Arizona Chickens

[K9Dave]

Today's veggie harvest. I apparently missed a zucchini last week which grew into this 18" monster. It's a shame because it's my only one this week and they never taste as good when they get too big. I'll find something to do with it. Maybe if I process it with some water It'll make a decent bread. No eggs yet today. Eleanor is broody and the other girls are busy trying to stay cool.

Wow.

 

[MaddBaggins]

That is such a huge bummer.

I don't think people understand just how much risk to predation their birds are here in town.

Yeah. He kind of rolled his eyes at me when I built mine like Ft Knox. I've seen a coyote go clean over my 5' wall in a single bound. I'm pretty sure they can clear a 6' chainlink for a chicken dinner.

 

[a little chiken]

Welp, my buddy who took the other half of the chicks I raised up last year, got raided last night. Coyotes went over his 6' chain link and took his entire flock last night. He found some remains about 40yds away in a drainage.

What a bummer. He gave them a great place to live and roam, but it wasn't very secure. He's going to revisit that and get another flock in the spring.

Poor guy. That is such a heartbreak to lose them all in one go. I hope his new area is very secure. unfortunately our birds are usually easier pray than hunting for the coyotes. I have seen some HUGE ones out where I live.

 

[K9Dave]

Yeah. He kind of rolled his eyes at me when I built mine like Ft Knox. I've seen a coyote go clean over my 5' wall in a single bound. I'm pretty sure they can clear a 6' chainlink for a chicken dinner.

I train my Malinois' to scale a 9' wall so these distances are no match for a Coyote. He doesn't need training at all to jump 6-7' high. The night I went to pick up my Chessie, I saw him jump an 8' ledge to retrieve his ball. He did it with ease. Earlier that night he had mauled an adult male javelina and his owner barely got him off of it. Ii asked him what the javelina did, he said he just growled and shook it off and ran away. 'm glad he doesn't know how athletic and dangerous he really is. The canine is the most deadly hunter in Nature. Fact.

 

[Syl in Tucson]

Malinoise..that's a lot of dog. Had one once. Too much dog for me. My German Shepherds keep me on my toes. Prey drive and farm animals are a tightrope.

 

[K9Dave]

Malinoise..that's a lot of dog. Had one once. Too much dog for me. My German Shepherds keep me on my toes. Prey drive and farm animals are a tightrope.

I've only had a problem with one but it wasn't really her fault. I knew she was too much dog for my chickens (very young Pullets) so I kept her separated by a 6" fence. She knew not to jump it. Well one of te older chickens decided to jump into the backyard with her. I looked out the window as in doing dishes to her throwing this thing up into the air and feathers going everywhere. Chickens aren't the brightest of farm animals.

 

[desertmarcy]

Yeah. He kind of rolled his eyes at me when I built mine like Ft Knox. I've seen a coyote go clean over my 5' wall in a single bound. I'm pretty sure they can clear a 6' chainlink for a chicken dinner.

Just curious, how does he know it was coyotes and not a bobcat?

 

[Syl in Tucson]

I've raised assistance dogs for many years. Believe it or not, with this line I don't have to work too hard. They catch on quick and are exceedingly eager to please. They go at about 12 weeks, and then their "real" training starts. The malinois I got was a high drive, energy efficient super model. Sweet dog, but WOW. I did my best with training, then bred her to a super calm, sweet guy. Her pups were all just like her.
You know how some families, they are all just crazy? Even the ones that are raised outside the family? Yeah..that would be that particular line. I'm down to about 10 dogs now and life is less crazy. I'm no longer breeding or doing rescue, so I can have chickens and rabbits like we used to.
Sooooo nice to have a life again!

 

[K9Dave]

 I only keep one rifle and one pistol loaded.....for predators, of course. Even so, when anybody wants to look at one, I clear the action before handing it over, even though I know it's not loaded. One of my worst moments was when I let a buddy check out an 1891 Argentine Engineers carbine. This thing has an original leather sling, with silver conchos for buttons, and a silver buckle. He dry fired it, and broke the firing pin. That was about 9 years ago, and I still have not found a replacement firing pin for it.

What's the process for doing Duracoat? Would it work on a larger application like my boat?

 

[carnivore]

What's the process for doing Duracoat? Would it work on a larger application like my boat?

It is an epoxy paint, so must be mixed before use. Must be sprayed, I use a disposable PreVal sprayer. You could use it on a boat, but at $8-$10 for a 4 oz bottle, it would get pretty expensive pretty quick like.