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  1. silverback

    Comment by 'silverback' in article 'Do Poultry Mourn Over The Loss Of A Flock Mate?'

    I, too, have seen a hen mourn. The details are still too difficult for me to get into but my lone surviving hen who watched her flock mates be massacred by two canine predators was in shock for a couple of days, called and searched for more and finally resigned to loneliness and a mirror I...
  2. silverback

    Is my coop all wrong?!

    This is a great thread. Just one thing to add if not said before. The roosting perches (2X4)s should be flat side up. They appear to be installed the opposite of that. You want the hens to cover their feet when roosting - not have the toes wrapped around and below where they can suffer frost...
  3. silverback

    Lost 4 chickens today. In shock.

    Met with the dog owner yesterday. Went as well as it could. Genuinely sorry. Really decent guy. Gave me flowers and a lovely sympathy card with a sincere message and more money than I had suggested would compensate for loss of hens, loss of eggs, damage to fence and vet bill. Loss, transition...
  4. silverback

    Lost 4 chickens today. In shock.

    Absolutely agree.
  5. silverback

    Lost 4 chickens today. In shock.

    Pepper is in the large run that encloses the coops. She does not have access to the larger fenced (and covered) "pasture" area that the dogs broke into. I visit her and today she seemed a bit perkier. Gave her some bits of melon which she devoured happily. I am still thinking about when/if to...
  6. silverback

    Lost 4 chickens today. In shock.

    Oh my. How horrible to hear about the attack on your cousin's little boy. What an ordeal that must have been. Two days since we talked and nothing has happened since. I sent a text today. We shall see.
  7. silverback

    Lost 4 chickens today. In shock.

    Thank you all for good suggestions. The dog owner actually contacted me yesterday and seemed genuinely sorry and of course surprised that his dogs would do this. He said he would understand if they had been shot. We had a long talk where I worked to impress upon him the pain this has caused -...
  8. silverback

    Lost 4 chickens today. In shock.

    Thank you for your caring thoughts. I may have to file for a “potential dangerous dog” designation which basically puts them on a watch list but no real punishment until 3 strikes. They already have a prior record but that won’t count. Have some new leads in reaching the owner. The main guy at...
  9. silverback

    Lost 4 chickens today. In shock.

  10. silverback

    Lost 4 chickens today. In shock.

    Yes, it is unbelievable how irresponsible some dog owners can be. I am still trying to contact the owner. Went to Animal Control again today and they were helpful but this is very difficult. Thank you everyone who has responded to this. Poor Pepper is hardly eating - but she laid an egg today!
  11. silverback

    Lost 4 chickens today. In shock.

    By the way, the house the dogs were traced to is owned by a Grammy nominated musician. He is not the person who the report states is dog owner/responsible but hard to tell. I am trying to make contact before hiring a lawyer. North Carlolina law definitely holds owners of chicken killing dogs...
  12. silverback

    Lost 4 chickens today. In shock.

    Good idea on the mirror. I will do that. Also looking into getting recorded chicken vocalizations! She is not eating well. Thank you.
  13. silverback

    Lost 4 chickens today. In shock.

    The two survivors are now dead. One was euthanized and the other had surgery but died shortly after I brought her home. So now there is only one hen left of the flock - Pepper - who is desperately lonely. I am not ready to think about more hens right now. Any advise for Pepper's well being all...
  14. silverback

    Lost 4 chickens today. In shock.

    Two loose Rottweilers broke through my fenced area today and killed 4 hens and severely wounded 2 others. I think one will die tonight but the other might make it. Put hydrogen peroxide on the open wounds. I am very upset. I saw the last part of the massacre as they lashed into my dear hens...
  15. silverback

    Review by 'silverback' in article 'Chicken Treat Chart: The Best Treats for Backyard Chickens'

    I love these lists but I never see anyone mention tofu. My birds absolutely love it. Raw, plain tofu. They fight for it and a couple of times when I had a sick hen the only things she would eat were tofu and watermelon. In both cases they recovered.
  16. silverback

    Comment by 'silverback' in article 'How to Handle the Ageing Process of Chickens'

    Thank you for this article. I recently lost our dear Floppy at 8 years old. She started slowing down and over several weeks and after much research I think she had kidney or liver failure or possibly cancer. She just got slower and droopier (along with some other specific symptoms) but still...
  17. silverback

    9 year old hen laying

    I have two 7 year old black stars who just started laying again this week after taking the winter off. Last year one of them laid 18 days in a row! I thought this year they were done but they are true champions. They out perform my younger hens. Congratulations on your
  18. silverback

    Who is laying the eggs?? Ideas to find out??

    Also, if they exhibit squatting behavior: reach out to pet them on the back - the ones that squat are either laying or ready to lay. Not foolproof but a very good indicator. Good luck! Once you identify who is laying it is actually possible to identify eggs by color and shape since hens tend to...
  19. silverback

    6 year old hen in good form

    Update: my other 6 year old hen started laying and has laid 3 days straight! So now I have two 6 year olds laying regularly. I have four 2 year old hens and only one of them is laying again this spring. Age and experience are a good thing!
  20. silverback

    6 year old hen in good form

    Awesome! They truly are individuals who can beat the odds.
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