Re: lost eggs

"Peggy" <fampom@xxxxxxxxx> composed these thoughts and posted them
news:43cdc2a7$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

> Hi All,
> I find that if I let the hens out later than usual when my egg count
> drops. here is usually 1 or 2 hens who make a bee line to their nests
> . I free range my hens from 7:00 am till they go to their roosts at
> night .( sun down) I have to lock the door as there is 2 and 4 legged
> predators here. Yours Peggy
>
I understand the four legged predators, but the two legged predators
sound interesting! Don't you have police?

I free range from first daylight until after dark. My chickens are often
not in bed until the sun is down far enough that ineed a flashlight to
close them up.

We still have a fox living in a den about 100 yards from the chickens,
but the fox leaves them alone. It's been met with specially loaded shot
shells filled with popcorn. The popcorn leaves the shot gun at higher
velocity than bb's but because there is no appreciable weight and the
popcorn is not aerodynamic, it loses energy fast, and doesn't penetrate,
leaving a nasty stinging at short distance.
The fox has been stung enough that it's decided there is easier fare
around than my chickens!!!! This doesn't mean vigilance is relaxed. I
spend a good deal of my time watching the fox with the binoculars through
the kitchen window. Sometimes when I see it sneaking an oblique angle
from the other side of the barn, I meet it with appropriate shots. The
fox lives very well a short distance away, and often sits on top of the
den and watched my chickens for hours. But she's learned that my chickens
are just too tough to get. I make it that way.
However, I might just try some popcorn loads on the two legged variety!
LOL
naw, I'd just hold them at gun point until the police arrived.

.

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