Rolling Acres - This and That

[RollingAcres]

Curious. Coons usually eat only the head, neck and crop. A fox would have taken the entire bird. Maybe a raptor? They can't always carry the chicken away.

I'm curious as well. I didn't see the head when i picked up the carcass. DH said he's seen a fox around. I know we have owls but hens roost up in the coop so it couldn't have bern the owl. The opening is smaller than a doggie door so that thing had to be small enough to fit through it. I have also seen some fecal matter near the coop last week. I don't have a dog anymore so it's not dog poop.
I'm going to set up my game cam see if i can find out what's lurking around .

 

[RollingAcres]

And @Bruce thank you for the info!

 

[Bruce]

The opening is smaller than a doggie door so that thing had to be small enough to fit through it.

Yes, but!
I had a 15 month old GP for 3 weeks (long sad story, check back to the end of 2016 in my journal). BIG dog. He could get in the chicken coop through the PulletShut door AND the even smaller original chicken door in the coop. If the head fits, the body fits.

 

[RollingAcres]

If the head fits, the body fits.

That's true, didn't think of that.

 

[RollingAcres]

@Bruce I'm thinking of getting some chicks now. I think they have enough time to grow before it gets cold out.

 

[Bruce]

Plenty of time, they can be out on their own without supplemental heat at 4 weeks. Out with heat any time. If you don't have a coop, start yesterday! They grow really fast.

My April chicks are 11 weeks yesterday and have been letting themselves out of the barn through the alpacas' door every morning for the past 6 or 7 weeks. They are still small enough to get out of the fenced acre behind the barn and are seen every morning about 5:30 or six foraging behind the house. The older girls CAN go out the alpacas' door but most don't. Those that do can't get out of the fenced area until I open the gate.

Get them quick and hopefully they will start laying by the end of the year.
And remember, natural method chick brooding! https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/

 

[RollingAcres]

Thank you! I just want to make sure they have time to grow theur feathers before it gets too cold here. I do have heat lamp that i can use in the coop if it's too cold but prefer not using it.
I'm checking hatchery now to see what i can order.

 

[Bruce]

Skip the lamp, make a MHP cave. Super easy and the chicks grow up with normal day/night cycles. They get heat when they want it, aren't forced into being in the heat when they don't. "Common knowledge" says the chicks have to have high ambient temps starting in the mid 90's 24x7 for 4 weeks. That is bull. I've posted this picture on BYC several times. Chicks are a week old, day time temps in low to mid 70's, night time 50's. Yes they went under the hen that adopted them (from Meyer Hatchery) at 3 days old when they wanted to warm up and at night. The MHP cave serves the same purpose but doesn't travel with the chicks so they have to go back to it.

 

[RollingAcres]

I might leave the chicks in the sunroom for a couple of weeks first it's nice and warm in there.
How soon can I introduce the chicks to the one I have?

 

[RollingAcres]

Worked in the garden this morning while the "patient" was sleeping. I think either tomorrow or Thursday I'll have to mow the lawn.