Pellet heads!! What's up today?

Although, there is some kind of bird flu spreading, and people are being asked not to feed birds right now. I have two feeders and a bath, but I'm going to stop filling one feeder.

 

The avian flu out now is spread by waterfowl. It is very serious when domesticated birds (chickens, turkeys, etc) contract it but doesn't really affect wild birds. Risk to humans is extremely low. Right now it's hitting the poultry industry as you've seen the price jumps on chicken, turkey, eggs.

Bird flu is killing millions of chickens and turkeys across the US

sam

 

The only bear proofing that works is a high powered rifle or a .44 magnum pistol. Both work out of each end.

 

It's nice of you to plant deer dessert items.

 

No truer words

 

Only takes one to wipe out the garden overnight. Ask me how I know

 

How tall is the fence and everyone needs to know woodchucks can climb.

 

You are a braver man than me JT. We've lived w/ Bears on & around the property since we moved in here (because of the brook / water source bordering on 2 sides) - if I can't get them to move by noise ( banging a beat-up aluminum frying pan & shouting harsh language here ) ... I'm afraid that any Bear spray is just gonna .. pizz 'em off. ... Just saying. * (And No - not going to test that theory out here.)

We heard that also Brian, but found the same info that Sam did, for this area. Still being careful though, wearing gloves when handling the feeders / washing up afterwards, and cleaning weekly.

We had a flock of about 100-150 Purple Grackles roll through a few weeks ago, like something out of a Hitchcock movie. Handsome birds, but strong-armed the locals out of the feeders when they visited each afternoon. Except for the lone brave Chipmunk: much amusement, watching that little guy chase the birds off, to get seed.

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying Spring, too darn busy here w/ IT stuff .. as usual. And lots to do. .. Time to get out the chainsaw for some "stress-relieving wood working therapy."

 

Our biggest predator is a vegetarian as well. Bunnies. They come in and eat all my wifes plants. We have a picket fence around the yard but it may as well not be there as far as the rabbits know. The only good thing about them is they give the dogs some exercise when they see them in the yard. I will say that the dogs have caught 2 in the last year but that does nothing for the problem. I think a rabbits motto is "We'll make more"

 

Haven't seen rabbits here for years. We do have coyotes, eagles, owls, fisher cats, and bobcats. They come very close to the house, so no outside cats here. Our dogs are full size. My son has a husky who is death on other animals. My dog just romps for a few while I supervise him.

 

Gotcha. (They do sting, don't they?) ... Having anything electrified at this location, w/ the better half potentially having access to the plug or switch ... is inherently a Bad idea.

 

The only incident we've ever had here with bears is one spring we woke up one morning to find the metal feeder pole bent in half and the feeder destroyed.
We get rabbits, foxes, hawks, owls, deer, an occasional bear. Turkeys have dwindled. Have one male who shows up every couple days, gobbles near the bird feeder till I come out, gobble back at him and toss some seed, nuts, corn mix down for him. A few others parade up to the woods in back of the house once in a while. Have heard coyotes but haven't seen any.

sam

 

Plenty o bear here. Bird feeder has been taken down at least 8-10 times over the 12ish years we've had it. Dam thing has claw marks, teeth holes and whatever. We just go find it in the woods, put it back together and back in action. It cost a fortune as its deemed squirrel proof (not true) but it does seem to be bear proof.

 

What kind is it, some need adjustment, because squirrels come in several weights.

 

Well I have taken my meds, aka sleeping pills, time for a nap.