Arizona Chickens

[Beckyhsinglsc]

My neighbor just called to inform me that there will be a pit bull visiting for the next couple of days. This is the yard that my chickens have escaped to a couple of times. Normally it's no big deal when they go over but I'm worried about them now. I'm thinking I'll trim a wing on them but I don't know if it'll keep them in. The wall is pretty low on that side.

 

[Tracydr]

Quote:
Are they feral or stray? - big difference. I have a stray cat living on my front porch/garage right now that somebody dumped. She's friendly and meows for attention and food.
We also have a few feral cats in the neighborhood that do not like human contact at all and run when they see you.
Feral cats are really a pain. There are no no-kill rescue organizations I know of that will take them. I've tried. (They won't even take my friendly porch cat right now.)
There is one organization that will trap, neuter and re-release if you promise to feed them.
If you take them to the pound or humane society they will charge you to leave them there and they will probably be euthanized anyway. I don't think they adopt out feral cats.

These are feral. I'd be willing to pay for spaying and can neuter the males. I suspect they are mostly males.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
Are they feral or stray? - big difference. I have a stray cat living on my front porch/garage right now that somebody dumped. She's friendly and meows for attention and food.
We also have a few feral cats in the neighborhood that do not like human contact at all and run when they see you.
Feral cats are really a pain. There are no no-kill rescue organizations I know of that will take them. I've tried. (They won't even take my friendly porch cat right now.)
There is one organization that will trap, neuter and re-release if you promise to feed them.
If you take them to the pound or humane society they will charge you to leave them there and they will probably be euthanized anyway. I don't think they adopt out feral cats.

These are feral. I'd be willing to pay for spaying and can neuter the males. I suspect they are mostly males.

The problem is what to do with them once they are spayed/neutered. There are too many friendly cats right now. Nobody wants a feral cat, including the chickens.

 

[Tracydr]

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Trim well. My wing clip on my Banties didn't work so well. Although nobody has been on the front porch since I did it.

 

[southerndesert]

Quote:
Hot tip on fences to keep chickens in or out.... No Top Rail, if there is no obvious landing or hoping perch at the top of the fence they are waaaaaaay more apt not to try to go over. Use tension wire instead, works for us and keeps them from jumping our 4 and 5 foot pens as well as the garden.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
Hot tip on fences to keep chickens in or out.... No Top Rail, if there is no obvious landing or hoping perch at the top of the fence they are waaaaaaay more apt not to try to go over. Use tension wire instead, works for us and keeps them from jumping our 4 and 5 foot pens as well as the garden.

Yeah, "no top rail" works for my garden and the tortoise den but the chickens free-range the back yard during the day and the "fence" is a block wall. It kept my chickens in until I got Leghorns.
I might just keep them cooped up unless we go out there to watch them.
They are too valuable to us right now with only 4 laying at the present. (plus we're just a little attached)

 

[pdx2phx]

My BO is listless all of a sudden...normally runs for treats, etc. She was just standing and staring at the wall in a stupor, and would return to that after I followed her around. I saw her drink a small amount of water, no food. Her poops are white/watery as far as I can tell.

I was thinking scorpion sting at first, but she doesn't seem paralyzed and doesn't have the mucus thing I've seen with stings before. I brought her inside and her crop feels kinda larger & spongy/doughy. No smell, though.

Does this sound like it could be an impacted crop? I've never had to deal with this before....I've been reading and I'm seeing treat with oil/massage. Any other ideas?

thanks!!

*edited cuz I've "been reading"...not "beer reading"

 

[Bob's Henhouse]

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Check for mites. Mine get listless when they get mites. The wild birds bring them in constantly.

 

[The Critter Place]

Hi Everyone!

Can someone recommend someone that I can get Silkie hatching eggs from? I am getting Serama eggs, they will ship on monday , and was hoping to have some silkie to set at the same time.

 

[Tracydr]

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Check her crop in the morning to see if it's empty. Check for mites and lice. Watch the poop, could be worms, you often don't see worms in the poop.