Glad to see this thread revived!
After years of promising myself that I would (because I never miss an episode of the current series on PBS), I finally read "All Creatures Great and Small" last week and totally enjoyed it.
I have an eclectic range of reading materials (and, more than 700...
Oh, no. The coyotes are here to stay. I consider coyote hazing to be one of my most time-consuming hobbies. It's usually worst in the spring, when new litters need feeding.
I chase coyotes through fields -- yelling, clapping, throwing field stones. They respond by running faster, cruising over...
There have been numerous challenges in the first weeks of this year; some days are pretty discouraging. But, late yesterday afternoon, as I was preparing for the predicted extremely frigid weather, I discovered my flocks' first egg of 2026!
Sweet, skittish Lydia -- a rose-comb brown Leghorn...
When Golly, one of my American Buffs, disappeared without a trace, based on known area predators and some partial pawprints in the snow, I blamed a coyote. They are plentiful here and a new litter was born last spring.
However, a couple of things seemed off, right from the start. First, in 18...
I've never used a heat lamp for my runner ducks. They live in a semi-closed (hardware-cloth wrapped) shelter at night, but have the option of coming out in the daytime. Temperatures here are frequently extremely cold (-11F right now).
The runners -- lightweight little things that they are --...
Rushed to town this morning to get everything I forgot during my usual Tuesday shopping trip. Needed to lay in supplies. Right now, we are experiencing a cold weather advisory, high wind advisory and winter weather warning -- the trifecta! Started less than an hour ago.
Gussie is settling down...
I try to start every year with an optimistic outlook, but 2026 is sure testing that. In less than three weeks, I've lost Audrey, Ziva and Golly.
Gussie must have seen Golly get taken, but she still seems to be searching for her sister. Listening to her call for Golly is horrible.
I've been...
Yeah, the only logical explanation is a coyote. But it's still not the same as KNOWING for sure.
Both geese were born entertainers and slightly naughty in their frequent hijinks.
One of the funniest things about Golly is that no matter how cold the weather -- and we've had some seriously...
Thanks, everybody. Getting goslings for Gussie seems like a good idea. Of course, no one ships them during the winter. A hatchery that's about 40 miles away will probably have some in March or April.
Listening to her call for Golly is horrible.
Golly, one of my two American Buff geese, disappeared between 2:20 and minutes after 3 yesterday afternoon -- between when I was cleaning coops and when I was taking out fresh water.
Most likely predator was one of those wretched coyotes. Wrote a long post on the geese forum. It would always...
Golly disappeared without a trace yesterday. She and her sister Gussie were lying next to the house, soaking up some winter sun at 2:20 p.m. when I was out cleaning coops. At minutes after 3, I went back out to take fresh water, and she was gone. No signs of struggle, no feathers, no blood and...
First off, an answer to your question: Yes, everybody should have ducks!!
But seriously, I already had chickens when I got my first runner ducks. I have never had a problem with the drakes wanting to breed with chickens (they're too busy romancing their own girls). Also, runners are on the...
Congrats on successfully treating Teriyaki! Sour crop is nasty stuff.
Welcome to BYC! There's plenty of good advice and good conversation here -- hope you enjoy it all!