Arizona Chickens

[City farm]

It happened again.  Coyote got all 15 of my 4 week old broilers and the hen that was raising them.  The coyote ended up moving 30 lb cinder blocks and boulders out of the way, ripping out the wire apron surrounding the meat pen, moved a buried 4x4 log, and chewing off chunks of the plastic (just decorative and sun shade, but still, determined animal), and ended up ripping off a small panel of wire in the corner of the A-frame and getting every single animal in the pen.  I'm sick.  Despite it's efforts--it kicked those cinder blocks at least 5' away--it didn't end up digging in, but got in where wire was attached between the metal and wood frame.  The opening was the size of my hand.  I truly believed my animals were completely safe, and their death is completely my fault.  I'm just disgusted. 

I'm done with meaties for a bit.  Honestly, I'm not really sure there was anything further and feasible that I could do to protect their coop. Electric fence doesn't seem feasible in a small space in a suburban yard with kids. 

My layers and their coop seem undisturbed.  But now I'm not as confident as I was before that the devil coyote can't chew right through the hardware wire. 

Wow no way..
Condolences from us..

 

[pipemum]

Raccoon? I think it more likely for moving cinder blocks and boulders than a coyote. Or perhaps a javelina.

No, not a javelina. They can't get into the yard. Maybe raccoon, but would a raccoon eat 16 chickens and leave nothing? The anecdotal accounts I read here says they leave body parts strewn about. Not dogs, we don't have packs of dogs here...strays and loose pets don't last long with all the coyotes. Actually, there are a couple of "missing" posters in the neighborhood--one is a small dog and one is a cat. I don't think those people will see their pets again. Maybe bobcat, but every bobcat kill I've seen has left gut piles. Maybe mnt lion, but even with the wash in the back, I'm not sure how likely that would be in the suburbs. Definitely not bear. Found a bunch of coyote poop along my fence line, and actually noted a well-marked trail that they've made coming up from the wash, following along my fence line, and back down into the wash. My yard is definitely a place of interest.

My dad is going to come over and help me figure out what we can do to fortify the yard.

It's bulk-trash pickup in my neighborhood next week, and a couple folks have left out cactus cuttings. Nicely boxed too. I'm going to pick up a couple of boxes of a native prickly pear, and leave the cuttings along their dang trail. I'm sure they just cut a trail next to it, but it's a start. Maybe in a couple of years, I'll also have a nice crop of prickly pear fruit!

In happy, healthy, not-eaten chicken news...my EE has NOT laid an egg in close to two weeks! I wonder what is going on with her. Everyone else has been off for the past few weeks too, is it because there's a broody in the nest box? There are 3 boxes for the 5 of them, so it's not like it SHOULD be a problem...

Oh, and thanks all, for the condolences and letting me talk about it.

 

[jubilation]

On lending out your rooster. That should never be done because it causes a whole new set of problems. The pecking order is very important and it could take a long time for your hens to adjust to the new set up let alone your neighbors hens would also take a while for the new dynamics in the flock. And then when you bring your rooster back the dynamics changes again in both flocks and you could cause your hens, and your neighbors hens, to stop laying for a while. If you lend out a rooster, don't bring it back especially if there's another rooster in your flock because it can lead to fighting. Just my humble opinion of 50 years raising chickens. Wait until one of your hens has a clutch of eggs she's brooding and then offer them to your neighbor or tell your neighbor to purchase their own rooster - doesn't cost that much.

 

[HomeGrownChick]

On lending out your rooster. That should never be done because it causes a whole new set of problems. The pecking order is very important and it could take a long time for your hens to adjust to the new set up let alone your neighbors hens would also take a while for the new dynamics in the flock. And then when you bring your rooster back the dynamics changes again in both flocks and you could cause your hens, and your neighbors hens, to stop laying for a while. If you lend out a rooster, don't bring it back especially if there's another rooster in your flock because it can lead to fighting. Just my humble opinion of 50 years raising chickens. Wait until one of your hens has a clutch of eggs she's brooding and then offer them to your neighbor or tell your neighbor to purchase their own rooster - doesn't cost that much.

Thank you so much for your reply, Jubilation, I value your opinion! I kept thinking more about it and was concerned. I'll take your advice with the neighbor, and hope one of the ladies do decide to brood over a clutch of eggs this spring! Would LOVE to watch them nurture some baby chicks into the flock! Is there anything I can do to "entice" one of the hens to brood? I know I sound really "green" at this, I am! I have raised many kinds of animals, but this is my first year of poultry. Thanks for sharing your expertise!

 

[jubilation]

There's nothing you can do to make, or help a hen brood. They're either broody or not. Certain breeds are more broody than others so it's just a matter of waiting and watching. If one of your hens decides to brood, it will probably be when the weather warms and the days grow longer. More when the days get longer. If you can catch them and some other hens laying you can gather the other eggs and put them under your broody hen and she will set on all of them. Must keep the temperature at least 97 degrees plus for eggs to hatch. Also be prepared, not all eggs are fertilized and will not hatch even if you do have a rooster. I have Buff Orpingtons and they are a broody breed. I have to take them off the nest every day and I don't have a rooster yet since mine was killed last fall by dogs. Looking for the big standard bred buffs and not hatchery birds from local feed stores.

 

[mckenzy]

Thanks for the reply about forced vomiting. I didn't realize that it could be unsafe. Everyone online says that's what to do! I'm pretty certain she didn't choke to death or slowly drown. She drank and ate afterward and didn't seem uncomfortable.

Good advice for the future.

Nobody selling any adolescent or mature hens??? Hmmmm. I'd really rather not grow up another chick right now. Lemme know!

 

[jubilation]

To animal proof your coop, DON'T use chicken wire. Use a heavier guage wire and bury it under ground at least 18 inches. Pour a small concrete footing and bury your fence in that. Chicken wire will NOT stop predators. Also cover your coop with heavy guage wire like the 2 1/2 " x 3" rectangle horse fencing. Also bury large 4 x 4 post at all gates and don't leave any gaps under the gate. Let the wire touch the ground and you can also put a metal pipe on the bottom of the fence wire so the fence can't be torn up.

 

[maryhysong]

There's nothing you can do to make, or help a hen brood. They're either broody or not. Certain breeds are more broody than others so it's just a matter of waiting and watching. If one of your hens decides to brood, it will probably be when the weather warms and the days grow longer. More when the days get longer. If you can catch them and some other hens laying you can gather the other eggs and put them under your broody hen and she will set on all of them. Must keep the temperature at least 97 degrees plus for eggs to hatch. Also be prepared, not all eggs are fertilized and will not hatch even if you do have a rooster. I have Buff Orpingtons and they are a broody breed. I have to take them off the nest every day and I don't have a rooster yet since mine was killed last fall by dogs. Looking for the big standard bred buffs and not hatchery birds from local feed stores.

Cindy Novick (cbnovick on here) and I are partnered working with SOP Buff Orpingtons. We plan to have a few juveniles for sale this fall.

 

[maryhysong]

In happy, healthy, not-eaten chicken news...my EE has NOT laid an egg in close to two weeks! I wonder what is going on with her. Everyone else has been off for the past few weeks too, is it because there's a broody in the nest box? There are 3 boxes for the 5 of them, so it's not like it SHOULD be a problem...

Oh, and thanks all, for the condolences and letting me talk about it.

Partly it is the shorter days of winter. Also, predators prowling around the coop will put them off. A lot of my young pullets had just started laying when the bobcat started attacking and a lot of them quit laying, they are just now starting back up.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Thanks for the reply about forced vomiting. I didn't realize that it could be unsafe. Everyone online says that's what to do! I'm pretty certain she didn't choke to death or slowly drown. She drank and ate afterward and didn't seem uncomfortable.

Good advice for the future.

Nobody selling any adolescent or mature hens??? Hmmmm. I'd really rather not grow up another chick right now. Lemme know!

I need to lower my flock by two. I have a 5 mo old PBR, but she has a cross beak. She eats just fine.

Until I move (if I move) I am not breading, do not need perfect chickens. I will be taking my Sylvia up to Flowers co bread with Angle. She has several Turkens (NN), I just hope I get her back Some day. Flower said that Angle has settled in nicely, but is a teenager and has to be the first. He is only 6 mo.