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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 16:19:27 GMT 8
Post by chooky on Oct 14, 2013 16:19:27 GMT 8
Arrived back in Perth late last night. Got out to York to see the chooks and sheep. Total devastation! The fox managed to get into the chook pen, made a hole in the wire, and killed 75% of my chooks. Both roosters gone and all my pure breeds. The 9 left are looking very stressed. Feathers everywhere all over the property, carcasses everywhere. Very pissed off at the moment. Laid more minced beef and reset the traps. Some of the spring jaw traps were triggered but nothing caught.
Also lost the lamb born two weeks ago.
I just don't know what else I can do to stop this.
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 16:27:35 GMT 8
Post by cannakid on Oct 14, 2013 16:27:35 GMT 8
Oh what a bummer to come home too , Do you want me to start collecting some pure eggs to send down to you?
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 16:44:45 GMT 8
Post by chookboyandchookgirl on Oct 14, 2013 16:44:45 GMT 8
That is so sad chooky. Very sorry for your loss. I have some nice purebred Australorp cockerels if you would like any once you get your pens sorted.
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 17:06:12 GMT 8
Post by quambie on Oct 14, 2013 17:06:12 GMT 8
chooky ? sorry for that they are a bugger to catch mate you have to nearly burry the traps and do not get any of your smell on or anywhere around them you could stick a load of poison in whats left of the chooks and put them back out where he was or justabout burry them not to deep though and it will dig them up and have a feed another way is to put whats left of one of the chooks put a small stake through it and set the traps around that they will get frustrated and move around a lot more to get a feed and should put one of there feet in the trap pity I am to far away from you you should look at getting a electric fence around the hen house they will operate on battery power and you can get sola power to charge it I did this a good few years ago still cost over 500 but I have not lost a chook from that day on good luck Trev
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 17:17:31 GMT 8
Post by cannakid on Oct 14, 2013 17:17:31 GMT 8
Might even be worth considering an alpaca or donkey ??
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 17:51:10 GMT 8
Post by chooky on Oct 14, 2013 17:51:10 GMT 8
CK,
Some eggs would be great. More than happy to pay for them. I spent the day sorting out the pen. I made the mistake of using plastic cable tie. I have replaced them all with metal clips. so it should now stop a fox trying to push through.
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 17:53:33 GMT 8
Post by chooky on Oct 14, 2013 17:53:33 GMT 8
CBCG,
Thanks for your offer. I'll keep that in mind. I have to re-evaluate what breeds to keep from now on. Mrs Chooky prefers a breed that is yellow skin. So the hunt is on. I would love to get my hands on some indian game again. I lost the rooster and a pullet. I still have an indian hen.
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 17:56:16 GMT 8
Post by chooky on Oct 14, 2013 17:56:16 GMT 8
Trev,
I agree that poison is the best bet but I have been told I can't use it by the ranger, so I have to use traps. I have had success before so hopefully I will catch a few more.
My son is even suggesting using a hook, like the way they catch alligators in the US. Somehow I don't that will work.
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 18:27:48 GMT 8
Post by quambie on Oct 14, 2013 18:27:48 GMT 8
a nice large hook inserted into the ckook and anchored down hard will work it will not pull so hard when it feels it bite of the hook inside it as for the ranger what ideas did he have if he will not use poison like ck posted a donkey, you will need two of the backpackers i think there about 400 to 500 each one wont do it makes it expencive i will have a look around for a Indian Game for you I have one that I use for my meat birds and he is still working but I do not have a hen you could use him if we cant find one at least that will get you back on track Trev
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 18:44:52 GMT 8
Post by chooky on Oct 14, 2013 18:44:52 GMT 8
Trev,
I don't think we will go down the donkey route, not until we move to a bigger property (if we do go down that road). I think a fox with a hook in him is a very angry fox and he will be very difficult to deal with. I found it quite easy to dispose off one in the spring jaw trap. I will get a few more of them. I am sure just based on statistics alone, the chance of catching them will be increased.
Thanks for the offer of your IG rooster. Are there IG breeders where you are? I am more than happy to pay for eggs, being easier to send by mail than live birds.
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 19:30:17 GMT 8
Post by quambie on Oct 14, 2013 19:30:17 GMT 8
I did see some in the Kellerberrin show this year I will look in to it and see if I can find out who had them Trev
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 19:48:54 GMT 8
Post by chooky on Oct 14, 2013 19:48:54 GMT 8
Thanks, Trev
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 20:00:29 GMT 8
Post by cannakid on Oct 14, 2013 20:00:29 GMT 8
I have got nearly 4 dozen eggs saved here , it's a shame about no poison on your block you could have snuck a bit of mine . I have got RIR and New Hampshire both of those are yellow skin and have some Indian Game eggs saved plus my GLW is still laying I have just put her in with the RIR to get some red laced as I have more than enough GLW hatched.
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Gone!!!
Oct 14, 2013 22:08:37 GMT 8
Post by chooky on Oct 14, 2013 22:08:37 GMT 8
CK,
I can fit in 2 and have dozen in my incubator at any one time. So a couple dozen would be great. I wouldn't mine a few indian game eggs. Are these dark or jubilee? My remaining IG hen is jubilee. She lays only one or two eggs a week. I don't think she is laying at the moment.
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Post by cannakid on Oct 15, 2013 4:53:28 GMT 8
I only have the dark she has layed every day since starting .
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