As I alluded to the other day, we’re down a couple more hens due to very aggressive coyotes. They’re so not afraid of people that the other day Mike and I were able to get within 50 feet of one standing at the hen yard gate. The flock is now in their yard permanently after a couple months of us trying to monitor them and give them free range time. The last hen to be taken (our only remaining light brahma) was taken in broad daylight with the neighbor watching (she tried to stop it).
Right now the flock is at twelve birds, we think. That includes Oscar, our banty rooster, and Ann the banty hen that I think is sitting on a clutch of eggs under the hen shack. I’m not positive she’s there because I can’t see her, but since she was laying her eggs under there and then I couldn’t find any eggs and now I can’t find her, I think she’s holed up behind one of the center piers waiting patiently. There’s no signs that a predator got her and no obvious way for her to escape. We’ll know for sure in three or four weeks I guess…
The girls have been getting all kinds of treats including lettuce plants that have bolted, weeds, kitchen scraps, hen scratch and tonight some plums that were past their prime. At first they weren’t sure what to do with a handful of tiny black balls…
Then Oscar and Lucy bravely pecked at a couple of them.
Lucy took hers and ran while Oscar patiently explained it to his harem.
Then everyone got into it.
Even Sadie with her malformed beak got into the act.
In addition to Ann the banty under the shack (cross your fingers) the three remaining pullets from the spring batch of chicks (two buff orpingtons and one silver laced wyandotte) have started laying. Now we’re just waiting on the other banty, Abby and the two cuckoo maran chicks, Sadie and Daisy, to start. Then we’ll officially be drowning in eggs.
*****
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Have you thought about using the electrified poultry netting. From what I understand it’s effective against predators. Hope that you girls stay safe.