Posted: Tue Oct 31, 06 9:13 am Post subject: Lucky escape last night !
I fed the chickens this morning and saw signs that a fox had paid a visit last night.
I've got some nice pullets in small movable pens out in the fields and I could see where one had tried to dig in.
These chickens are quite important to my next years breeding programme
My sons on half term this week so I've asked him to run a spur out from the mains electricity this morning to give the six pens some protection tonight.
Its been very quiet on the fox front and its very easy to become complacent . I'll have to dust the old fox trap down.
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 06 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: Lucky escape last night !
bodger wrote:
Its been very quiet on the fox front and its very easy to become complacent
yep, just when you least expect it, the buggers are back. Once is enough, too!!! We had a mink get into a release pen in August...............23 birds dead in one night!!!
Mk4 Fenn trap got the sod though. We had it set in a tunnel for rats, but it got ol' Minky good style!!!
Q
Did you see the threads where Calli and Camile had major problems with mink ?
Well since then even though we have never had any mink problems I've had 4 Fenns set full time. They have the bonus of letting me know quickly if there are any rats about.
I've been waiting for some new sheds to come and in the meantime I've had to put one or two young birds in broody coops.
By tonight those broody coops will have electric protection.
Last night was a let off, the duckwing pullet that the fox tried to dig into could be a show winner.
We very seldom get problems with mink, thankfully. The release pens are all in light forestry areas, but I think in that one case ol' minky had been chased off the duck pond as we were extending the drainage area. Guess he found an easy target. Most of our problems are foxes & buzzards. We also had a massive problem with a goshawk last season, but no sign of him this year
I have a funny feeling that he 'flew into a power line'
I got the one but I know there are tons more sniffing about - fenns all along the run up from the forestry mark 6s and a few 4s for good measure. And a couple of drain pipes with pilchards in them at an angle dug into earth - little beasties can't get back up again.
We see them crossing the lane to the bogland - we know they'll be back but in meantime having fun with floating rats in the horse trough - must like the little blue nibbles left in pipes for them
Bodger as for your prize pullets - can you move them? Then again wiring to the mains quite effective, just remember its there!!!
Calli this is a pucka gen electric fencing unit but run off the mains rather than battery.
No frazzled bodger tonight, it keeps the foxes away but no good for anything smaller.
KILLITnGRILLIT
Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 894 Location: Looking at a screen in the front room
View Latest Posts