Arizona Chickens

[pastrymama]

so i just recently discovered that i have mice in my compost bins. where did the mice come from in the first place? i have never seen one before in the almost six years that we have lived here until the chickens and compost arrived. but about 2 weeks ago the chickens were all chasing each other and i went outside and one had a mouse. a few days later i was turning the compost and as i was doing so, up flew a very alive mouse and scurried back down to the bottom. i dug and dug but couldn't find it again. what do i do? both bins have a cover on them, so i don't let the chickens in the compost, but sometimes they manage to weasel their way in and get stuck. i just read that mahonri's putting out traps, but what if my dogs eat a dead mouse or a chicken eats that? any alternatives to getting rid of them?

 

[5pinkarrows]

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I left my house at about 10:45pm to fight the crowds. I look forward to this all year. I doubt I save much more overall than $6, since I usually have a set amount I can spend. But, I sure do get a lot better quality stuff. I was able to get my 2 older kids 14 megapixel cameras for $59. That wouldn't have happened without Black Friday. Nevermind that I stood in line for 2 1/2 hours to get them. LOL!!!
~Ginger

 

[RioLindoAz]

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I left my house at about 10:45pm to fight the crowds. I look forward to this all year. I doubt I save much more overall than $6, since I usually have a set amount I can spend. But, I sure do get a lot better quality stuff. I was able to get my 2 older kids 14 megapixel cameras for $59. That wouldn't have happened without Black Friday. Nevermind that I stood in line for 2 1/2 hours to get them. LOL!!!
~Ginger

Wow, very nice.

I hauled over to Home Depot at around 4:30 to purchase a shop Vac that was already sold out by the time I got there. (Store opened at 4:00

) I died a little that day...





I was going to go to the Tucson show today but couldn't find the time. I didn't make plans soon enough...

 

[dewey]

That pic was red x'd on my end so I couldn't view the last one. I have handled a few Harris Hawks after they've been injured from flying into fence lines and they are quite large looking up close with a 4' wing span and stand about 2' tall. Just a few of the things that make me believe it's a Harris Hawk is that your first pic shows bare legs like a Harris (Golden Eagle's legs are completed feathered), and your pic shows the distinct rust color patches on the shoulders of Harris' (Goldens have a light brownish nape), and the white tip tail.

They're seen more often and in larger numbers here in winter since so many family groups of them come down from up north for the milder temps in the lower desert (along with crows). Been watching them do this for over 45 years and I always look forward to it because I know when they show up, even though it might still be 90 degrees, colder temps and relief from the heat are right around the corner. While at the same time dreading their arrival because they'd always get at least a couple of chickens over the winter. One time a family group of them cornered a wayward hen that had scrambled under a pile of wood. Fortunately I got to her before they did after running across several acres at record speed.




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[NoSkiveez]

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Have you ever watched the birds poop from the roosts. It makes me laugh... I can just imagine your ApSpitz up there saying, 'Hey Blanch, watch this, it's going to be a Giant poop by the way it feels" and down goes the egg to the floor.

Yeah, these girls don't seem to be the brightest crayons in the box either. I bet she even had all the others looking into their pen to see what was going on over there too.

 

[dewey]

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I was able to see the last pic you posted. I would say that one was a youngster or perhaps from a different area. Here's a pic of an AZ Harris, probably and adult or close to it. http://www.bicycle-heaven.com/blog/uploaded_images/HarrisHawk.JPG-780538.jpg

 

[squeakyballs]

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I'm so rude, I showed up late and Mahonri had to drive extra far!

The eggs are BEAUTIFUL. OMG, they even have spots! I'm so happy, I even have a broody hen

How is the chicken doing?

 

[Nuclear Chickens]

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The mice have probably always been there, or at least near there. Mice are everywhere. I always laugh when people say "I don't have mice". They may not be in your house but their natural environment is every where. Now the key is to control where they live. Trapping is one way of controlling them. Another is making it less hospitible for them by taking away their food source or making it too dangerious for them. You are probably seeing more during this time frame due to natural preditors hybenating now. Snakes are less active so they can move more freely. Also don't worry if the chickens or the dogs eat them cause it won't hurt them unless you are also putting out poison to kill the mice. Mouse eats poison- chicken eats poisoned mouse- chicken dies also. Just let the chickens do what the snakes do also. Control population by letting chickens do what chickens do.

 

[squeakyballs]

Good luck with that, we have mice in the house! Not one has gotten trapped by a trap. My husband managed to chase one down and catch it with his hands... but no luck with the traps

I gave the broody silkie a dozen mahonri eggs. I still have 1.5 dozen! What am I going to do?

I put the other silkie in the nest box, showed her the eggs, and put wire over the entrance. I thought she would get the idea, especially since she usually goes broody at the same time as the other one. You should hear the commotion! Every other chicken I have is either on top of the nest box and looking down over the edge at her, or in front of it and straining up to look at her. They are all bawk-bawking angrily! I don't know if they are upset that she is is locked in, or that they are locked out!

 

[squeakyballs]

Angie! I went to the chicken show. I didn't see you

The BYCers need to carry signs!

I loved the cornish chickens. I really think that the cornish chickens are the orcs of the poultry world! And the old english chickens were adorable. And little tiny silkie chickens that someone let play on the floor, I fell in love