Arizona Chickens

[chicksurreal]

I put my eighteen 8-week littles out in their own coop this week, and couldn't find 3 of the 18 last night. The little stinkers found hiding places...one was stuck between some chain link...another was a BCM and just couldn't see her hiding...and the third hopped the 6 foot bamboo fence and was roosting with the adults.

I was SO scared for the 10 minutes I couldn't find them and had to run in the house for more light and dh to help. I haven't had anyone go missing before and my heart just stopped until they were all found safe. I really can't imagine what it would be like to have them missing or eaten due to predators like many of you have experienced. I know it's just a matter of time, though. I try not to feel like they are predator-proof because as soon as I do...well it will be a sad day. But having littles outside is like childproofing, and I have learned a lot and made some changes this week.

What I fear most is my greyhounds. We have them triple gated/fenced at night and double during the day.

And I still wonder...is nylon mesh over and around the coops and run enough to stop an owl or hawk?

So glad you found them! I know how scary it is to not be able to find them!

We just put ours in their covered run because I saw a hawk circling overhead and getting way to close for comfort. I threw rocks at it and yelled at it to go away, and it finally did after all my chickens were huddled under a bush, but I don't trust it to stay gone. We went way overkill on a cover for our run, it's chain link with mesh over that, but we have all kinds of predators here, so we thought it would be best to heavy duty.

 

[mom-to-5]

Off topic but thought those garden folks may be able to help. We recently purchased a house in Mesa (as-is sale, so unable to ask previous owner), and there is a deciduous tree, still small at only 5 ft tall but it has some bunches of flowers coming in with the new leaves....does anyone know what this tree may be?
I want to plant my potted fig tree there but hate to tear it out if it will be a fruiting tree.
Here are a few pictures of the tree, leaves and incoming flowers.

Any one know? Thank you!!!

 

[maryhysong]

All right I have a young silkie, probably a pullet, probably 5-6 months old. Has been fine until the last couple days. I noticed she didn't come out with the others last night but it was almost dark when I got home from work and let them out so didn't worry about it. This afternoon tho I looked for her and she was just sitting in the corner of the coop with her head bent down between her legs. Like she is trying to stick her head between her legs and go the other way. Also some slight trembling when I'm holding her.

I have brought her in, gave her 1 cc straight of Poultry Cell followed by 2 cc of plain water. She is able to swallow if I tip her head up, it's just like her muscles are forcibly moving her head/neck downwards and she can't control it. About an hour later gave another 1cc of Poultry cell mixed with 1cc of water.

Read up online and the closest I can come to is botulism poisoning, tho I don't have any idea how she would have gotten it and none of the other birds cooped with her have any symptoms, although most of them are larger than she is.

I was wondering of the possibility of it being a scorpion sting, since that is a nerve toxin also and what the symptoms of a sting might be. It's been very warm and I've already killed one in the house.

Advice? Anything else I can do for her?

 

[FeatherPugs]

I put my eighteen 8-week littles out in their own coop this week, and couldn't find 3 of the 18 last night. The little stinkers found hiding places...one was stuck between some chain link...another was a BCM and just couldn't see her hiding...and the third hopped the 6 foot bamboo fence and was roosting with the adults.

I was SO scared for the 10 minutes I couldn't find them and had to run in the house for more light and dh to help. I haven't had anyone go missing before and my heart just stopped until they were all found safe. I really can't imagine what it would be like to have them missing or eaten due to predators like many of you have experienced. I know it's just a matter of time, though. I try not to feel like they are predator-proof because as soon as I do...well it will be a sad day. But having littles outside is like childproofing, and I have learned a lot and made some changes this week.

What I fear most is my greyhounds. We have them triple gated/fenced at night and double during the day.

And I still wonder...is nylon mesh over and around the coops and run enough to stop an owl or hawk?

Oh my this was a little scary to see as our littles are just about ready to go into their grow-up pen. They don't get much time out of the run as the feral kitty thinks they look like pretty darn good eating but kitty will run from the other hens!!

 

[Demosthine]

All right I have a young silkie, probably a pullet, probably 5-6 months old. Has been fine until the last couple days. I noticed she didn't come out with the others last night but it was almost dark when I got home from work and let them out so didn't worry about it. This afternoon tho I looked for her and she was just sitting in the corner of the coop with her head bent down between her legs. Like she is trying to stick her head between her legs and go the other way. Also some slight trembling when I'm holding her.

I have brought her in, gave her 1 cc straight of Poultry Cell followed by 2 cc of plain water. She is able to swallow if I tip her head up, it's  just like her muscles are forcibly moving her head/neck downwards and she can't control it. About an hour later gave another 1cc of Poultry cell mixed with 1cc of water.

Read up online and the closest I can come to is botulism poisoning, tho I don't have any idea how she would have gotten it and none of the other birds cooped with her have any symptoms, although most of them are larger than she is.

I was wondering of the possibility of it being a scorpion sting, since that is a nerve toxin also and what the symptoms of a sting might be. It's been very warm and I've already killed one in the house.

Advice? Anything else I can do for her?

If it is a scorpion sting, they say to give it a small dose of children's benadryl, but I don't remember the dosage. That'll give you a starting place, though.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Looking for some nesting box advice. I have tried a lot of bedding and just a little and either way they kick it out until they are down to the wood. I am losing a few eggs a week from them breaking when they drop/lay them.

I use the excelsior nesting pads. No more shavings on the floor.

http://www.eggcartons.com/Excelsior-Nesting-Pads-p/ep1313.htm

 

[kpgoldstar]

All right I have a young silkie, probably a pullet, probably 5-6 months old. Has been fine until the last couple days. I noticed she didn't come out with the others last night but it was almost dark when I got home from work and let them out so didn't worry about it. This afternoon tho I looked for her and she was just sitting in the corner of the coop with her head bent down between her legs. Like she is trying to stick her head between her legs and go the other way. Also some slight trembling when I'm holding her.

I have brought her in, gave her 1 cc straight of Poultry Cell followed by 2 cc of plain water. She is able to swallow if I tip her head up, it's just like her muscles are forcibly moving her head/neck downwards and she can't control it. About an hour later gave another 1cc of Poultry cell mixed with 1cc of water.

Read up online and the closest I can come to is botulism poisoning, tho I don't have any idea how she would have gotten it and none of the other birds cooped with her have any symptoms, although most of them are larger than she is.

I was wondering of the possibility of it being a scorpion sting, since that is a nerve toxin also and what the symptoms of a sting might be. It's been very warm and I've already killed one in the house.

Advice? Anything else I can do for her?

How sad. I wouldn't have a clue but I hope you figure it out and that she gets better.

 

[kpgoldstar]

Soooo, first egg Thursday when I got home from work. No egg yesterday (Friday), but we had a double yolker so I was prepared for a skipped day. No egg again today. I was out in the yard most of the afternoon and had the girls out free-ranging the whole time. Snoop and Lemon both went up the ramp a couple times and chatted with the nest boxes and kicked some straw around. I told them they could lay an egg for their Mama, but no luck.

I don't know who laid the first one and now I don't know when I'll get another one!! The waiting begins again...

 

[jubilation]

I have found that wood shavings on the bottom with timothy or orchard hay as the nesting material. It has always worked well for me. The timothy/orchard hay kind of intertwines and it forms a really good nest that is also soft. Hens will kick out nesting material that are too harsh. They like the softer stuff. Just my limited expertise after 40+ years raising chickens.

 

[chicksurreal]

I have found that wood shavings on the bottom with timothy or orchard hay as the nesting material. It has always worked well for me. The timothy/orchard hay kind of intertwines and it forms a really good nest that is also soft. Hens will kick out nesting material that are too harsh. They like the softer stuff. Just my limited expertise after 40+ years raising chickens.

Lol! "Limited"? You're too humble.

Thanks very much for the advice. I grew up in the Prescott area and now live east of Cordes Junction "WAY" out in the boonies. Very new to chicken keeping (6 months) and am so grateful that people like you are willing to share their vast experience with those of us who are trying like crazy to learn as we go.