Sorry I haven't been in for awhile. Things have been happening in my life that have absolutely demanded my attention.
I want to relate something that has happened to myself and to my neighbors across the street from me.
Last Saturday about 10 PM, my neighbor heard some racket in behind his trailer house, and got up to go investigate. It turns out that 2 men where looking at his chickens in their cage.
When my neighbor asked them what they were doing, they answered that they were looking for "fighting chickens". Now, all of our chickens are small being Serama's. There is no way these are fighting chickens.
My neighbor told me that they talked about 15 minutes and then he said he had to go to bed and said goodnight. They left.
BUT, they didn't leave. They came over to my house and broke into the outside cage I made. This cage is big, and has a window as a door. When I got up, and went out to check on my animals, the window was wide open. And it's cold enough here, that without heat, my chickens would die.
I have a small electric heater in the cage with them to keep them warm. But the window-door was wide open and the heater was running wide open too.
They had tried to break in and steal my chickens. The only thing that stopped them is that I have a wire fence all the way around and they couldn't get into my yard.
The chickens were taumatized when I checked on them, I calmed them down, gave them their food and water, and then brought them inside my house for a few days. I don't like that but I would rather have a mess than to have my chickens gone.
We don't know if perhaps they were looking for chicken stew on the wing, or were looking for fighting chickens. They obviously didn't know anything about chickens let alone fighting chickens.
So everyone, take steps to protect your flock. There are some desperate people out there and they will not hesitate to steal everything you have.
CK
Protecting chickens from 2 legged bandits
Maybe they're just tracking the sounds of roosters, and thinking the small ones are young? Some of these breeds do look like game fowl, albeit small. I hope you reported it, even though no one was stolen. Reports become part of a pattern for LE.
Lots of money to be made fighting chickens. Seems like the tougher times get, the more stooopid activity picks up... drinking, gambling, etc. Instead of hunkering down and returning to what really matters... food, shelter, friends and family. The simple things.
==sigh==
Jay
Yes, you and your neighbor need to report everything! That is not right! He must have gotten a good look at them since they were there talking for awhile. It is trespassing for sure and your neighbor should have had them arrested for being in his yard. I sure would have. People are bold. And as Jay said times are getting tight. People will take anything they can to make money. We have people steeling anything that can be recycled as well as dogs, and livestock.
I am thankful they did not get any of your chickens. Keep everything on lockdown.
Yeah, stealing dogs... esp. if they look anything like a pit bull---boxers, labs, mixes, anything with a boxy head.
Belly-crawlin' oxygen thieves... Pffft! }=0P
Jay
Jay where I live is known as "Felony Flats". Police only come here if someone is beating someone up. There isn't much point in calling them. They won't come out anyway. I did report it to the Manager for all the good it will do.
My neighbor told them where he got his chickens and that I had hatched out those little chickens for him and they are a size A. Very small.
Instead, I placed a piece of plywood over the latch, secured it with several screws and I also put a small wooden dowel in behind the window so that it can't be slid open.
I am also going to put a light of some kind over the yard. I have a 60 watt light bulb on a motion detector, but that didn't stop them. I think it's to far away from the cage to activate.
I didn't hear anything during the night either and that bother's me. I would LOVE to put in a LOUD alarm on that cage. HA that would scare the pants off of them. hehehe
CK
It sicken's me to hear that people are using animals to profit from blood money. I have a Rednose Pitbull, the dumbest dog I have ever had. But I will fight to keep her. Sometimes she acts like she is protective especially when some dumbazz here lights off a heavy firecracker.
I am moving before March 15 so this is one place I will not miss. I will miss some of the people but not this place.
I am taking my animals with me too.
CK
CK,
I had a red-nose, too! She was not very tough either... got in a fight once with the neighbor dog (he started it), got a laceration on her leg and literally sat down, held it up, looked at me and howled! Fortunately, the heeler cross was there and ran the other dog off. But the fighting reputation of the pit bull took a serious hit that day! LOL
She also was the first dog I ever had that had to have PJ's at night. She'd curl up into a tight ball in her bed and shiver with the most pathetic look in her eyes. What a princess! If it was below 50* outside, she wouldn't go out without a jacket. Honestly, I never thought I'd have a dog I had to put clothes on!
I suggested reporting the attempt not because I thought the cops would actually DO anything, but they will log the incident and it may make a difference to someone down the road. It becomes part of a pattern, and who's to say these guys just steal chickens? And you never know, it may be the seramas in their possession that get them convicted, not the electronics, though they are stolen, too. But that can't be proven and the birds can. It's funny sometimes how law works.
But congrats on moving out of that neighborhood. I've lived in those sorts of places. They're a drag on the soul.
How about a little yappy dog to sleep with the chickens? Not to leave out all night, then it'll just yap all the time (ugh!) but if it lives inside the coop, it could be a burglar alarm.
Jay
It's going to be a lot harder for those jerks to even get into the cage let alone, try to steal the chickens. I put a piece of plywood about 12" wide over the entire sliding latch, that's from the top to the bottom of the window.
I also have blocked it from being opened. I wish I had the money, I would put in an alarm system the would wake up everyone. My IR camera's control device bit the dust on me so I don't have a way to monitor the back yard.
I can tell you one thing though, if I catch them, they are going to get their arms broken because I am going to swing a ball bat at them just as hard as I can. And I hope I break their arms. I am so sick of thieves.
If they needed some food, all they have to do is say, hey I'm hungry, do you have anything you could spare. Also, we have the Salvation Army not to far from here, that gives out FREE meals every day. No reason to steal for food.
Jerks anyway.
Yep. And that's being kind.
Hi Copperstone: It's so good to hear from you again. Sorry about your bad experience. I despise thieves, and would like to break their arms also. Your neighbor must be very foolish to give information concerning you to total strangers. I think I would give him a little notice to keep his info to himself. Haven't heard from you for so long was wondering if we'd scared you away. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Haystack.
No Haytack, I love this forum.
I have just been having some issues, some problems, and other things going on here Plus I have a home business that I am slowly but surely building up. Very excited about that.
I am just pissed off is all. People work danged hard for what they have and to have some drugged out, druken idiot steal it, just rankles my temper.
We have a serious drug problem in Oregon and here in this place where I live, it's even worse. The one landlord who owns most of the trailers, and the slum lord that owns the trailer court do not care who they rent to. And it shows.
There are a few decent people here but most are into the drug scene pretty heavily.
I don't mind if people want to blow out their brains on something as long as they don't involve me. Trouble is, though, that every creepy crawly in this whole entire area thinks he/she can come here and get whatever they want. One way or another. They are going to get a huge surprise when they mess with the wrong person.
I think someone probably said they wanted fighting chickens, and those 2 idiots thought they could make some easy money by finding/stealing some chickens and selling them as fighting chickens for drug money.
As far as my neighbor goes, yes he was told not to divulge any information about me. But, he would be the first person to come to my aid if I needed help too.
Also I told him I wanted to buy his little A size pair of Seramas. I sure hope he will.
Anyway, just to be on the safe side, be sure to start protecting your own flocks everyone because tough times demand tough solutions. And locks keep honest people honest. But then again, so does buckshot. hehehee And so does a reputation for being crazy and not to "mess with her". I want the would be thieves to think I am totally nuts and not bother me. That usually works the best.
Opps sorry Haystack, (typo's) I am having some difficulty typing as my fingers are experiencing some difficulty. I have been sweeping off the roof to my trailer as I don't know what the snow load is. And I am not taking any chances. My finners' are a bit sore.
Tomorrow I am going to put another piece of large plywood and then construct this like shutters would be. Putting hinges on it and a latch. That will discourage any would be chicken thieves. They will have a very hard time and also it will help to keep the cage warm.
I am on edge now because I am afraid they will come back and finish the job and I won't be able to hear them.
So, hopefully it won't be to cold for me to work but I'm doing it anyway. I might complete it 2 hours but I'm getting it done just the same.
Copper
Copperstone, I have a motion detector that rings a doorbell in the house when it's activated.. It is designed to protect the driveway. It's remote. The unit is out in the storage trailer about 300' away from my house.. the bell is in the hallway. It's battery operated, and works like a charm! It was given to me, but I think they are like $35. each.. Priceless in that something only needs to let me know... I'll take care of the rest. :) I need to get a baseball bat.. I might be an old woman, but I'll take on man or beast for my kids or my animals. LOL
ZZs wish you had a website for me to look at that. I need one!! I am going to fix that coop like it is Fort Knox so that way I won't end up in jail for defending what's mine. Law's are on the criminal's side's I'm afraid.
And yeah, I am not exactly a Spring chicken myself, but ohhh Lordyy, I turn into a Grizzly bear when I or my home and everything in it is threatened. And I am pissed off. That's a bad combo.
But, sign of the times I guess. Still everyone needs to be mindful that chickens can and are vunerable to everything.
Copper
Here is one almost exactly like what I have...
http://www.gadgetshack.com/driveway-alarm-patrol-alert.html
I think she said harbor freight has them..
I found it for $16.99!!!!!!!!
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93068
This is the one!
That is the one I have.. I've used it outside for a LONG time! It works great! (Thank you PudgyMudPies for mine)
Well worth the money for a good night's sleep! You can set it anywhere... and the base unit in the house.. have someone walk by it to make sure it's working.. It will blow you away.. LOL
The only bad part is.. when you hear that alarm, especially in the middle of the night.. your blood pressure and heart rate go through the roof! Be forewarned.. it's a shocker! Make sure you have a flashlight.. some shoes.. and the bat by the door.. Fiddling around for that stuff 1/2 asleep wastes time... (I was after a chicken killin dog) it was frustrating to go through all that just to have him running away when I got outside..:)
ZZs
oooo wow weee coool. I'm ordering one.
Thank you so much.
Now let the sob's try it. ha I will get 'em yet. hehehheee
I just hope that I won't get charged with some nasty crime because I will defend what's mine with violence if necessary. How I hate that. But, I don't want to loose my chickens either dog gone it.
copperstone,
what about a lock. I can't quite picture your set up, but we have a lock on the big door to the coop and could easily put a lock on the chicken door too. I know its a pain for remembering keys when you go out to let them in and out, but at least you'd get a good night's sleep.
I like ZZs solution too. My friend has one of those in her driveway. That way, she knows when people are coming onto the property. Only thing you need to be prepared for with that are false alarms. Unless there's a weight/size setting, I'm sure you'd get cats, raccoons, etc... all triggering it, too. I pity the puddy-tat that was sitting there grooming himself when you came out with baseball bat (or more) in hand! ;-)
So sorry to read about the eviction. Best of luck to you!
lazy hehehee
Poor kitty.
And thank you. But, I am not sorry to be leaving this filthy, drug infested, raw sewage saturated, prison cell refugee camp. How I hate it here.
I am wanting and hoping to purchase a motor home and fix it up so that electricity is at a minimum--run my computers and any essentials.
And a heating stove of some kind. I will also need a way to keep and heat my critters. But I will manage.
I will sure miss some of the people here, but not this place.
I lived in running raw sewage for 56 solid days because the slum lord didn't want to pay for the repairs and I have pictures of it.
I may well end up with a lawsuit before this is over with, as several others are exploring the possibility of a lawsuit as well. Seems the slumlord forgot to tell the new people that she wasn't supposed to rent, sell, rent to own or otherwise allow people to move into these pieces of broken down trailers unless they were fixed up to be at least habitable. They are angry about that. One of the families has a child that is getting sick from the mold in the trailer. The owner is Susan Danielle. And people around Portland, Oregon should recognize that name. She is Portland Oregon's number 1 slumlord.
I would be so ashamed if I said I owned this place. Poor renters anyway.
Copper
Copper,
I just want to say I really enjoy your colorful language. =0) In an age where it seems most folks can only come up with one or two words to express their anger, your skill is a pure joy! Do you read Mark Twain? He's pretty good at creative slams, too.
My favorite most recent epitaph is oxygen thief. I am trying to use it 3x a day until it becomes natural. LOL
Of course, it's not politically correct to be angry, furious or vengeful these days, but hey, let's get real. There are some serious bottom feeders out there who live by devious, underhanded ways--societal ticks--that have to be dealt with in a language they understand. IMHO
How many chickens do you have? Because, you know, chickens will eat anything... and they have to find a body to charge someone with murder (most of the time, anyway). Then again, alcohol is bad for bird livers...
Best keep building up Ft. Serama!
Jay
Ha ha Jay. Yes I bet it is funny.
But you see, my "descriptive language" is exactly what this place is where I live.
I spent 56 days with a broken sewer pipe running all over my backyard which is small at best.
56 days!! The slumlord didn't want to spend her money to fix it and forced me to live like I am some kind of barnyard animal. They've only made 3 trips to Hawaii this year so guess she's saving money.
I am really steamed about this and I may well end up sueing her in court over this. I want all of the back rent I have paid to her. Yes I called the Health Department, twice a week for 7 weeks, but couldn't locate the right person. The Mortgage holder called DEQ and got somewhere. They came out that day, but Mortgage Holder had to raise the you know what with the so called manager's mother and they got someone out here to fix that pipe. 56 days of running raw human feces all over my back yard. This space is ruined. But the Landlord wants to rent this place out so she can get in more money.
And yes, this is a prison cell refugee camp. I swear a person has to at least be on probation to live here.
I will be glad to be gone. I just pray I can find another place to live, where it's quiet, clean and I have my animals with running water, a sewer drainage that works, and electricity. I would like to hatch raise and sell rare chickens too.
Lord what a mess.
Copper
Well.. just for the record.. I had mine outside for a month.. right by the coop... the only thing that set it off is a HUGE dog. Cats, etc, won't trigger it.. unless it's on the ground and they come right in front of it. I had it on a chair and I am sure there were cats, cause they ate the bait in the trap and never set it off.
I'm sorry your havin such a terrible time where you live. I'm not very happy here either, but I don't have near the problems you do.. Just neighbors that don't take responsibility for their animals... and a barking dog.. and a chicken eating dog.
Animal control knows me by name, but they do nothing.
I refuse to compromise my integrity by doing something underhanded or hurting an innocent animal, but I'm human and I have my limits! So I know what it's like to feel trapped in a place you despise, surrounded by people who have no integrity.
jHi Jay: Funny, When I started reading Copperstone's thread, I thought of you and your thread where you used that oxygen epitah, I laughed so hard, and I was wondering if you a Copperstone came out of the same brooder. You are both so expressive and colorful. My poor wife wonders what is so funny, I'm laughing so hard I can hardly tell her. Some of what people do is so low, but you two turn a serious matter into pure humor. I love it. Both of you have a very Merry Christma.
I have 6 little Serama banty's. My pride and joy. I bought the eggs from Ebay.
I would like to hatch out some more of them. Just waiting until the weather let's up a bit and then I will bid on some more.
The little roos are something else--boy do they think they are 6 feet tall. The black roo has a Wyandotte comb, he has tried to take me on several times. I finally had to teach him not to spur the hand that feeds him.
The other roo I have is a light colored, single comb, and I belive the pattern is called a splash. But, I am not sure. I will try to post a pic here if I can.
The hens are mostly black with one hen being a light colored and another chicken that I honestly don't know it it knows what it's going to be a hen or roo.
It has some feather's like it's a roo but acts like a hen. hmmmmmm Did someone say Mule???
hehehe
copper
Some people just should not own animals leg alone a dog. Poor dog doesn't really know any better and has now decided those chickens look mighty good to eat. I hope you can catch him.
Why is it that Law Enforcement won't help good law abiding citizens? I don't understand that, but it's going to get worse I'm afraid. Seems criminals are the only ones that have rights. Well, I have decided that if I catch the world be chicken nabbers, I will go to jail before I let them take my chickens. And maybe if I put the fear of "ME" into them, they won't come back. At least not until their arms are out of the casts anyway.
hahahahaha
copper
oops sorry typo
Hey, you'd better get that chicken's gender sorted out... I just read how the Pope don't hold with fuzzing the gender lines! Fuzzy gender is not part of his God's creation. I can't imagine how Mr. Pope feels about those banana slugs that swing both ways, or the fish that switch back and forth depending on what's needed. Well, a guy in a dress from the 1600's oughta know... Would somebody please send the guy a Saks catalogue? If the clothes make the man, well, what can I say? LOL I'm thinking of taking up a collection to buy him something a little more recent. Still conservative and sharply cut... ooops, I mean nicely tailored, as befits the dignity of the office... Something Margaret Thatcher-ish. =0)
Hey Haystack, I'm glad you enjoy the cacklin' and crowin' from these yards. =0)
You know what they say... Well behaved women rarely make history!
Let's give 'em somethin' to talk about down at the coffee shop!
Jay
Jay I have an idea--
let's all get together and make that person a coat of many feathers.
We could all save up the pretty feathers and sew them together.
hahahaa
copper
hahaha Jay, you are so right.
But nontheless, if I catch them, I am going to go after them with a ball bat. You see, that's all those idiots understand. Calling the sherrif's won't do any good because they won't even come out. And the crooks/jerks know it too.
So, if that crazy redhead, (me), decides to go postal well that's ok too.
My neighbor would take care of my critters while I was in jail.
That's another reason why I need to leave here. I know that if I don't, I WILL end up in jail and I don't look good in prison stripes. So far, I don't have a record and I would sure like to keep it that way.
But, I can't replace those chickens or anything else I have for that matter. A peson should have the right to keep what they have.
Strange world we live in now.
copper
Yeah, it's a pretty messed up world for sure.
I just saw a sign on a housing development that had a lot of foreclosures... move in with no money down! Isn't that what got us into this mess? Heeell-OOOOOO?
Rather than a baseball bat... how 'bout bear repellant in the face? Or what Jestr and I were thinkin' about... paint ball! And freeze the balls! That'd hurt!
I met a guy once who was moving down the highway pulled by a team of 4 mammoth donks, all his worldly possessions, including a milk goat and a couple of hens, in his wagon. The animals were in a little trailer behind the wagon. He doesn't do it anymore, the traffic has gotten too crazy to be safe, but take it as inspiration for your little homestead on wheels.
I also had a friend on SSI who took caretaking jobs in the country, no pay, just free rent/utilities and a place to keep her animals. She paid their food and vet, and all her own expenses, so it was still a meager living, but she made do. she'd spent most of her life working off the books, so SSI wasn't much. She'd take care of folks animals when they traveled for a little extra cash.
Just more ideas in the pot. So what's this home industry that you're developing?
Jay
Paint balls!!!!!!???????
Hmmmmmm now that just might be an idea. Have to look into that.
I work at home and I love it. Anyone can do what I do. I just started not to long ago, so it's going to take a bit of time, to build up to where I make enough money to support myself. But, it's wonderful.
I like the idea of taking care of other people's critters. Been around animals almost all of my life. Cows, horses, chickens, NO pigs though.
Anyway, that is an idea. Thanks
copper
What do you do at home?
My friend was pretty gimpy from arthritis, but she managed to keep things up well enough, and having some one on the place kept the vandals out. There weren't any other animals in her case, just her own goats and a dog.
It's hard to find responsible, knowledgeable people to take care of livestock, so if it's something you can do, try putting an ad up at the vets and the feed store or even word of mouth. Just friendly like. Groomers will know who's nice and who's a back-stabbing hose-head.
Jay
hehehee love your descriptions Jay. I think I will keep a small dairy and put your descripts in it. That's how much I like them.
Jay send me an email and I'll give you some additional info. I don't want to get into trouble by posting something I shouldn't.
I am wondering though, does anyone know if there is a "handbook" or something that has pics of the most prevalent colors of Serama's? I have seen A LOT of black Serama's but there are so many. I would like to know what color's my birds are. Thanks
copper