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Post by susan on Jan 10, 2014 14:26:07 GMT -5
We have an Amish guy who sets up a produce stand all summer on Friday afternoons and all day Saturday. What he sells changes through the season and by fall it's pumpkins, mums and a big stack of straw bales. I could only fit one straw bale at a time in the back of the van, but over 3 weekends we got enough straw stacked in the mini barn to get through the winter. This year I'm looking more at what can I grow to supplement the chicken feed and also bale some straw.
Susan
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Post by Granny Smith on Jan 11, 2014 21:30:16 GMT -5
I thought about cutting and baling hay by hand last year, but couldn't find the scythe. I'm not even sure we still have it. I can't use the gas weedwacker (too bulky) and I don't have a long enough cord for my electric one, so I didn't do it. This year, I'm going to buy a new scythe so, when I get more chickens, I'll have hay for them.
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Post by Granny Smith on Jan 15, 2014 17:03:58 GMT -5
Something got my bait last night, but didn't trip the trap. I know the trap works because I caught a cat in it and, boy, was it mad! (I let it go)
I'm going to rebait the trap and reset it tonight. I'm hoping that it not going off gave the beast a false sense of security.
Now, watch me catch that cat again...
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Post by BigM on Jan 16, 2014 8:10:40 GMT -5
Maybe the cat is your beastie!
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Post by Granny Smith on Jan 16, 2014 18:51:56 GMT -5
The opening in the coop wasn't big enough for a cat to get in when the chickens were in it. I have the door open now, so it could have been anything this time. (probably not a bear, though, because the trap was intact)
The trap is still set and nothing got the bait last night. Maybe tonight...
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Post by BigM on Jan 17, 2014 7:28:37 GMT -5
I've been seeing fox in our area. I'm praying they leave my birds alone!
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Post by Granny Smith on Jan 17, 2014 12:50:58 GMT -5
I lost about 200 chickens to a fox a few years back. It got so brave that it would come up in the yard and grab a chicken even if we were standing right there! I finally got it in a leghold trap.
The beast set off the trap last night, but didn't get caught or get the bait. I hope it isn't something so big it won't fit in the trap. I reset it this morning.
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Post by BigM on Jan 17, 2014 12:56:37 GMT -5
Yikes! Do you have a bigger trap?
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Post by Granny Smith on Jan 17, 2014 13:00:18 GMT -5
I do, but it's broken. The one I'm using is the second biggest live trap they make. I'm hoping the wind set it off last night and not a bear or panther.
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Post by Valerie on Jan 17, 2014 15:26:10 GMT -5
What are ya using for bait, Gayle? Chicken?
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Post by Granny Smith on Jan 17, 2014 21:33:19 GMT -5
Yes. For some reason I had one raw chicken leg in a sandwich bag in the freezer, so I used that.
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Post by Valerie on Jan 20, 2014 9:38:27 GMT -5
Maybe you should use livers or something gross like that. Sure hope you can catch the varmint.
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Post by Granny Smith on Jan 20, 2014 21:05:52 GMT -5
I only used the chicken leg because it was handy and it looked freezer burned.
I caught a rat. I doubt a rat could do as much damage as we had. I think he was just taking advantage of free food. I had the boys take him down near the pond and let him go. I haven't reset the trap yet.
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