I saw a Raccoon on my camera this morning. He had a ringed tail. He did not go to the fence though. Guess I will bait the traps again tonight
Chicken/egg question
- Thread starter Robinjopo1
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Had 9 pictures on the nature cam this morning. I was excited until all pictures were of my cat.
Arcticdude
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One of our new chicks got out of the enclosure the other day and the GSP pup killed her. Yesterday 3 chicks got out, but we got them back in before the dogs saw them. I found the hole in the fence and patched it.
Robin, get a couple dog proof traps for your coon problem. They're easier to use than box traps, and more effective.
Robin, get a couple dog proof traps for your coon problem. They're easier to use than box traps, and more effective.
AD, since I have started putting down urine every night, I havent had a problem. Plus, they new neighbors have killed 2. They have chickens too.
Arcticdude
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Sounds like your problem may be solved for now. At least until more coon, possum, weasels or fox move in to fill the void.
I dont understand why we don't have problems with coyotes getting our chickens. We never lock them up at night and we see coyotes around the yard all the time. Last night there was a couple coyotes yipping and howling just outside our bedroom window.
No Coyotes, may be because your own dog's have marked there territory and so have you..
Arcticdude
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That could be. A few days ago we were all sitting out on the back deck. Looked over and saw a coyote sitting just over the fence about 40 from us watching us. The dogs ran after it looking like they wanted to play with it.
When I opened coop, all was good. Just went down to till run and found a dead hen. Not a mark on her. I think she is on of my Spring chickens. The raccoon got one so I dont want to lose another. If I dont get a broody hen, I will have to purchase more in the spring. Dont want that. Too messy.
Arcticdude
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We lost one of our ducks the other night. I think it was an owl. Ducks tend to wander around a lot at night. We might start putting them in the chicken run at night. I have wire criss crossing the top of the run to keep out winged predators.
The Deer X netting works great as roof netting. A hawk dipped down and as soon as the talons touch the net, it took off.
Arcticdude
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Deer netting works great, except it plugs up with snow and can sag to the ground. I had a couple miles of electric fence wire out in the barn. I wired it back and forth both directions with about 6" between wires. So far we've never seen a hawk or an owl in the run.
Forgot about the snow. We rarely have that problem
Arcticdude
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We lost one of our oldest hens yesterday. She laid an egg in the morning was still on her nest box. Maybe died of old age?
Sorry Arctic. Sometimes that have a blockage that kills them. It could be old age too.
I'm fed up with my hens...not getting enough eggs...1-2 per day now...have 18 hens and 4 of the newest are about 5 months old...(unless ive lost count of date I bought them when they were 8 wks. Old)...a few are molting but the rest just eating food and they are older! I gotta go get more hens this weekend! Larry bought eggs this week...Big pet peeve of mine is buying eggs from store! Ain't buying dang eggs from store...Nope! aaaargh!
Caught a young possum last night. He was snooping at the coop and I had stuck a piece of bread in the cage and he wanted it. Lol
We started having something try to get into the run and around the new barn. I did like you noted and “marked” my territory a few times. Problem solved for the moment.
I am still getting 3 eggs a day from 3 hens...so happy I could just .............
I mark every night, but have caught a possum on camera and a fox since I started. I just killed the possum. Tried to give it away but no takers. My husband asked why I used the .22 rifle instead of 9mm. I said he would have looked like a donut with parts everywhere. There is lots of blood though.
Hang in there Robin, you will get your thief.
