Arizona Chickens

[DesertChickens1]

Well, I lost 16 of 17 chicks this afternoon to my dog. (He is wearing a dead chicken around his neck as we speak). They kept flying out of the brooder pen, so I decided that it was time for them to check out their new run, even though it wasn't finished. I put some of that green plastic poultry netting over the unfinished gate to keep them inside, but it was not enough to keep the dog out.
While gathering and counting the bodies, I came up one short. I finally found the lone survivor hiding under an ice chest and brought her back inside. She is pretty thoroughly traumatized. I brought over a chair and sat next to the brooder and stroked her a bit to calm her down. She then flew out of the brooder and landed in my lap. She sat there for a few, then climbed up my arm and perched on my shoulder, nuzzled under my neck, then moved to my other shoulder. I almost couldn't bear putting her back in the box. Really rough losing 16 chicks so that 1 starts feeling comfy with you, but it is what it is. I immediately ordered more chicks and specified shipping ASAP so she has some company. She is already 2 1/2 weeks old, so she will be the boss lady with the new chicks, which should get here Wednesday. I hope she accepts them without being too hard on them.

:'( I'm so sorry! My new hunting dog got ahold of one of the young ones but I hit her with a broom before she really bit her :/ I cried for an hour when I lost three chicks to a hawk once, I don't think I could handle if I lost 16. Hope your new chicks come in soon!

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Well, I lost 16 of 17 chicks this afternoon to my dog. (He is wearing a dead chicken around his neck as we speak). They kept flying out of the brooder pen, so I decided that it was time for them to check out their new run, even though it wasn't finished. I put some of that green plastic poultry netting over the unfinished gate to keep them inside, but it was not enough to keep the dog out.
While gathering and counting the bodies, I came up one short. I finally found the lone survivor hiding under an ice chest and brought her back inside. She is pretty thoroughly traumatized. I brought over a chair and sat next to the brooder and stroked her a bit to calm her down. She then flew out of the brooder and landed in my lap. She sat there for a few, then climbed up my arm and perched on my shoulder, nuzzled under my neck, then moved to my other shoulder. I almost couldn't bear putting her back in the box. Really rough losing 16 chicks so that 1 starts feeling comfy with you, but it is what it is. I immediately ordered more chicks and specified shipping ASAP so she has some company. She is already 2 1/2 weeks old, so she will be the boss lady with the new chicks, which should get here Wednesday. I hope she accepts them without being too hard on them.

It is hard to take loss when it comes from your own family. My little boy has killed a few so I understand. I am 50% the way on training him that the chicks are not an inter-active squeaky toy. Sadly I know that is the best I will ever be able to expect from him. The last couple of opportunities I could see he was having problems with resisting as I rushed to the rescue.

Maybe you can train your dog to protect the chickens. No idea how to train, do not know your breed of dog, but dogs love to work and giving him a job may help. Times like this I want to help, give that idea of hope and comfort, solve a problem that could rescuer... But in reality it is like "what Patty shot at", nothing, I just feel helpless to help.

 

[carnivore]

Thank you, everyone.
The lone survivor stayed huddled in a corner of the brooder all night. She is not eating, but I did coax her into a few mealworms this morning. All she wants to do is hide. She flew up and perched on the side of the brooder this morning, so I went over and picked her up and cuddled her for a while, she repaid this by crapping on my arm. I let her down on the floor, and she promptly found a dark corner to hide in. I spent the last hour building a new larger (and taller) brooder box. I also took a copy paper box and cut a hole in the end to give her a place to feel safe. I'm thinking about going down and picking up a few hardware store chickks just to keep her company.

 

[FeatherPugs]

Well, I lost 16 of 17 chicks this afternoon to my dog. (He is wearing a dead chicken around his neck as we speak). They kept flying out of the brooder pen, so I decided that it was time for them to check out their new run, even though it wasn't finished. I put some of that green plastic poultry netting over the unfinished gate to keep them inside, but it was not enough to keep the dog out.
While gathering and counting the bodies, I came up one short. I finally found the lone survivor hiding under an ice chest and brought her back inside. She is pretty thoroughly traumatized. I brought over a chair and sat next to the brooder and stroked her a bit to calm her down. She then flew out of the brooder and landed in my lap. She sat there for a few, then climbed up my arm and perched on my shoulder, nuzzled under my neck, then moved to my other shoulder. I almost couldn't bear putting her back in the box. Really rough losing 16 chicks so that 1 starts feeling comfy with you, but it is what it is. I immediately ordered more chicks and specified shipping ASAP so she has some company. She is already 2 1/2 weeks old, so she will be the boss lady with the new chicks, which should get here Wednesday. I hope she accepts them without being too hard on them.

I am so lucky with our dogs and cat - they will lie down and let the chicks or hens run over them!! So sorry this happened.

A couple of chicks now might be just what she needs. I saw some sweet ones at our local Pet Club.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

 

[a little chiken]

Well, I lost 16 of 17 chicks this afternoon to my dog. (He is wearing a dead chicken around his neck as we speak). They kept flying out of the brooder pen, so I decided that it was time for them to check out their new run, even though it wasn't finished. I put some of that green plastic poultry netting over the unfinished gate to keep them inside, but it was not enough to keep the dog out.
While gathering and counting the bodies, I came up one short. I finally found the lone survivor hiding under an ice chest and brought her back inside. She is pretty thoroughly traumatized. I brought over a chair and sat next to the brooder and stroked her a bit to calm her down. She then flew out of the brooder and landed in my lap. She sat there for a few, then climbed up my arm and perched on my shoulder, nuzzled under my neck, then moved to my other shoulder. I almost couldn't bear putting her back in the box. Really rough losing 16 chicks so that 1 starts feeling comfy with you, but it is what it is. I immediately ordered more chicks and specified shipping ASAP so she has some company. She is already 2 1/2 weeks old, so she will be the boss lady with the new chicks, which should get here Wednesday. I hope she accepts them without being too hard on them.

Oh no that's sucks. I thought losing 3 I had in a quarantine pen was bad. **hugs** I sm sure she will be happy with the new friends. Good luck.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

TICK CHECK!!!

I've gotten two PMs from fellow Arizonans in the past week describing massive poultry tick infestations in their coops. I'm sure most of you are thinking, "I don't have ticks," but if you don't look specifically for them in the right place at the right time, you might never know (on the other hand, I'm sure most of you don't have ticks--but you won't know unless you look). These ticks are masters at hiding in crevices and emerge to feed on the chickens within the first hour after dusk, then drop off the chickens and return to their hiding places. Within 30 minutes of sunset tonight carefully examine the areas around your roosts for ticks. It only takes a few seconds but it will save you and your birds from a world of misery. It's ever so much easier to stop a new infestation than one that has exploded out of control.


The AZ climate is especially favorable to poultry ticks, if you want to learn more about them, follow the link in my sig. line.

 

[DesertChickens1]

[COLOR=FF0000]TICK CHECK!!![/COLOR]

I've gotten two PMs from fellow Arizonans in the past week describing massive poultry tick infestations in their coops.  I'm sure most of you are thinking, "I don't have ticks," but if you don't look specifically for them in the right place at the right time, you might never know (on the other hand, I'm sure most of you don't have ticks--but you won't know unless you look).  These ticks are masters at hiding in crevices and emerge to feed on the chickens within the first hour after dusk, then drop off the chickens and return to their hiding places.  Within 30 minutes of sunset tonight carefully examine the areas around your roosts for ticks.  It only takes a few seconds but it will save you and your birds from a world of misery.  It's ever so much easier to stop a new infestation than one that has exploded out of control.


The AZ climate is especially favorable to poultry ticks, if you want to learn more about them, follow the link in my sig. line.

Whether or not my chickens have mites I dust them with tick and mite dust every month, better safe than sorry

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Whether or not my chickens have mites I dust them with tick and mite dust every month, better safe than sorry

I don't think that would be all that helpful against poultry ticks. First, unless you dust your birds at dusk you are unlikely to affect the ticks. Second, they are notorious for quickly developing resistance to just about everything you can throw at them. Lots of things do not work well against them and sometimes you have to try a variety of agents until you find one that is effective. Repeated and regular treatment may work against you. Nothing beats vigilance--check regularly.

 

[Joplus]

Ok. Found the AZ thread. Does anyone know where in Gilbert AZ to buy products to treat my tick (and possibly worm) infested hens? I need 7 dust and ivernec. Thanks