Arizona Chickens

[Arizonachicken]

We had a crappy day yesterday.   I let my birds out to free-range at 8am, as usual, while I piddled around the yard doing chores.  Went in at about 8:20 to take a shower and the phone rang.  I never get out of the shower to answer the phone, but something had me answering.  It was my neighbor at the end of the block asking if I was missing any chickens.  He had just seen two birds running across the street to the next block over.  I surely didn't think they were mine, but I raced out back to check on them.  What I saw was complete carnage, feathers everywhere and my poor BO, Waldo, dead on the ground.  Not another bird to be found.  I ran down the street and around the corner where the two birds were spotted and found my Delaware and one of my EE hiding in some dried weeds.  They let me pick them up and I quickly searched for others.  Went back to my house and saw my BA standing in the middle of the yard, apparently in shock and I grabbed her up and put the three into the run.  It was so crushing that more than half of my flock was gone.   I searched the yard again and then looked into the back alleyway, right there in front of me was a coyote, eating my other EE.  It was barely bothered by my presence and only took the bird and ran away when I hopped over the wall and went after it.   So, two birds were still unaccounted.  For one I had high hopes, there wasn't a single feather from Mrs. Beasley anywhere.  But most crushing was the massive amount of feathers and a wing from Weegee, my CM, the top bird in the flock.   I searched the yard for another fifteen minutes or so and then searched the surrounding blocks and alleyways for the next hour, but finding no trace.  I just killed me thinking that she could be lost out on the street.  When I gave up searching and went home to look in the back yard again, right there next to the coop was Mrs. Beasley and standing right next to her was Weegee.  It was one of the few times in my life I was sure that I was hallucinating because I was so certain she was dead.  But I wasn't.  She lost a good portion of her feathers, including most of the flight feathers from one wing (which is why I thought I saw her wing on the ground), but escaped with no other obvious wounds. So, in the end, we were fortunate that only two birds were killed.  They stayed up on the roost for a couple hours, but by late afternoon, they were anxious to be let out of the run, which was not going to happen.  I think the coyote came back this morning because they still have not come down off the roost.  

Oh, Gallo! I'm so sorry! I am glad you found them all, though. It's better to know than to think they're out lost somewhere.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

We had a crappy day yesterday.   I let my birds out to free-range at 8am, as usual, while I piddled around the yard doing chores.  Went in at about 8:20 to take a shower and the phone rang.  I never get out of the shower to answer the phone, but something had me answering.  It was my neighbor at the end of the block asking if I was missing any chickens.  He had just seen two birds running across the street to the next block over.  I surely didn't think they were mine, but I raced out back to check on them.  What I saw was complete carnage, feathers everywhere and my poor BO, Waldo, dead on the ground.  Not another bird to be found.  I ran down the street and around the corner where the two birds were spotted and found my Delaware and one of my EE hiding in some dried weeds.  They let me pick them up and I quickly searched for others.  Went back to my house and saw my BA standing in the middle of the yard, apparently in shock and I grabbed her up and put the three into the run.  It was so crushing that more than half of my flock was gone.   I searched the yard again and then looked into the back alleyway, right there in front of me was a coyote, eating my other EE.  It was barely bothered by my presence and only took the bird and ran away when I hopped over the wall and went after it.   So, two birds were still unaccounted.  For one I had high hopes, there wasn't a single feather from Mrs. Beasley anywhere.  But most crushing was the massive amount of feathers and a wing from Weegee, my CM, the top bird in the flock.   I searched the yard for another fifteen minutes or so and then searched the surrounding blocks and alleyways for the next hour, but finding no trace.  I just killed me thinking that she could be lost out on the street.  When I gave up searching and went home to look in the back yard again, right there next to the coop was Mrs. Beasley and standing right next to her was Weegee.  It was one of the few times in my life I was sure that I was hallucinating because I was so certain she was dead.  But I wasn't.  She lost a good portion of her feathers, including most of the flight feathers from one wing (which is why I thought I saw her wing on the ground), but escaped with no other obvious wounds. So, in the end, we were fortunate that only two birds were killed.  They stayed up on the roost for a couple hours, but by late afternoon, they were anxious to be let out of the run, which was not going to happen.  I think the coyote came back this morning because they still have not come down off the roost.  

my heart brakes for your lose, I understand the pain you must feel for leaving them alone for a short time. Don't beat yourself up.

 

[Arizonachicken]

I took some quick pics this am of my flock, well, some of my flock.


Here's my too. You can see how big he is next to by Blue Marans hen, she hatched at Easter...no egg yet though. SLW pullets in back.


Here he is again, the black bag in the back is full of garden waste...ready for composting and/or chicken treats!




One of my SLW pullets...about 18 weeks old.


Group shot of some of the flock.

 

[Mahonri]

Gallo... so sorry for your loss.. It teaches us all a lesson. We can never be complacent... even in urban areas.

Petra... beautiful birds... I have an EE I hatched from Bargain's eggs (Nancy)... she was hatched at Easter and I've yet to see an egg. She's split for lavender in case I ever get a "Lavender" roo. LOL

I also have a couple of Icelandics that have quit laying... one's comb has gotten a tad lighter so I'm guessing mites or something. I'll be dusting and spraying again.

My polish juvies are really growing. Almost two months old now. Wish I could tell which ones were roos!

My almost 3 week old Ameraucanas are looking good. I can already tell one that will be a stunning wheaten roo... lots of black in the tail. Interestingly, he was one of the most 'yellow' of the chicks.

My month old Icelandics, blue marans and EEs are growing like crazy.

I will really need to start thinning the flock come April.

 

[arizonarancher]

So sorry for your loss Gallo Its just tragic when something like that happens. *hugs*

Beautiful flock Arizonachicken

 

[MagicChicken]

Oh, Gallo, I'm so sorry. You have such a great setup in your yard it's hard to imagine a coyote getting any birds. HOORAY for Weegee and Mrs. Beasley and the other three who escaped! Let us know what changes you make to thwart the coyote, who now knows where to find a good chicken breakfast. Good luck.

Sarah

 

[rufus]

That coyote will be back, and probably will bring others with him. Be prepared. Set up an electric fence if you dare. They are illegal in some places, but that is only if you get caught.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

We had a crappy day yesterday. I let my birds out to free-range at 8am, as usual, while I piddled around the yard doing chores. Went in at about 8:20 to take a shower and the phone rang. I never get out of the shower to answer the phone, but something had me answering. It was my neighbor at the end of the block asking if I was missing any chickens. He had just seen two birds running across the street to the next block over. I surely didn't think they were mine, but I raced out back to check on them. What I saw was complete carnage, feathers everywhere and my poor BO, Waldo, dead on the ground. Not another bird to be found. I ran down the street and around the corner where the two birds were spotted and found my Delaware and one of my EE hiding in some dried weeds. They let me pick them up and I quickly searched for others. Went back to my house and saw my BA standing in the middle of the yard, apparently in shock and I grabbed her up and put the three into the run. It was so crushing that more than half of my flock was gone. I searched the yard again and then looked into the back alleyway, right there in front of me was a coyote, eating my other EE. It was barely bothered by my presence and only took the bird and ran away when I hopped over the wall and went after it. So, two birds were still unaccounted. For one I had high hopes, there wasn't a single feather from Mrs. Beasley anywhere. But most crushing was the massive amount of feathers and a wing from Weegee, my CM, the top bird in the flock. I searched the yard for another fifteen minutes or so and then searched the surrounding blocks and alleyways for the next hour, but finding no trace. I just killed me thinking that she could be lost out on the street. When I gave up searching and went home to look in the back yard again, right there next to the coop was Mrs. Beasley and standing right next to her was Weegee. It was one of the few times in my life I was sure that I was hallucinating because I was so certain she was dead. But I wasn't. She lost a good portion of her feathers, including most of the flight feathers from one wing (which is why I thought I saw her wing on the ground), but escaped with no other obvious wounds. So, in the end, we were fortunate that only two birds were killed. They stayed up on the roost for a couple hours, but by late afternoon, they were anxious to be let out of the run, which was not going to happen. I think the coyote came back this morning because they still have not come down off the roost.

Oh no! They found you.

I have a feeling it's only a matter of time for us too. My girls are out most of the day without supervision. The coyote I saw in my yard over a year ago hasn't been back... yet. My sister, on the other hand, has frequent coyote visitors and has lost several chickens to them. She especially worries about her little toy poodle.

 

[desertmarcy]

Gallo,

I'm so sorry to hear about that. Coyotes are such opportunists.

 

[notinoz2007]

its been said so many times i feel like a copycat, but gallo i was really sad reading that and cant imagine what you went through. i'm very sorry for your loss. i hope i never have to deal with a coyote or hawk, or any predator animal near my house.
also, beautiful flock arizonachicken