Two bedroom efficiency, all-electric solar, high-rise, enclosed patio, sunrooms, security fence…

[AJMD429]

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[COSteve]

Just a dot? A bit small don't you think?

Now I see. Yes, the pictures took a long time to load.

[AJMD429]

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Photos slow to upload…

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[AJMD429]

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After our hen count going from 24 or so to 11 in a matter of a week, and the remaining ones too terrified to go in the old on-ground portable coops, we started work on the new coop, and put out a raccoon trap. We caught 14-15 raccoons in three weeks, but of course there will be more (a wildlife rescue place not too far away legally takes, rehabilitates, and releases them on their private property so maybe we have an ongoing influx from there).

I don't think any coons will be able to breach this coop though.

Sadly, our big black rooster, who we called 'BBC' for short......

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....disappeared about a week after all this, and I had just been injured by him (there is a funny story there about what my daughter (who was the nurse on duty) told the ER doc (who didn’t know me or that I was her dad) about 'the next patient you're going to see is kind of odd, and wouldn't give the details, but just said he was injured by a big black cock...' - should'a seen the funny look on that ER doc's face as they were walking into the room to see me and she was just finishing that sentence - he got a good laugh when he realized she was pranking him (and me I guess)... ).
Anyway, I didn't murder him in retaliation. Although his spur penetrated my patellar tendon and entered the joint space (very dangerous injury), I took a ton of antibiotics and it kept me from a septic joint, and I held no animosity - he was only trying to protect his hens. We think he was got by a bobcat, due to tracks we had seen and where he was in the woods nearby within 30 yards of those tracks.

Anyway, we got a new rooster from someone getting out of the chicken business, so hopefully now things will be better on the chicken-ranch.

[Grizz]

patent that thing ! you've just solved the "housing crisis" :)

so many eggs, so little time _ _ _

[Streetstar]

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(a wildlife rescue place not too far away legally takes, rehabilitates, and releases them on their private property so maybe we have an ongoing influx from there).

Rehabilitating raccoons -- its a shame when they turn to fentanyl laced powdered products





--- and in a serious note - sorry about your rooster- it sounds like he lived by the warriors code

[AJMD429]

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He was a real macho rooster for sure. Protected the hens, and herded them into the coop at dusk.

Normally if I slipped up and my body language inadvertently 'challenged' him, he would warn me, and if I persisted, and my hands were busy, he might lunge and try (with only minor success, other than the one time) to spur me in the legs, but I found if I put my hands out to the sides he couldn't deal with two 'threats' at once, so I'd fake with one hand then slap him good up side the head with the other hand, and he'd cool his jets and leave me alone, yet still keep the dogs or other threats away. After a 'slap' he would back off a bit, but still strut and protect.

His replacement needs more testosterone I guess - I did have to give him a slap, but when I did that he ran away and hid for half a day.

Clearly this one needs a 'different parenting style'...

[GunnyMack]

Be careful or he might call Chicken services on you for being slapped... Division of Youth and Fowl Services I believe it's called.