Arizona Chickens

[Mikey D]

Quote: Don't know - I let the cluckers out this AM and didn't see the poofy head to which I gave the new hair doo.

Her sister is here but I cannot find her.

We searched the yard & did not even find a splash of black feathers.

If something got her it carried her off.

 

[Novaleigh]

Oh...uhhhhh...I have no clue. I am not even sure where to start when sexing a beetle

Was it a female?!

 

[Novaleigh]

Oh noes!!! I really hope you find her! Is she old enough to come back out of hiding in a month with some chicks in tow?

Don't know - I let the cluckers out this AM and didn't see the poofy head to which I gave the new hair doo.

Her sister is here but I cannot find her.

We searched the yard & did not even find a splash of black feathers.

If something got her it carried her off.

 

[Mikey D]

Oh noes!!! I really hope you find her! Is she old enough to come back out of hiding in a month with some chicks in tow?
Quote: I do not believe she has started laying yet.

She is around 5 months old and the three roos (which AZ Kat will be carting off tonight) have exhibited no signs of mating behavior (or crowing either)

That would be funny though - a cochin/ silkie cross with either a barred rock or a gold sex link

How do you spell mutt?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Mikey, while it's very likely your girl was carried off by a coyote, there is a chance she could have gotten herself trapped in a tight spot. It happens a lot and even happened to one of my girls once. I hope she turns up tomorrow.

 

[Mikey D]

Mikey, while it's very likely your girl was carried off by a coyote, there is a chance she could have gotten herself trapped in a tight spot. It happens a lot and even happened to one of my girls once. I hope she turns up tomorrow.

I was thinking more like a hawk. There are not telltale feathers anywhere.

I sure hope she did not get stuck somewhere Sunday or Monday because that would have meant a day in the heat with no water and it was 113 today.

I'd rather it was quick by a predator.

Crapula.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I think lack of feathers would be rare for a raptor. Some can carry off a full grown hen, but I think it's more likely they'll consume it near where they killed it. There tends to be a lot of feathers involved too at the impact site. Coyotes like to grab and carry them away immediately. They're in and out before you know it. My neighbor used to have a relatively large flock that was picked off one by one by coyotes. We'd see them in the early am heading over there and they'd come walking back with a chicken in their mouth. They must've been taking them to wherever their den was located. All that in the center of Tucson. But you're right, hopefully it was quick.

 

[Puffycheeks]

WARNING::: AVACADOS are extremely toxic to birds (for sure parrots) so I am assuming they are to ALL birds!!! Better to be safe than sorry so dont even get them close to your treasured birds! Sorry to everyone who is having problems of every kind. Seems to be going around. This heat is horrible. I bought a box fan for my babies (they love it) in the grow up pen and thankfully have not lost any yet. All the FREE RANGE adults have access to lots of mud/water and deep shade and are OK so far.

Best of luck to all to get through this summer.

 

[LMS]

Thanks for all the help so far! I definitely appreciate the tips on covering the run. Now to look into "cleaning" up the soil where the oleander is soon to be history.
Pimachickens, I'm in Tucson too. Is there still a city chicken coop tour around here? I've found links to them from past years, but couldn't find anything this year.

 

[udubchick]

Good advice on avacado trees. I didn't know there was any risk with them.

Lucy has made a nearly full recovery from her scorpion sting. She still needs a bath to clean her rear feathers. I put her out this morn with the other 2 to see if she'd be ok with them and they started attacking her. Has she lost her place in the group? She just cowered and let them peck at her. I separated her again, but not sure how to make them play well together. Any advice?