Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

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Any guesses on the predator? Came out of the woods, wandered around the yard some, went back into the woods. Prints are too large to be a house cat. In the first picture I can tell it stopped for a short time because the prints are side-by-side, whereas while it was moving it was one print in front of the other. I'm thinking feline because of that... But it's hard to tell because the tracks got partially filled with new snowfall. I don't see evidence of claws so I don't think it's a canine or mustelid. I saw these same prints the other day (maybe closer to a week ago) but they just stopped at a certain point, right up by the side garage door and next to the chicken shelter we built.

Whatever this was, as I was following the tracks around the yard it looked like the animal was hunting. It was mixed with deer tracks here and there but there's no way the thing is big enough to bring down a white tail. It went under the deck and one point and came back out at another. No tracks near the run.

I'm so curious and interested to find out what this thing is! Any ideas? Should I post it in the predators forum?

Definitely NOT canine. My first impression (hadn't read your comments with it) was also feline. You say it's too small for a house cat....is it possible a half-grown one is around?

 

[rural mouse]

@TOMTE bobcat maybe. They can and do take down deer sometimes!

They're larger than housecats, though.... and civits don't range that far north...

 

[rural mouse]

Hey everyone

I miss a day and a half and get behind.

Poppet is crazy. She has finally decided snow or not she is done staying in the coop with Turkey. They are not spending their time in the stalls either, they are staying in the area between the cover stalls and the coop. Poor little Turkey. Her momma decides it is time to show her the big world when there is still spots of snow taller then she is. They are doing well though and she is keeping Turkey warm. I am officially sick of the weather though now. We had 1 day that got semi warm and did a partial melt before temps dropped back down and turned what was left of the snow into ice. We have another storm supposed to hit Sunday.

Rosie is all for another snow storm, she still has not returned to school. They missed all last week and this week due to weather. When they do head back she is going to be hurting as she has her days and nights totally flipped around.

Temps today were predicted to be mid 30sF....and hit upper 40sF....tomorrow.....high of low 20s, low in single digits and snow. Birds enjoyed the day. Tomorrow, I expect them to look at me when I open the door and say F^##÷÷_! Go Away! We're not going out! (@featherhead007 in Bok-buk and Screech)

Whiskey checking on the house

 

[rural mouse]

Seems again today that I have to teach the finer arts of roostering to Mr. Wyandottey. Tidbit (take the girl out to dinner)
Go take her dancing (but let her lead for once!)
Do not attack her with violence or empty promises!
She’ll let you know when and if she’s ready!

Sounds like one or more of your ladies (rock garden/Dakota) need to kick him a couple of times. Hector turned into a gentlerooster after one go round. I'm not sure if Whiskey witnessed and learned or received the same treatment without witnesses.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

We did that....

X2.

X3

X4 - I was putting the coop & run together while they grew in their brooder box!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

We did that....

X2.

X3

I was madly putting together the coop and run while they were in the brooder box!

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Any guesses on the predator? Came out of the woods, wandered around the yard some, went back into the woods. Prints are too large to be a house cat. In the first picture I can tell it stopped for a short time because the prints are side-by-side, whereas while it was moving it was one print in front of the other. I'm thinking feline because of that... But it's hard to tell because the tracks got partially filled with new snowfall. I don't see evidence of claws so I don't think it's a canine or mustelid. I saw these same prints the other day (maybe closer to a week ago) but they just stopped at a certain point, right up by the side garage door and next to the chicken shelter we built.

Whatever this was, as I was following the tracks around the yard it looked like the animal was hunting. It was mixed with deer tracks here and there but there's no way the thing is big enough to bring down a white tail. It went under the deck and one point and came back out at another. No tracks near the run.

I'm so curious and interested to find out what this thing is! Any ideas? Should I post it in the predators forum?

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There's this scent mark (urine) on a fallen, hollow tree in the woods, too. Months ago when I went out there, there was scat on it that I couldn't identify. I must not have that picture anymore because I can't find it. I wonder if it's the culprit...

Fisher is my guess. Just a guess though. Don't look big enough for bobcat. Fisher will walk like a fox, besides the mustelid leaping about.

 

[Ponypoor]

Mine need to learn from your lot. I have lots of webs in the Chicken Palace.
Pooh’s new feathers have come in with spots all over her chest. It is very pretty but my fingers are waaay too cold to get a picture.
Have to see if any of the cameras get a good shot of her.
Calypso has grown lots of new feathers but she is still shedding. When she shakes herself feathers fly out in all directions. I really wish she hadn’t left it so late!

Same with Red and Penelope

 

[LhickenChicken]

Are you hauling square baled hay to them?

Or do they have round bales dropped off for them. It’s a lot of work with small squares for that many animals!

Nope, owner has a stack of round bales. He taught me to use his tractor and I drop bales for them occasionally when they need it.

 

[bgmathteach]

I thought at first I had broken my nose but thankfully not. It's swollen and my knee is. I lost a lot of blood but it looked worse than it was. I might have black eyes later my nose is swollen.

I did a salt nasel wash and caster oil on my cuts

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Step one of my arctic plan implemented....

Total fail


I wrapped the bare metal with nice cushioned rug underlay and Sylvie would not set foot on the hot lava I had apparently created. She went back to sleeping in the nest box. I think I will leave her that way until the worst of the arctic blast is over and then she can go back to bare metal roosting if she chooses.

Why don't I learn? I really am not qualified to decide anything for my chickens. They have minds of their own and it is not my place to question their life choices.

As others have said (I think, I am jumping around trying to catch up), leave the rug gripper stuff on. They just want to study it before going near it. I thought a new really fantastic day perching branch was a miserable fail here, but after a week or two they started to use it.
You could put even more comfy stuff in the nest boxes so they can really snuggle down in it, if that's where Sylvie wants to be