Arizona Chickens

[carnivore]

That's true, about the predatory response. She is a hunter and loves to chase, but she's never even responded o the chickens when they fly or flutter so it was a shock. We know better now.

As far as the hedges go, I've been looking at the Privet Hedge. They are very dense and will grow 12-15 feet if left to grow. I think it could be a great deterrent to predators.

Think more along the lines of ocotillo. When planted close together, the thorns will keep most stuff out (n/a for hawks and owls, though). It also has the advantage of not needing much water. Back in the day, it was planted to make corrals. Another advantage is that clipped branches can be directly planted, and will grow when watered.
I still prefer steel fence and electric wire, though.

 

[Macboat]

I, too, lost a chicken this week. Piper my first chick, the silver laced wyandotte, the only chicken that I named, died on Sunday. She stopped laying the end of May and wasn't quite right since. I guess she was just being weak and the heat eventually got here. May she RIP.

 

[Sill]

I lost my first chicken to the heat today. I feel bad. Here I was on cool, Mt. Lemon with the kids, while my poor baby was roasting down here in Tucson. I'm going to have to make sure to put out ice bottles from now on.

Sorry about your loss.

Hopefully she will heal quickly! Glad to know you found her alive, though.

If it have been any longer she might not have been. Quail have very high metabolisms and they heal quickly so I'm hoping she can go back with her sisters and mate soon.

 

[Sill]

I, too, lost a chicken this week. Piper my first chick, the silver laced wyandotte, the only chicken that I named, died on Sunday. She stopped laying the end of May and wasn't quite right since. I guess she was just being weak and the heat eventually got here. May she RIP.

Sorry about Piper. The heat is definitely hard on the old and weak.

Never name poultry, it's bad luck.

 

[AnotherKim]

I, too, lost a chicken this week. Piper my first chick, the silver laced wyandotte, the only chicken that I named, died on Sunday. She stopped laying the end of May and wasn't quite right since. I guess she was just being weak and the heat eventually got here. May she RIP.

I'm sorry.

 

[bellsbeauties]

Don't laugh at me but it works. Have your husband urinate everywhere around the yard. Not just a couple times. Do it a lot for a while and they should stay away.

This paired with waiting til the a.m and running them off should help.

I laughed when I read this he however is taking it very serious.... Maybe too serious. I heard him get up and walk outside in the middle of the night, he said he was checking on the chickens but I'm pretty sure he was peeing out there. Oh man.

 

[bellsbeauties]

Thank you everyone for the advise, my husband is currently standing watch and waiting. I think he has made it his personal mission to regain our yard. I wish I could post a picture of him, he looks quite funny. I will keep you updated as the battle plays on, I have a feeling this will be a long one...

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
I can tell you that this is 100% ineffective on Tucson coyotes.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Sorry to hear about all the losses out there.

We still have serious heat ahead too.

 

[kevs-chickadees]

Good questions, other than complete lockdown, I'm not sure there is an easy legal solution. On our last attack the coyote jumped the wall sometime after 10 am and grabbed a chicken right in front of me. My presence was no deterrent. It did, however, drop the chicken when I ran at it like a mad man, ready to stomp it to death. Last week my wife and I were moving the vehicles around in the drive way and a young coyote pup walked right between us, hopped the small wall in the front yard and walked down the side of the property towards the back--completely uninhibited by our presence. I ran to the spot in the back yard where they usually jump the wall and looked over to find it sitting right there on the other side. It did run away when I yelled at it. So, while yelling and throwing things at them will drive them off, it doesn't keep them away for long.

Key word is "legal". If I had as much of a problem with coyotes as it sounds like you guys do in Tuscon I think I would start looking at "other" options. Chickens are one thing but when you have to be worried about small children being hurt...... Idk. Sounds like their population is getting out of control and they are way to bold.