American serama thread!

[Chicklette 1]

I somehow remember reading something about a black line from the eye of a baby chick indicating future color or sex or do I remember incorrectly? Two of my 8 have very distinct lines from the corner of their eye going back towards the ear. Anyone else remember that?

 

[LAseramas KP]

I can't wait for the June show now

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote:
Thanks.
I remember you asking about Zorro when Lil Blue first hatched her.
She had a twin brother who was sadly killed by a hawk right through 1" wire
despite being in the roomy cage in this photo.


http://tribbles.info/pics/bluebabies.jpg

Congrats to your hens on their laying prowess.

hawks would actually get on the ground to get at a bird?? not just an aerial threat????

 

[Ra_]

Quote:
hawks would actually get on the ground to get at a bird?? not just an aerial threat????

This is the first year I've had such a severe hawk problem.
I had to shoo one away from the same cage today.
( There is 1/2" wire over the 1" wire now )

I let most of my birds out for free range for about an hour before dusk each evening.
This year, I can't leave their side. I have to stand there like a goalie
and fend off hawks that swoop in with me standing right there!
Yesterday, one got his claws into a bird for a moment with me standing 15 feet away.

 

[Ivywoods]

Quote:
hawks would actually get on the ground to get at a bird?? not just an aerial threat????

This is the first year I've had such a severe hawk problem.
I had to shoo one away from the same cage today.
( There is 1/2" wire over the 1" wire now )

I let most of my birds out for free range for about an hour before dusk each evening.
This year, I can't leave their side. I have to stand there like a goalie
and fend off hawks that swoop in with me standing right there!
Yesterday, one got his claws into a bird for a moment with me standing 15 feet away.

We have hawks around here, too, but they are generally not too big of a problem. I was sitting on the step in front of the coop on day giving the chickens their treats. All of the sudden the guineas sounded their alarm and all the chickens scattered just as a hawk swopped right down in front of me... within about 5 feet. He made a mid-air change of direction and went straight back up without getting any chickens.

So far the only bird I have lost to a predator was a guinea hen that was killed by an owl. For us, owls are a bigger problem than hawks.

 

[artsyrobin]

i hung up aluminum pie pans around, and our dog runs loose, but i don't know that i would ever let my seramas run like i do the big chickens, even with them, they are only out about an hour a day- i lost all but one duck and a goose last spring, 4 hens and a guinea before i worked with the dogs to be able to let them run with the chickens- first time in 2 years i ever lost any- so i am pretty sensitive about it- but none have come close like you mentioned...yikes!

 

[ruthless]

Robin,
Hawks take a lot of their prey right off the ground...........mice, voles, snakes, etc. They will also swoop down and take a bird right beside or in front of you. So you really have to watch out or have guineas or dogs that will help watch for them.

 

[artsyrobin]

i need to change how i am handling the chickens- i usually let them run unsupervised for an hour or so - with the dogs and guineas of course- but after reading this, i think that needs to change..... the seramas(inside) and banties don't do that...

 

[tailfluff]

Last summer I sat with my chickens for hours outside. I had all sorts of hawk circling. As soon as I saw them I would swing a brightly colored towel around in the air at them and they would buzz off quick as could be. I only caught one returning for another look so I swung the towel on my way to grab the SG. He didn't stay around for very long - certainly not long enough to go grab good ol' shotty. I haven't seen him in about three months now. Next summer they will be unleashed and unsupervised in a covered run with an attached house.
Anna - we don't have any mud problems here either. Just slippery ice.

- A friend of mine swears that keeping geese in the yard helps to keep the hawks at bay.

 

[tailfluff]

Quote:
I'll bet you can't! I'm excited for you about the show too. You'd better let us all know how you do. If anyone beats Jack I will be VERY surprised!