Arizona Chickens

[DesertChic]

We got a little rain here today. Did anybody else get any?

Just wind burn here. And the chickens are NOT happy about all of this wind. They're seriously misbehaving and complaining.

 

[meetthebubus]

ok i'm furious!! the closest neighbor, acres away, let loose their 1 year old rottweilers and they came in to try to attack the chickens. Thankfully our 360 enclosure with chicken wire and hardware cloth kept them out, but the chickens don't realize this, they still run and defend themselves.

So roo runs with his 7 girls away from the dogs that were on the outside of the enclosure, and hide under a bush, screaming their heads off, and China was left closest to them, you know the one that was a hen now a rooster... she is MAD she loves her chicken family and is full of rooster hormones and she tried to attack both of the dogs through the fencing, well the chicken wire cut her as she rammed her head into the fence to try to get at the dogs and she tried to spur them through the fence, she got stuck a bit and the outer part of her spur got torn off whole so she was bleeding.

it wasn't bad, it was just some scratches and a lost spur bc of the fight through the fence, but she was scared after we threw stuff at the dogs to get rid of them i got her out of the enclosure and she cuddles close to me which says ALOT bc she hates to be touched, she's too tough for that


anyhow they are all ok, thanks to our quick reaction and the 360, but i'm mad that they got scared and she got hurt defending her family...

 

[BlueBaby]

ok i'm furious!! the closest neighbor, acres away, let loose their 1 year old rottweilers and they came in to try to attack the chickens. Thankfully our 360 enclosure with chicken wire and hardware cloth kept them out, but the chickens don't realize this, they still run and defend themselves.

So roo runs with his 7 girls away from the dogs that were on the outside of the enclosure, and hide under a bush, screaming their heads off, and China was left closest to them, you know the one that was a hen now a rooster... she is MAD she loves her chicken family and is full of rooster hormones and she tried to attack both of the dogs through the fencing, well the chicken wire cut her as she rammed her head into the fence to try to get at the dogs and she tried to spur them through the fence, she got stuck a bit and the outer part of her spur got torn off whole so she was bleeding.

it wasn't bad, it was just some scratches and a lost spur bc of the fight through the fence, but she was scared after we threw stuff at the dogs to get rid of them i got her out of the enclosure and she cuddles close to me which says ALOT bc she hates to be touched, she's too tough for that


anyhow they are all ok, thanks to our quick reaction and the 360, but i'm mad that they got scared and she got hurt defending her family...

Sounds like you need to have a talk with that neighbor. If they turn the dogs loose again, they will be back for those new toys that they found in your 360 and they would probably dig to get in there to them. Plus, now you also have those little EE's too.

 

[Bobby Basham]

Sounds like you need to have a talk with that neighbor. If they turn the dogs loose again, they will be back for those new toys that they found in your 360 and they would probably dig to get in there to them. Plus, now you also have those little EE's too.

Let's hope that the neighbor accepts the conversation graciously and not be a jerk, because you can also let them know that you have the legal right to defend your property/livestock if they are being attacked/harassed, and that includes shooting them.

I would not want to shoot anyone's beloved pet, but if it had one of my (ex.) expensive prized show chickens in it's mouth, then game on. The pet owner was fore warned of the consequences.

 

[BlueBaby]

Let's hope that the neighbor accepts the conversation graciously and not be a jerk, because you can also let them know that you have the legal right to defend your property/livestock if they are being attacked/harassed, and that includes shooting them.

I would not want to shoot anyone's beloved pet, but if it had one of my (ex.) expensive prized show chickens in it's mouth, then game on. The pet owner was fore warned of the consequences.

Well, if you remember late last spring/early summer my next door neighbor that had all of those hens that got killed by those loose dogs from across the street that got into their yard? They killed 20 laying hens, and the only survivors were those 2 rooster that had been penned up. Anyways they called animal control, and they came out and got the dogs, and then the people that were living in that house moved out and sold it. There are new people living there now, and they made some nice improvements over there, even putting up a fence.

 

[SonoranChick]

@meetthebubus how scary, and how very rude. I'm so sorry this happened but glad your enclosure kept everyone safe. I love dogs but their primal instincts take over and your pet chicken is seen as their favorite new squeaky toy. I agree with the others, you may need to talk to the neighbors about letting their dogs run free. I hate it when people do that...keep your dogs (or any other animal!) on your own turf! I hope China is doing better today. She sounds like a real tough mama.

 

[meetthebubus]

Thanks everyone!
@BlueBaby @Bobby Basham the talk happened right away, I was furious, I showed them the blood that was on my arms from her crest and told them this is the LAST time they will be on my property, they also saw the rifle my hubby had gotten out since we didn't know at first the source of the problem. Hopefully that sent a message. Also they can't dig in bc we put up a packed barrier both inside and out and have buried wire, etc so they should be pretty safe




The thing is I've had strays around and they never bothered the chickens, these rottweiler are bad news


@SonoranChick thanks she was tough, she's the bubus little watch dog, and she proved it today taking on 2 rotts! Roo is a lover boy and ran with his girls

 

[Bobby Basham]

Thank goodness the dogs didn't go after YOU. I don't trust anyone's dogs. I'm glad you let the neighbor see the rifle...exactly where was it that they could see it?

 

[DesertChic]

I had to say goodbye to this pretty little EE girl, Muffin, who passed quietly during the night.

Muffin was one of the prettiest birds I've ever hatched (in my opinion) and I'm grateful to have had 2.5 years with her. She and her siblings came from another breeder's hatching eggs, and shortly after hatching it became crystal clear that the breeder had not culled for genetic problems. They were all pretty birds, both smooth feathered and frizzled, but not hardy and many with severely crooked toes and a variety of other issues. Several died early in life from prolapse shortly after they began laying and I decided early on to cull all of the roosters except one, who achieved pet status, since it would have been cruel and irresponsible to breed them. I allowed the hens to live out their natural lives as happily as possible, and to die naturally unless I saw them suffering unnecessarily.

Muffin had been obviously waning in recent days so I separated her from the rest of the flocks to keep her from being picked on. I fed her favorite foods to her until she stopped eating yesterday, at which time I made her as warm and comfortable as possible, knowing the end was near. She was very sweet and very beautiful, and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to enjoy her beauty. She's now a part of the circle of life.

I'm a little sad, but not horribly so because I know she had a good life. I hope to feel the same way about myself one day (though hopefully no time soon). I shared this story not because I want attention or sympathy, but because I know everyone here will understand the sense of loss, and also because I want everyone to understand the importance of selecting your breeders for the right reasons. Prettiness of plumage isn't enough. A good breeder may not be the prettiest bird, but must always be the healthiest bird. I would have loved to have Muffin's pretty little chicks running around my yard, especially if they looked like her, but that would only have perpetuated an unnecessary problem and I would never want to create additional suffering for the sake of eye candy. Muffin and her siblings taught me a lot about genetics and responsible poultry husbandry, and I will always be grateful for all they taught me and all of the joy they brought to me, defects and all.

 

[Jadesun6]

Maybe it's because "back east" the buildings are closer together because of the higher population, and therefore more vehicles and other pollution contributors involved.

I don't know maybe. I grew up in a small town that literally someone decided to turn a corn field into a town. His wife named it Ravenna after their trip to Italy. She fell in love with Ravenna Italy's bueaty. The houses here are closer together then I'm used to. There is still a lot of farms there.