While taking my daily walk | Main | Many pictures of the guineas
September 9, 2007
The awful part of living in the country
Sometimes, critters get killed by other critters. Yesterday morning, as we pulled up to the house for a day's work, John commented that the guineas were out - which should not be possible, as they had been nailed into the semi-finished chicken coop the previous night (I do this every night, as I'm having real trouble figuring out how to make a door). Well, I've been using hardware wire, and apparently, evil racoons pulled the wire away and killed some of my keets. John counted body parts that added up to about 4 birds, but there were only 9 keets hanging around.
Eventually, other keets, who had run/flown into the fields and woods to escape the marauding raccoons (most likely a sow and her cubs, according to Major - the nice guy who works at Horse Country and also does lots of side jobs - I have him signed up to come and help me on the 20th of the month) showed up and rejoined the flock.
One of the keets found her way back to the barn, and couldn't figure out how to get to the coop (on the outside of the barn) and started making that very loud "I'm unhappy and separated from my family" noise that they make. It was quite a challenge to catch her and take her back to the other birds. Good thing no one was shooting a video - our lack of athletic talent would have been pitiful to watch!
Anyway, that is the way of the farm. I'm still hoping that maybe one more keet will return home.
It is taking me too long to finish this project. I'm depressed enough that I find myself taking too many breaks that last too long to simply sit and worry and fret about having lost my job. But John is right, I hated the job. I whined about it, and the poor man had to listen to me whine. I have to pull myself out of this funk so I can finish getting the farm ready for us to move into.
Posted by Beth at September 9, 2007 6:21 AM
Comments
Well, now we know what it looks like, and, frankly, we *both* handled the massacre better'n I figured we would.
Both of 'em.
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at September 9, 2007 9:11 AM
*BIG, all-too-sympathetic hugs*
Posted by: FbL at September 9, 2007 9:42 AM
yeah, regular poultry wire will not keep the varmits out. When I was a kid most people who had guinea hens just let them run loose and they roosted in trees..probably safer for them like that.
The best chicken coops that we had were made from hale screen a tight mesh heavy wire of the type one uses to build rabbit hutches..
Posted by: GUYK at September 9, 2007 10:16 AM
These keets are too small yet to let 'em completely run loose - though perhaps not, since the attack scattered 'em, with only 9 of the 19 being there yesterday morning. 5 more trickled in during the day, and the last one made it back last night (there were four casualties of the attack).
The intent is to eventually let them roam free.
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at September 9, 2007 10:47 AM
raccoons are known troublemakers. I'm still waiting for two years of back rent from the ones who lived in my old chimney ... Whatever you do, don't lend them money!
Posted by: bad cat robot at September 9, 2007 12:22 PM
If you take two pieces of 1/4" round trim molding (four total--two for each SIDE of the door), you can create two pocket groove sliding tracks in which will slide a piece of 1/2" plywood to cover a hole will form a bird door for your coop. A bit of knotted rope fashioned into a long doorknob (that can be wound about a high nail to keep it open)and you are in business.
A human door is easy enough, but I assumed you are lamenting the BIRD sized door.
Posted by: seejanemom at September 10, 2007 7:27 PM
Sorry I was right. I've been there one too many times.
Posted by: Stacy at September 11, 2007 10:19 AM