Homesteading Chicken Coop Build, Chickens, Pond, Garden & Projects

Yeah, I can imagine if I was a chicken and I saw a roasting pan, I would tend to be a lot more motivated!!!!

 

That cold spell during Xmas was a PITA, I was back and forth each morning putting out water. Not fun!!

I ended up running an extension cord but we are talking about 150-175ft. Of course after that cold spell we've had 50-60 degree temps since and nothing in the foreseeable future that threatens freezing water again. If there is a freeze again I am going to stick my daughters fish tank heater in the waterer. For some reason that don't sound like it's going to work, LOL!

On a side note I found out who is eating all the chicken feed. Found this guy on the tail cam, not a great pic but surely a coon. I think I am pretty lucky because this has been going on for a while and I just noticed the automatic door opener battery was dead so the door was never shutting at night. Not sure how long this was going on. This is what could be really keeping the girls on edge, and now that I think about it, there were a TON of feathers inside the coop one morning while cleaning the coop. I haven't gotten an egg since beginning of Sept between them molting and less daylight/winter. I usually get some eggs over the winter so far nothing.......All four are in good shape, door is working for security. There is also a fox out here roaming, just heard him the other night. The call they make in winter is really eerie.

I did convert the coop from pine shavings to sand, wow what a difference. So much easier, just use a cat litter scoop. So much less waste.

 

Vixen's Scream - This is creepy as all hell in the middle of the night......First time I heard it last winter early about 5AM going out for wood, I thought a kid or someone was out in the woods needing help, I crapped my pants.

Starts at 0:34

 

They issue that cry to let others know where they are as they patrol about area.

Very creepy.

 

This is all true and creepy! Foxes also spray a scent from anal glands which I can only describe as skunk lite. Or a week after your dog get sprayed and you’ve given them a tomato and vinegar bath but still smell like skunk. My shepherd hates foxes as a unhealthy one threatened my daughter at 13 yo.. Lady does not forgive or forget!!

 

Thanks for sharing that. I have heard a couple of those sounds at night (or early morning - take your pick what you call it), but didn't realize it was foxes. I do know there are some around as I've seen one in my yard a couple of times.

And that explains all the times I've gone out in the morning wondering why the skunk had sprayed "just a little". Oh, there have been times that it definitely was a skunk who "sprayed a lot"

 

We had a fox sneaking up on one of our cats a few years ago. The cat was back to it and didn't suspect anything. I happened to look out and see it, and ran out the door hollering at it. There wasn't time to do anything else.

 

The fox was sneaking up slowly and was about ready to pounce when I yelled at it, so no contact was made.

 

When my Mom was still alive, there was a fox that would come into the yard and go nose to nose with her cat. Then, it would go into the front legs down posture and begin to play with the cat.

The cat being a cat, didn't take much interest in playing with a common woods animal.....must've been beneath his dignity! But it would always run up to it once it came into the yard.

 

Sure did!! I've got a small possum creeping around now too. I need to be more careful and check that door battery more often or there is going to be some free chick filet going around.

Loving this trail cam, can't wait to get camera's out there this year sometime.

 

Will do, thank you