchery as well as craigslist. I really wish I knew someone with chicks I could trust the health and quality.
I would love to know which breeds others have had great success with for egg production and also friendly birds. I have heard a lot of mention on here about Golden Comets?? Anyone else have experience with these birds?

You live on more land than I do and I live farther up north! We do have 30 acres even farther up, but not close enough to where I wouldn't worry about my chickens constantly. Well I think most feed stores are done with chicks this year, so hatcheries and craigslist are your best bet. I ordered from My Pet Chicken a few years ago and the 6 that lived were really really healthy, I only had an issue with adding them to another flock, but it worked out in the end. Out of the two that died, one was my fault because I had the feeder in the corner, they slept on it, one fell down and I found it drowned the next morning, the other died the day I got it. I would definitely buy from them again. I got my current flock from Rucker Horse and Pet up 400 towards Dawsonville. I would get from them though before I order just because I hate to wait for babies to come

.

My favorite breed is the Easter Egger or otherwise known as Araucana and Americana. I have two of them and they each lay about 5-6 eggs a week. They are very friendly to the point of letting me take them on the swing and the golf cart. My second favorite breed is Light Brahmas. They were my favorites out of my first flock They laid about 5 eggs a week also. I also like Speckled Sussex and Gold and Silver laced wyandottes.

The breeds that I will never buy again and I know people will disagree are Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks. I have had 3 RIRs now, 2 in first flock, 1 in current and they have all been mean, when I say mean I mean to me and the other girls. I have 1 BR now and had 1 in my last flock and they have also been mean to me and the other girls. Yes they lay about 6 eggs a week, but having a small flock, 4, it's just not worth it to me. I will keep them though and they won't be soup chickens lol. I also had Light brown leghorns, that weren't mean, just skittish.

I don't have any experience with Golden Comets, so I'm not sure. I don't have any experience with silkies either, but from what I hear they are friendly but don't lay more than 4-5 eggs a week. I may be wrong on that. If we ever move onto our land, I will have silkies, and mille fleurs and ducks and goats and alpaca and who knows what else.

That was way longer than I thought! Good Luck!

Thank you, I'm so sorry to hear about your losses. I have been fully warned by many to expect losses with raising chickens. The not so fun part of it. We have coyotes, raccoons, foxes in Atlanta just like in rural parts. A coyote actually got my cat

so predator proofing has been where much of my money has gone to building our coop/run. I wish I could offer advice, but I'm unable. Sending a virtual hug to you, I would be upset waking up to all that frustration and sadness.

Be careful of coyotes in the morning until about 9:30, I've seen them out at that time. Sorry about your kitty

 

[JennaLynn122]

Thanks!! I'm actually in Atlanta, however, we have been blessed with a home on 2 acres despite being close to buckhead. I have always wanted chickens for fun, educational purposes, eggs, pets, etc. If I could live on a farm I would, so being on land and near town, was a miracle
I am nervous about buying from a hatchery as well as craigslist. I really wish I knew someone with chicks I could trust the health and quality.
I would love to know which breeds others have had great success with for egg production and also friendly birds. I have heard a lot of mention on here about Golden Comets?? Anyone else have experience with these birds?

I don't have any experience with golden comets and I would offer you some of my current hatch but 1) they are barnyard mixes 2) hatch doesn't look like its going to be as many as expected and 3) I think all or almost all of them are spoken for unless someone changes their mind.

Oh and I'm like 4-5 hours away from Atlanta

 

[RoboDuck]

All the land based predators can strike at any time of day. Night vs day for most of them is just the "general" rule. I have seen every one of them in the middle of the day and have pictures of them in the middle of the night.

 

[amandarc]

Thanks for the replies. I am really conflicted about which breed to get. Also, how many to start with. My coop id's big enough for 8, but I don't want to get over my head too fast. Interesting about the RIRs, we really do want friendly birds that lay regularly. I will look online at my pet chicken. Anyone used efowl? Anyway, thanks everyone!

 

[JennaLynn122]

Thanks for the replies. I am really conflicted about which breed to get. Also, how many to start with. My coop id's big enough for 8, but I don't want to get over my head too fast. Interesting about the RIRs, we really do want friendly birds that lay regularly. I will look online at my pet chicken. Anyone used efowl? Anyway, thanks everyone!

now RIRs I do have experience with and I LOVE them. I get very large brown eggs. Sometimes not all lay every day but I have 7 of those and sell eggs and still have extras to either eat or hatch. These are the ones I have right now. This is in a large egg carton and it doesn't shut well.

One of the smaller eggs...in grams

And a couple of the normal sized

 

[amandarc]

now RIRs I do have experience with and I LOVE them. I get very large brown eggs. Sometimes not all lay every day but I have 7 of those and sell eggs and still have extras to either eat or hatch. These are the ones I have right now. This is in a large egg carton and it doesn't shut well.

One of the smaller eggs...in grams

And a couple of the normal sized

What are their personalities like and where did you get yours?