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#11
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Tweed - OT chickens
On 3/11/2013 1:29 PM, EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
jmcquown wrote: There are signs all over the island where I live (by the many stocked ponds). "Do Not Feed the Alligators!". My mom told me when they first started building homesites here (@30 years ago) people thought they were quaint. Then dogs started going missing. Now, of course, the Association has strict leash laws. Jill Never mind dogs, what about humans? There's a series on Animal Planet about some people who have a Florida refuge for 'gators. Some of those they "rescue" could easily consume an adult human! (And of course, there are the non-native reptiles like pythons - some as long as twelve feet - that irresponsible "pet owners" let loose in the Everglades when they grow too big to keep as pets.) Those folks with the sensational television shows should succumb to Darwinism. Ditto people with non-native snakes. But this isn't the Everglades and snakes like that aren't a problem around here. The alligators here aren't like crocodiles from the 1930's 'Tarzan' films, either. People don't bother them, they don't bother us. I called Security when a 'gater was in my yard a year or so ago. (My house isn't near one of those ponds or the marsh.) They sent someone to "relocate" it. Jill |
#12
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Tweed - OT chickens
"MaryL" wrote in message ... That's a true horror story. I'm glad they were able to reattach the baby's finger and that the mother was able to prevent even worse injury. MaryL It's a result of feeding them. No foxes are fed here. If they even look at my chickens and try to break in they have such bad luck. Foxman comes and they are gone. |
#13
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Tweed - OT chickens
"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" wrote in message ... We have problems in the American Southwest with people feeding (or making garbage accessible to) bears. That has resulted in a number of bear attacks in suburban areas where humans are more and more invading the bears' territory. There are organizations that try to relocate the offending animals, rather than destroying them, but bears aren't stupid. (Once they've found an easy source of food, they tend to return, and they can travel fairly long distances.) I'm lucky we don't have bears here, eh? IMO any wild creature that can pose a threat to humans should never be fed, it habituates them to not be afraid of us and that's when we get the problems. I would ban any TV programmes that suggest "why don't you feed your local foxes and here is someone doing it, look how nice they are" Foxes are not nice in the conventional sense of trustworthy doggies. They are fine as wild animals. I expect some people will carry on feeding but if they do, they might come into your house and bite your babies. I have a different view from the townie-type TV presenters. It's not that I don't like foxes, but if they become a nuisance to me foxman will send them to RB. |
#14
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Tweed - OT chickens
Christina Websell wrote:
I would ban any TV programmes that suggest "why don't you feed your local foxes and here is someone doing it, look how nice they are" Foxes are not nice in the conventional sense of trustworthy doggies. They are fine as wild animals. I expect some people will carry on feeding but if they do, they might come into your house and bite your babies. The problem is, even if only some people feed them, they become habituated to *all* humans. Then, even people who have been responsible and have refrained from feeding them might still get a visit from a fox. The foxes aren't going to limit themselves to the babies of people who feed them. So if someone is continuing to feed foxes or other wild animals, it can affect everyone. It should be illegal! It's unfortunate that it has to come to you bringing in the fox hitman, but on the other hand, that might reintroduce some fear in the surviving foxes. -- Joyce Loneliness is comforted by the closeness and touch of fur to fur, skin to skin, or -- skin to fur. -- Paul Gallico |
#15
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Tweed - OT chickens
"Bastette" wrote in message ... Christina Websell wrote: I would ban any TV programmes that suggest "why don't you feed your local foxes and here is someone doing it, look how nice they are" Foxes are not nice in the conventional sense of trustworthy doggies. They are fine as wild animals. I expect some people will carry on feeding but if they do, they might come into your house and bite your babies. The problem is, even if only some people feed them, they become habituated to *all* humans. Then, even people who have been responsible and have refrained from feeding them might still get a visit from a fox. The foxes aren't going to limit themselves to the babies of people who feed them. So if someone is continuing to feed foxes or other wild animals, it can affect everyone. It should be illegal! It's unfortunate that it has to come to you bringing in the fox hitman, but on the other hand, that might reintroduce some fear in the surviving foxes. It became pointless when foxman told me that the city vermin controllers, instead of doing their job, were releasing foxes near here. So I put my birds into safe houses. He knew that because he knows what *my * foxes look like. they are country foxes, mine are dark and slim and the ones were caught were light in colour and fat. (not to say a country fox has not met his match here) The worst was I caught a big fat city fox in my fox trap once. He was asleep when I discovered him and hardly raised an eyebrow when I discovered him. I felt really bad about that one - but he was in my hen run.. |
#16
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Tweed - OT chickens
On 3/10/2013 5:08 PM, MaryL wrote:
"Christina Websell" wrote in message ... "MaryL" wrote in message ... I thought of you when I heard a local news report last night. We have a lot of people in this area who keep a few backyard chickens, and the report talked about a woman who has a small business as a "chicken sitter." So, just as I use a pet sitter when I go on vacation (or once when I was in the hospital), people who have chickens and can't be home use her to take care of their chickens. She feeds them, puts them in at night, gathers eggs, etc. I thought this might interest you. MaryL Hi, Mary I've replied to this twice but for some some reason it hasn't appeared either time. So here goes again: Thank you for sending this, it was very interesting. We don't seem to have the same pet-sitting culture here as you do in the USA. Pet sitters do exist but are few and far between. I wouldn't mind being a chicken-sitter, but I'd be reluctant unless they were very nearby (like next door) because of the terrible daytime fox problem we have. I'd hate it if my clients got home to find all their chickens were ex-chickens. In the last few weeks a fox has entered a house and eaten the finger off a month old baby. Add this to a couple of years ago another fox went into a house and did some severe facial damage to baby twins. There is now a call for a cull of foxes in London. Once upon a time, before some of the nature programmes on the telly that encourage people to feed them, foxes were afraid of humans and only roamed around during the night - which is how it should be IMO. Tweed ~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks, Tweed. Your message came through this time. We do have a lot of pet sitters, but chicken sitters are rather unusual. I have a friend who was hospitalized for several weeks in December. She has cats, a dog, horses, two burros, chickens and a few ducks. Luckily, someone who lives near her was able to take care of all the "critters" while she was ill. Your description of problems with foxes is why I think we should not feed wild animals. I love to look at them, but feeding them destroys their fear of humans. That, in turn, becomes a danger both to humans and to the animals who have lost their fear. MaryL The story Tweed wrote is horrendous. I don't think a fox could get in my house, so I wonder how they get in? Your view about feeding wild animals should also pertain to feeding birds, but it's hard to stop feeding them when you enjoy watching them through your window. I stopped feeding birds because the food not only attracted birds, but squirrels, and encouraged the squirrels to bear their young here. Both the birds and the baby squirrels encouraged the large population of stray/feral cats in the area and while I love cats, I don't want to draw them here for a feeding fest. |
#17
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Tweed - OT chickens
On 3/10/2013 8:53 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
and here it is: http://news.sky.com/story/1050008/fo...-in-cot-attack note the wildlife presenter's views. I rest my case. Foxes are fine, in their place, which is being afraid of humans and skulking around during the night. Not being fed and made bold and that's what can happen if you do. I read the article, and I don't understand why the door was left open?? If a door is open, it's going to attract something to come in, right? My foxes are not too bold here, as if they are a nuisance they meet foxman who introduces them to his firearm. They are not a nuisance if they pass through my garden on their way to somewhere else. They*are* a nuisance if they start looking at my chickens and trying to dig in to them under the runs or huts. They can't get in unless they can dig through paving slabs or through steel plated huts anyway but if I see a sign that they are trying..they need to be afraid. |
#18
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Tweed - OT chickens
"Cheryl" wrote in message eb.com... On 3/10/2013 8:53 PM, Christina Websell wrote: and here it is: http://news.sky.com/story/1050008/fo...-in-cot-attack note the wildlife presenter's views. I rest my case. Foxes are fine, in their place, which is being afraid of humans and skulking around during the night. Not being fed and made bold and that's what can happen if you do. I read the article, and I don't understand why the door was left open?? If a door is open, it's going to attract something to come in, right? Well, no, not usually here, unless it's a too brave fox or someone's cat who realises "whoops, that's not my house.." I had this brilliant idea when I was lying awake last night. Why don't the London councils offer a "vitamin powder" to the fox-feeders to add to the food which is really a contraceptive? A campaign on the local London TV to say "if you feed foxes, get this supplement, it will do them good." would be great. It would indeed do them good. It would mean that they do not breed out of control and sneak into houses to attack tiny children in their beds. UK residents should be able to have their door open without expecting foxes inside their house. If they feed them, this will happen. |
#19
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Tweed - OT chickens
"Cheryl" wrote in message eb.com... On 3/10/2013 5:08 PM, MaryL wrote: "Christina Websell" wrote in message ... "MaryL" wrote in message ... I thought of you when I heard a local news report last night. We have a lot of people in this area who keep a few backyard chickens, and the report talked about a woman who has a small business as a "chicken sitter." So, just as I use a pet sitter when I go on vacation (or once when I was in the hospital), people who have chickens and can't be home use her to take care of their chickens. She feeds them, puts them in at night, gathers eggs, etc. I thought this might interest you. MaryL Hi, Mary I've replied to this twice but for some some reason it hasn't appeared either time. So here goes again: Thank you for sending this, it was very interesting. We don't seem to have the same pet-sitting culture here as you do in the USA. Pet sitters do exist but are few and far between. I wouldn't mind being a chicken-sitter, but I'd be reluctant unless they were very nearby (like next door) because of the terrible daytime fox problem we have. I'd hate it if my clients got home to find all their chickens were ex-chickens. In the last few weeks a fox has entered a house and eaten the finger off a month old baby. Add this to a couple of years ago another fox went into a house and did some severe facial damage to baby twins. There is now a call for a cull of foxes in London. Once upon a time, before some of the nature programmes on the telly that encourage people to feed them, foxes were afraid of humans and only roamed around during the night - which is how it should be IMO. Tweed ~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks, Tweed. Your message came through this time. We do have a lot of pet sitters, but chicken sitters are rather unusual. I have a friend who was hospitalized for several weeks in December. She has cats, a dog, horses, two burros, chickens and a few ducks. Luckily, someone who lives near her was able to take care of all the "critters" while she was ill. Your description of problems with foxes is why I think we should not feed wild animals. I love to look at them, but feeding them destroys their fear of humans. That, in turn, becomes a danger both to humans and to the animals who have lost their fear. MaryL The story Tweed wrote is horrendous. I don't think a fox could get in my house, so I wonder how they get in? Your view about feeding wild animals should also pertain to feeding birds, but it's hard to stop feeding them when you enjoy watching them through your window. I stopped feeding birds because the food not only attracted birds, but squirrels, and encouraged the squirrels to bear their young here. Both the birds and the baby squirrels encouraged the large population of stray/feral cats in the area and while I love cats, I don't want to draw them here for a feeding fest. continue feeding the birds and the cats. Squirrels (grey) not welcome here but I've not instructed foxman to anything about them. As for foxes, well, I had to get my birds into safe huts and runs after a real daytime disaster. 22 killed. That was dreadful. Some had managed to hide, most had their heads off. If I see a fox near I get foxman in. He has a nice rifle. |
#20
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Tweed - OT chickens
On 3/18/2013 2:00 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"Cheryl" wrote in message eb.com... On 3/10/2013 5:08 PM, MaryL wrote: "Christina Websell" wrote in message ... "MaryL" wrote in message ... I thought of you when I heard a local news report last night. We have a lot of people in this area who keep a few backyard chickens, and the report talked about a woman who has a small business as a "chicken sitter." So, just as I use a pet sitter when I go on vacation (or once when I was in the hospital), people who have chickens and can't be home use her to take care of their chickens. She feeds them, puts them in at night, gathers eggs, etc. I thought this might interest you. MaryL Hi, Mary I've replied to this twice but for some some reason it hasn't appeared either time. So here goes again: Thank you for sending this, it was very interesting. We don't seem to have the same pet-sitting culture here as you do in the USA. Pet sitters do exist but are few and far between. I wouldn't mind being a chicken-sitter, but I'd be reluctant unless they were very nearby (like next door) because of the terrible daytime fox problem we have. I'd hate it if my clients got home to find all their chickens were ex-chickens. In the last few weeks a fox has entered a house and eaten the finger off a month old baby. Add this to a couple of years ago another fox went into a house and did some severe facial damage to baby twins. There is now a call for a cull of foxes in London. Once upon a time, before some of the nature programmes on the telly that encourage people to feed them, foxes were afraid of humans and only roamed around during the night - which is how it should be IMO. Tweed ~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks, Tweed. Your message came through this time. We do have a lot of pet sitters, but chicken sitters are rather unusual. I have a friend who was hospitalized for several weeks in December. She has cats, a dog, horses, two burros, chickens and a few ducks. Luckily, someone who lives near her was able to take care of all the "critters" while she was ill. Your description of problems with foxes is why I think we should not feed wild animals. I love to look at them, but feeding them destroys their fear of humans. That, in turn, becomes a danger both to humans and to the animals who have lost their fear. MaryL The story Tweed wrote is horrendous. I don't think a fox could get in my house, so I wonder how they get in? Your view about feeding wild animals should also pertain to feeding birds, but it's hard to stop feeding them when you enjoy watching them through your window. I stopped feeding birds because the food not only attracted birds, but squirrels, and encouraged the squirrels to bear their young here. Both the birds and the baby squirrels encouraged the large population of stray/feral cats in the area and while I love cats, I don't want to draw them here for a feeding fest. continue feeding the birds and the cats. Squirrels (grey) not welcome here but I've not instructed foxman to anything about them. As for foxes, well, I had to get my birds into safe huts and runs after a real daytime disaster. 22 killed. That was dreadful. Some had managed to hide, most had their heads off. If I see a fox near I get foxman in. He has a nice rifle. I remember when you wrote about the chicken massacre. That must have been so horrible to see. I'm still choosing not to feed the birds. In one way I liked having the stray/feral cats around because they were very effective at killing rodents and sometimes I'd even hear the little mice or voles screaming in the night and knew it was because of a cat. But then again, my house is right on a very busy road and I didn't like seeing so many dead cats that had been hit by cars. So I would rather they stay away. |
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