Arizona Chickens

[pipemum]

Gawd, that thing looks like a proto chicken. Chicken Neanderthal. Dino-chicken. It is hideous and beautiful and primitive.

 

[chicksurreal]

I learned something new today. I was on the NN thread, and I learned there is a Madagascar Game Chicken, also ahas necked neck chicken. It sent me to look them up. They are almost if not as big as the Malay Game Chicken that can reach 3' tall.I think Turkens are prettier. On the other hand it could fight off any predictor. Average 26"-30" still tall, leggy.

Wow! Scary cool!

 

[MagicChicken]

I came home tonight after dark and went out to close the pop door on the hoop coop - which happens to be housing 7 laying hens, my main rooster, and six 3 month old cockerels. Halfway to the coop I found a clump of long black feathers. Uh oh. We've had a bunch of hawks around lately and I assumed one of them had finally grabbed itself a cockerel.

With a sad heart I went into the coop and did a head count to see who was missing. 1, 2, 3... 12, 13, 14... Huh? Recount. Yep, 14 birds. All present and accounted for. So where did all those feathers come from?

Turns out the feathers were from my poor rooster, who is now missing his entire tail. I have no idea what came after him. Whatever it was must have grabbed him by the tail and hung on. I couldn't see any tracks in the dark. Probably was a dog or maybe one of the kids from up the street. I doubt a hungry coyote would have given up with just a mouthful of feathers.

Rooster boy is looking bedraggled but content on his roost with all his girls around him. He only has a couple of small wounds that I could find but the exposed skin is raw from having his feathers yanked out. I sprayed BluKote on the wounds and on the exposed red skin. Hope the follicles weren't damaged.

Now I get to hide for several days while the BluKote wears off my fingers. Silly me, I remembered to put on old clothing before spraying. Forgot the gloves.

I am proud of the rooster. He must have put up a good fight against whatever it was. Poor boy gets extra protein treats while his tail grows back.

 

[desertmarcy]

I came home tonight after dark and went out to close the pop door on the hoop coop - which happens to be housing 7 laying hens, my main rooster, and six 3 month old cockerels. Halfway to the coop I found a clump of long black feathers. Uh oh. We've had a bunch of hawks around lately and I assumed one of them had finally grabbed itself a cockerel.

With a sad heart I went into the coop and did a head count to see who was missing. 1, 2, 3... 12, 13, 14... Huh? Recount. Yep, 14 birds. All present and accounted for. So where did all those feathers come from?

Turns out the feathers were from my poor rooster, who is now missing his entire tail. I have no idea what came after him. Whatever it was must have grabbed him by the tail and hung on. I couldn't see any tracks in the dark. Probably was a dog or maybe one of the kids from up the street. I doubt a hungry coyote would have given up with just a mouthful of feathers.

Rooster boy is looking bedraggled but content on his roost with all his girls around him. He only has a couple of small wounds that I could find but the exposed skin is raw from having his feathers yanked out. I sprayed BluKote on the wounds and on the exposed red skin. Hope the follicles weren't damaged.

Now I get to hide for several days while the BluKote wears off my fingers. Silly me, I remembered to put on old clothing before spraying. Forgot the gloves.

I am proud of the rooster. He must have put up a good fight against whatever it was. Poor boy gets extra protein treats while his tail grows back.

Oh, talk about a heart attack! That is scary. I'm glad nothing was killed.

 

[Stynch]

I came home tonight after dark and went out to close the pop door on the hoop coop - which happens to be housing 7 laying hens, my main rooster, and six 3 month old cockerels. Halfway to the coop I found a clump of long black feathers. Uh oh. We've had a bunch of hawks around lately and I assumed one of them had finally grabbed itself a cockerel.

With a sad heart I went into the coop and did a head count to see who was missing. 1, 2, 3... 12, 13, 14... Huh? Recount. Yep, 14 birds. All present and accounted for. So where did all those feathers come from?

Turns out the feathers were from my poor rooster, who is now missing his entire tail. I have no idea what came after him. Whatever it was must have grabbed him by the tail and hung on. I couldn't see any tracks in the dark. Probably was a dog or maybe one of the kids from up the street. I doubt a hungry coyote would have given up with just a mouthful of feathers.

Rooster boy is looking bedraggled but content on his roost with all his girls around him. He only has a couple of small wounds that I could find but the exposed skin is raw from having his feathers yanked out. I sprayed BluKote on the wounds and on the exposed red skin. Hope the follicles weren't damaged.

Now I get to hide for several days while the BluKote wears off my fingers. Silly me, I remembered to put on old clothing before spraying. Forgot the gloves.

I am proud of the rooster. He must have put up a good fight against whatever it was. Poor boy gets extra protein treats while his tail grows back.

Way too scary! Kudos to your rooster

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
Wow! That could have been terrible. I hate that feeling when you walk out to see the bunches of feathers that shouldn't be there.


Good luck tomorrow Stynch. I'll be sending good thoughts your way.

 

[Stynch]

Good luck tomorrow Stynch. I'll be sending good thoughts your way.

Thanks. I'm crazy nervous but I know it needs to be done and I'll be so glad to get it over with. I appreciate the positive thoughts and prayers.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Best wishes for your surgery and recovery. It is normal to be a bit nervous. Try to think of the good results that will be a welcome relief after you heal. Not having the problem repaired only allows that problem to get worse. What a group ! Three of us needing orthopedic surgery. Did Manda have her knee tendon fixed yet ? I waited much too long to have my right shoulder repaired. I have reported the problem to several doctors and never got a good response, finally I am on my way to have it repaired this friday in Flagstaff. The recovery period is what worries me. How will I manage not using my right arm ? I am not to adept with the left arm !

 

[flower]

City farm My chicks are very colorful and healthy. They are integrated into the flock. I have a diverse group with Bantam and Large Fowl mixed, a few with crests and feather feet and one crazy NN hen with very shiny green/black feathers and a beard. Her name is My Own Thing.

Anyway the teenagers from your broody are very nice. Of course they ARE ALL FEMALE !!!! ha ha The young rooster Angle from LKD is calm but does know that he is a MAN !
Can't wait until I have a broody to hatch out a few from my flock. The pretty hens are making pretty eggs again hoooraH !

 

[FeatherPugs]

Quote:
I totally understand the right hand thing! I am so very right-handed it makes it hard to do things from the opposite side still using my right hand - I know crazy. Get better fast. Positive thoughts and prayers are coming everyone's way from my place in Eloy.