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We're down near Mesa Verde.

Well, I hadn't realized its been so long since I posted this up! We finally did find out what was getting the eggs. It was MAGPIES. They'd fly into the coop, peck a hole and eat the innards. My solution was to buy rolling next boxes - the hens lay the eggs and they roll down into a little...

Well said. I live on the edge of BLM and FS wilderness in the middle of nowhere and know my live stock will be targeted despite my best efforts to fence and safe guard. My best defense is my 12 gauge when I can see the predator. But when I'm ambushed when I'm not home a trap of some sort is...

With our drought and hot summer we've been swamped with ground squirrels raiding the chicken and goat feed. The drought has been so bad we've had them drowning in the horse trough trying to get drinks of water. I HATE pulling soggy bloated rodent water balloons out of the trough! :( Just...

Fox, coyote or dog. They tend to hit and run without leaving an explosion of feathers. Raptors always leave a huge plume of feathers behind from the high velocity impact. And bobcats tend to leave a trail of feathers as they run off.

This is typical of the egg carnage we've experienced all summer. This one was found in the nest box today along with two unharmed eggs. It appears the yolk was entirely eaten and the white left behind. It's obvious why I would think the chickens were eating their own eggs -the eggs being...

I've had snakes eat eggs before but the ingest them whole or crush them. And my chickens destroy any snakes they find on the farm so I'm pretty sure we can rule out snakes. Especially since the holes in the shell are well defined. The chicken eggs are less sturdy so you couldn't quite tell...

We've had a problem all summer with eggs in the nest boxes being pecked open and eaten. I assumed it's this strange weather and drought that has stressed my hens and have done everything to give them the best feed and water. I finally just chalked it up to a bad year. However, two days ago I...

Quote: Oh thank goodness! It makes me feel so much better to know that I'm not the only keyboard spaz here! Any new news on the missing fowl?

Good to know Bleenie! He's still outside in his "isolation" paddock. He's comfortable out there and can still hang with his girls. I saw the girls all snuggled up against his fence last night and they were reaching through the fence to groom him. I do keep moving him to fresh deep grass so...

Some small improvement! Yesterday he was able to scoot away from me using his feet! I had to herd him a few minute before I could get my hands on him! So he is regaining strength but still not able to stand. He is still eating and drinking his medicated water with gusto. He doesn't much...

Quote: I hope that is her!!! Have you taught your critters "calls" yet? My hubby calls them my "hog calls" but each of my animals has a particular noise or word or nonsense sound that brings them running to me. The chickens get a "CHEECKchickchickchick!", my ducks get (don't laugh) 'DOOK...

Quote: I am so sorry! I didn't mean to imply that your comment in particular offended! My comment was directed at clipping wings in general and that it may make her feel bad if she hadn't clipped. I do apologize. I am new to the forum and forget that I need to apply a filter between my...

Quote: Not meaning to contradict you Miss Lydia - I suspect it's an issue of environment - but that is exactly the reason I don't clip wings on any of my birds. Even my Cockatiel who doesn't ever go outside. If he got out of his aviary in the house he'd have a chance of getting away from my...

I do hope she returns - that is a horrible feeling when one is missing. I hesitate to say it but it sounds like you had a predator visit your flock. Don't give up hope that she might come home, but you might want to take a look at your enclosure security just in case a raccoon, bobcat, fox or...

My ducks and chix have always been housed together and have done fine! (Altho I noticed my tiny New Hampshire Red thumping my welsh female today.... I'll have to keep an eye on that). All of the birds are free range withing the confines of my farm. My pekins were amazing ducks. Very very...

No improvement as yet. He still is eating and drinking with gusto and grooming and playing when I put him in the tub. He's started on Duramycin and a nutritional niacin supplement as of today (had to trek to another town to find the meds and supps - love living in the middle of nowhere but...

Thank you both!! I will probably be bringing him in the house to keep him cleaner and more comfortable (hubby is gonna love that). I will try meds and supplements and make sure he's getting a complete and balanced diet. I did consider capture myopothy, but the onset was so gradual. I do...

47 views and nobody has a suggestion? Nobody has has this happen before? Nobody has a link to an article that might provide an inkling of help? OK - how about somebody has a link to a forum that deals with waterfowl diseases and skeletal and muscular disorders? I live in an extremely rural...

Thank you! Keeping water fowl in the desert is a challenge but doable! Our ducks love the snow! They get up on 3 or 4 feet of snow and flap around like body surfers! We've never lost a duck to snow and two years ago we had 8 feet! They were always out in it quacking and playing! My ducks...