Worried about my ducks, and I'm not letting them go down without a fight.

[@carrie8994]

So glad Ruth is bouncing back here. Hope she is still doing well today and will keep pushing through for you! Good to see that so far the fox and raccoon have been unsuccessful in their attempts to catch your ducks! You can see the marks on Benny's neck, but she's not nearly as bad off as I would have expected after an attack! Good job on her getting away fast! I really hope you have had success in catching the predator(s) since posting this video. I'm about to go over and watch the new vid, but didn't want to skip this one! I've been so busy, I didn't have time to watch until now, but have to say that the new mic has you sounding nice and clear! Great improvement in sound, as I don't have to turn the volume up anymore to hear you like I used to, not that it was a bother to do so! Best of luck to you in your endeavors, as always, and God Bless!

[@Backyard_Chickens]

Thanks. Since I started putting the food away at night, it’s been quiet. Getting rid of the rat and relocating several squirrels has helped also. My new video that I plan to release on Sunday shows the catch and release. As for Ruth, she is hanging in there. Hopefully I’m doing right by her. Some days I’m not sure. Ironically, Ruth is the most aggressive towards the ducks. Sometimes decisions can be hard, lol. Take care, God bless. PS: thanks for letting me know about the mic issues!

[@carrie8994]

@@Backyard_Chickens That is good to hear! Glad you found an extra solution to go with the traps you are using! Looking forward to the new video on Sunday! And I'm sure Ruth will let you know when she's done fighting to stick around, as it seems she is more than willing to do so for now. She's a fighter, for sure! And yes, there are some decisions that are hard as nails, but those are always the ones that we are forced to make at some point, like it or not. I don't recall if I am the one that mentioned the mic issue or not, but either way I am glad you have that solved! It is nice to be able to click on your vids without messing with the volume, although it wasn't a hassle to do so, as I said! Again, God bless and take care!

[@yarir8503]

I put my duck in the coop at night with the hens. She will even hop up into the nestbox and lay her egg. I don't like to wash or refrigerate the eggs until I sell them. The eggs last longer. I had issues with racoons until I started locking everyone (hens & ducks) up at night. Plus the raccoons found my bird feeders and they raid those instead. Blessings on your off grid hunting. I loved living in Alaska for 15 years.

[@Backyard_Chickens]

Thanks! Yes, I have thought of that but have not yet tried to caught the ducks at night, plus Benny, my female duck will scream her head off, lol. I have several live traps coming to me, and I plan to buy two more at Tractor Supply today if I can. I am also dealing with a rat, lol. When it rains, it pours. God bless!

[@CityToTheWoods]

Found the place that you had looked at a few videos back, had an outhouse down the trail a little bit. That’s about 5 minutes from me though the back trails.

[@Backyard_Chickens]

@@CityToTheWoods cool, yes I like it . It has two roads the lead to the house.

[@davemcavene]

One thing we like to do with straw is to put meal worms inside all the different flakes and let them scratch through it and they will spend hours trying to find everything. Like you said they will spread it out for you and it makes your life easier. We have been dealing with a fox who has been coming around and taking our chickens. We have a trap set out but we seem to catch every animal except for the fox. Persistence pays off and we will get it eventually.

[@Backyard_Chickens]

Thanks. My hen love to spread the straw around. I will also throw some mealworms in there, the will enjoy looking for them. Yes, I purchased several traps, planning on three traps. I have fox, raacoon, and now I even found a rat, lol. I plan to caught and release the fox and raacoon, 10 miles from my house in a large open field I now of. Good luck with you trapping and God bless!

[@maineapple52]

You may have heard this already, but it's worth sharing. If you place your eggs in the carton pointed side down, they will stay fresher and last longer. Something about the air pocket (?) in the top??? I love the fact that you're a Christian man. When the time is right to buy the land, you will know it. Rely on your internal spirit. God bless and be safe!

[@Backyard_Chickens]

Thank you! Yes, I try to keep the point down. I’ve heard it helps center the yolk in the center when you crack the egg in the pan. May be an old hens tail, lol. Agreed, God has a plan. God bless.

[@BroknlukCyr-t3e]

Check out 220 Hemore Road in Ludlow, Me close to Houlton. Nice unfinished log cabin - there is power there but you are free to go off grid if you want to.

[@Backyard_Chickens]

I’ve seen that property. I concerned that I will hear traffic from 95.

[@gabestrobehn4698]

My job as a kid what’s cleaning the chicken coop .. man that’s not my favorite Oder lol😊

[@Backyard_Chickens]

Agreed, not a good smell, lol!

[@judyhoffer7976]

When the time is right you will find the place keep your head up God is good

[@reneweibel2618]

How about getting a livestock guardian to help with the fox and raccoons? Just an idea

[@Backyard_Chickens]

That''s a good idea, but one I am not ready for yet. When I move to some land, I do plan to look into getting a LGD. Thanks!

[@darlene5621]

Would your ducks fit in the turkey cage you had ? Maybe that would protect em at least at night until you get a more concrete way they can't get attacked. 🤔

[@Backyard_Chickens]

@@darlene5621 Maybe. I was thinking of picking them up and put them in the coop at night. I may put them back into the run. I’m gonna get rid of all food at night. I have a couple ideas. I gonna buy a large trap and try to relocate the fox.

[@richardfiedler2201]

I've noticed your real attached to your chickens. That could be a real problem in Maine. The predators in Maine are a lot different from Massachusetts predators. Obviously Maine the bigger more aggressive nothing will stop me from getting into those chickens. I've seen coyotes rip right through wire fencing. Not to mention possums, raccoons it's going to be hard with ducks, chickens. You going to want to think about two guard dogs. Is some food for thought

[@Backyard_Chickens]

Yes agreed. I will look into a livestock guardian dog when I get there. I have a big fix issue here in MD, I built a very secure coop. I plan to have a very secure coop in Maine. It will be one of my first projects.

[@richardfiedler2201]

@Backyard_Chickens I don't care how you build it. They will dig under it. Climb over it. They will bite through it. TRUST ME focus on keeping them away.

[@darlene5621]

What is it about the flock block you don't like I bought one but haven't opened it yet?

[@Backyard_Chickens]

@@darlene5621 the block I have is mostly filler. Some kind of fat that binds the block together. I wanted to try one but I don’t think I’ll get another one.

[@BroknlukCyr-t3e]

Hi, Have you seen Osgood Road, Springfield, Me ? 63.7 acres $99,700 Penobscot County.

[@Backyard_Chickens]

@@BroknlukCyr-t3e No, but I’ll take a look, thanks!