Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Goose and Fig]

So sorry about the new birds Steve! You ARE having some terrible luck! Any chance that you have coons nearby? I almost lost my little araucana one night- a coon had pulled her entire wing through 1 x 2 welded wire, and was going in for the kill when I heard the screams. Thank god she's such a dense (like a brick) little thing. I cannot believe it but she completely recovered.
I hope things improve for you.

gagalerslove- I swear I've seen that bird before! Someone posted pics- I remember because she looks so much like a Buttercup. Very pretty EE.

 

[PepsNick]

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Thanks. That really helped.

 

[SteveH]

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Thank you , I'm sure they well . I'm absolutely sure there are tons of raccoons and other predators in the area , but also 99.9% sure no coons have been in the pen nor drug a bird through the wire . It would have had to have been an owl or hawk if they never escaped on their own , but no sign of a kill inside the pen . I'll be adding a second hotwire and setting the livetrap because with at least 4 escapees and more likely 7 , the local predators have surely eaten chicken recently . I really think my losses have been due to me not securing my birds in and not that I'm not keeping predators out .
The immediate area was home to a pair of pitbulls that ran loose and slept in what is now my chicken coop up untill 45 days ago so predators undoubtedly stayed away in the past . I sure wish I could leave one of my bulldogs there at night but that's just not possible yet ; and I would never leave one of my dogs to run free and unsupervised like the pitbulls were anyway . My opinion is that all animals should be confined to one's own property ; but it would sure be nice to be moved in down there and a dog handy to take care of the varmit problem or penned in the run . I better make a run down there now and check things .

 

[livin-green]

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Thank you , I'm sure they well . I'm absolutely sure there are tons of raccoons and other predators in the area , but also 99.9% sure no coons have been in the pen nor drug a bird through the wire . It would have had to have been an owl or hawk if they never escaped on their own , but no sign of a kill inside the pen . I'll be adding a second hotwire and setting the livetrap because with at least 4 escapees and more likely 7 , the local predators have surely eaten chicken recently . I really think my losses have been due to me not securing my birds in and not that I'm not keeping predators out .
The immediate area was home to a pair of pitbulls that ran loose and slept in what is now my chicken coop up untill 45 days ago so predators undoubtedly stayed away in the past . I sure wish I could leave one of my bulldogs there at night but that's just not possible yet ; and I would never leave one of my dogs to run free and unsupervised like the pitbulls were anyway . My opinion is that all animals should be confined to one's own property ; but it would sure be nice to be moved in down there and a dog handy to take care of the varmit problem or penned in the run . I better make a run down there now and check things .

Have you considered a flight net across the top? We bought a flight net from Stromberg's for our large run and small coop/run area. We also used an old trampoline security net for our smaller, long, skinny (LOL) run. I haven't had any chickens "disappear" even with dogs, coyotes, raccoons, opposum, hawks, owls...you name it, we've got it. I have a friend who lives about 5 miles from us in a suburban neighborhood and lost several chickens the way you're describing. They were just there in her backyard one day and not the next. She was convinced it had to be a hawk since they were put up at night and nothing else could have gotten in during the day.

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
Thank you , I'm sure they well . I'm absolutely sure there are tons of raccoons and other predators in the area , but also 99.9% sure no coons have been in the pen nor drug a bird through the wire . It would have had to have been an owl or hawk if they never escaped on their own , but no sign of a kill inside the pen . I'll be adding a second hotwire and setting the livetrap because with at least 4 escapees and more likely 7 , the local predators have surely eaten chicken recently . I really think my losses have been due to me not securing my birds in and not that I'm not keeping predators out .
The immediate area was home to a pair of pitbulls that ran loose and slept in what is now my chicken coop up untill 45 days ago so predators undoubtedly stayed away in the past . I sure wish I could leave one of my bulldogs there at night but that's just not possible yet ; and I would never leave one of my dogs to run free and unsupervised like the pitbulls were anyway . My opinion is that all animals should be confined to one's own property ; but it would sure be nice to be moved in down there and a dog handy to take care of the varmit problem or penned in the run . I better make a run down there now and check things .

Have you considered a flight net across the top? We bought a flight net from Stromberg's for our large run and small coop/run area. We also used an old trampoline security net for our smaller, long, skinny (LOL) run. I haven't had any chickens "disappear" even with dogs, coyotes, raccoons, opposum, hawks, owls...you name it, we've got it. I have a friend who lives about 5 miles from us in a suburban neighborhood and lost several chickens the way you're describing. They were just there in her backyard one day and not the next. She was convinced it had to be a hawk since they were put up at night and nothing else could have gotten in during the day.

While netting may proove to be necessary , I really feel that they escaped due to my ignorance . Since its only been those just introduced and not considering it " home " yet they must have sought cover in the near by brush . Actually to either side of the pen except the front , once you get past my 6 ft mowed area there could be chickens hiding everywhere and not be seen LOL .
I was just down there for a night count and discovered the 24 oldest are sleeping outside on the ground , I guess because the sand there had been damp and shaded during the day and cooler than the coop . The oldest Ameraucana pullet was sleeping in the coop under the roost by herself , and the 6 youngest are also huddled on the ground behind the roost in their section of the coop . No signs of predators , but I set the livetrap against the fence that the main bunch are sleeping against . I'm thinking anything smaller than a barn or great horned owl could not get airborn tonight with any of the main flock , and some of them are probably too heavy for even a great horned .

 

[Goose and Fig]

I finally got around to sending in my ABC membership. It said on the ABC site you could do it via paypal- so I did. I must be the first one to do that because it went to an unverified member with no transactions. Hope it goes through ok!

 

[Shaffer]

Amy,
Email Michael the sec/treasurer of the club to make sure it went thru to the right location.

 

[Goose and Fig]

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Yes- I sent a follow up with our contact information and stuff. It said the payment went to "Michael", so it must be the right place.

Yay!

 

[SteveH]

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Congrats . I guess I better follow your lead and get mine paid soon also .

 

[pbjmaker]

I am entering one of my two blue cockerals in the State fair this year. I'm pretty sure he won't place well but am more looking for experience and it was only an extra $1.25 to enter him. I think he might still be too young by the time the fair rolls around (Aug. 13). But I would love to get an idea of his potential at this point. I hatched out eggs just get more green eggers at the time but got what is looking like 6/7 roos

(Possibly 7/7). They are both about 10 weeks old.

This is the one I am most likely entering, way better personality (they are broody raised) actually has a tail, is bigger in size.
I am concerned that his color isn't very even and he has a still needs a better tail.

This is the second one I have. He is totally nuts - screams bloody murder when handled and has no tail at this point. Can he grown a tail in 4 weeks? He has been very slow to mature along with another splash hatchmate. I like how his color fades from dark to light though. I can work on the personality thing - treats do wonders...