Arizona Chickens

[Gallo del Cielo]

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[viejo loco]

Beckyhsinglsc wrote:
We finally had a hawk find us.
I was in the yard yesterday and heard squawking and flapping on the other side of the yard by the pomegranate tree. I went running over to see Ruby (GSL) crouching under the tree and a hawk sitting on the wall. It wasn't scared of me at all and I got pretty close before it flew off. Ruby ran across the yard as fast as she could (with me as her guard) back to the coop side and hid in the coop. I locked them all in for awhile and then let them out only while guarding them. I don't know if that hawk will be back but I don't want to take any chances.
I haven't seen the hawk since. I'm hoping it was passing through. Isn't is that time of year?
How long do you think the girls need to be locked up until the hawk completely gives up on us?

Beckysinglsc,
You know that it is unlawful to harm any raptors.?.. There are numerous laws that apply, including some that are federal. (they are migratory)..
That being said, let me tell you how I manage the hawks and owls around here.. I have a lot of old dead cottonwood trees on my place, and they like to perch in the limbs.. I shoot at them with my wrist-rocket, (slingshot), using paintballs that I found in a yard sale.. So far, I haven't hit any, but I have come close enough to paint the butt of a few.. After a couple of those shots, they move on south..
There are a couple of drawbacks though; Don't pinch the paintball too hard when you draw back.. lol, you won't like the result.. and, did I tell you I had a lot of dead cottonwood trees.?.. Well, they have a lot of green limbs, flourescent green limbs..

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

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My husband has an ample supply of both wrist rockets and paint balls. I'll have to practice!

 

[viejo loco]

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Most paintballs are water soluable, so the first good rain washes them off.. Of course, in your area that may take awhile.. lol

My husband has an ample supply of both wrist rockets and paint balls. I'll have to practice!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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Can I borrow your 5 year old?

Last time I did it by myself. Get chickie, wrap in towel, talk to her and then grab wattles with one hand and squirt with the other! It is almost like wrestling a child who needs eye ointment/drops.

Mama Hen Chris, you may have both of my boys. Ages 7 and 9. Fairly skilled in animal husbandry. Kind to chickens. Good at collecting eggs and scooping poop. Very smart, mostly well behaved and helpful. One is an excellent cook. In general, pretty good boys. However, having just finished cleaning their bathroom I have decided I can no longer live with creatures that disgusting.

 

[turkeybreeder]

congratulations to everyone who got a chance to
go to the tucson poultry show i did not know anyone
to be able to carpool with had my entry form
ready to go but did not have a ride

 

[gallopingfrog]

Afternoon, guys! I wanted to get your imput on the chicken rations I just developed using a Pearson Square method. I thought about putting them in the raising and feeding, but I would rather post it here where everyone knows what the weather and such is like...

So the first is for meat birds...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...&fprt=false&tfe=vb_513&gsessionid=oidrxQojswM

And the second is for laying hens...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...&fprt=false&tfe=vb_513&gsessionid=oidrxQojswM


Plus, with both of these I'll be supplementing with yogurt or keifer and leafy veggies, fruits, etc.

Any thoughts...?

 

[turkeybreeder]

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my advice if you are going to raise meat
chickens keep them seperate from
the egg layers because the egg
layers tend to pick on the meat chickens

 

[tball chicky]

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Couldn't open the file...

 

[mclevinson]

Mikey your mailbox is full!