Chickens?

[Steven P]

... though they reckoned last week that the fledglings can do with some help. I am the same, will start proper feeding after Autumn.

 

 

 

I've never read up on the myths surrounding the 10ft thing and rats - so guess what I've just been doing !

I reckon the 10ft thing is in specific cases, centre of the take away areas in town, farm animal food stores, docks, but generally your house or mine, they are far far away (more than 10ft anyway). Chicken runs - I reckon they pass by at night but arn't sitting waiting about 10ft away during the day. Made me think though, brought one of the trail cams in last night for a look and a charge, got birds, insects, deers, a couple of squirrels but no rats passing by - never seen rats on them either.. so all in, I am more clever today than I was yesterday, but 10ft from a rat is a bit of a myth

Edited August 27 by Steven P

[AHPP]

Not just chickens. Arb chickens. Seen here sorting out two bags of rakings. 
 

 

 

[AHPP]

 

Now that’s soldiering. 

[sime42]

2 hours ago, AHPP said:

 

Now that’s soldiering. 

 

Another Rambo in the making. 

 

 

[AHPP]

Nascent masculinity? 
 

 

 

[AHPP]

This one turned out to be very much a rooster.

 

 

 

Still getting eggs. 0-2 a day usually but bizarrely got 5 yesterday (5 standard hens and the 2 white ones, if they are indeed hens and old enough to lay eggs). 

Bad news next door. My mate lost a turkey and several chickens to a ferret that some helpful fellow discarded. I’ve been out trying to shoot it but alas no sign. Gut feeling is it’s perished in the cold. Had ten rats over the past couple of nights getting bored waiting though. Pard dedicated on the Little Badger. Still too much mag (6x). 

[Mick Dempsey]

I’ve kept ferrets, not sure they could take a turkey, but maybe.

[AHPP]

Ate the head off it. We thought fox at first but my mate then nearly trod on the  ferret. Too much of a coincidence. 

[skc101fc]

18 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

I’ve kept ferrets, not sure they could take a turkey, but maybe.

We used to do Christmas turkeys. One day went to the shed to feed and couldn't open the door. With a bit of effort managed to push it open to find a dead turkey, missing it's head with the neck stuck inside a rat hole under the door , and firmly wedged behind the door. Always knew there was a rat problem in this particular shed, so threw down a few live capture traps. Next morning astounded to find a mink captured.  Took it outside to get the air rifle to finish it off . Never having seen a mink before, held it up to study, -  this little bastard was at the cage door screaming and hissing at me, (and Jesus what a stink!) Whereas rats would be at back corner as far as they could get away. Not the first one I've shot here, but what incredible strength.  Turkey was close to finishing weight so prob 15 - 18 pound. Mink was firmly intending to pull the entire bird through a 3" rat hole when the head came off!

 

[AHPP]

Applicable anecdote. Maybe the ferret pulled the head off instead. It was actually four of them released btw.