Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[satay]

Good morning folks 

Ouch Chook Newby and satay you can keep the 38 and 40 degrees! 

I thought I heard rain very early this morning and woke up to see everything wet and the retreating rain on the radar; gunna be a sticky 33 today apparently.

Fizzybelle good to hear that your worm farm is doing well; I am still taking the lazy way out and ordering them.

MyHaven your post about the update on the dogs had me fuming no end 

When I was in Bundaberg a not very well cared for neighbours’ dog jumped our fence and attacked Charlie-Bear to take the bone she was eating; $600 in Vet bills and a drain in her front leg were the result.  That dog was subsequently classified as dangerous but it made no difference to the attitude of the neighbour or the dog which continued to be a threat.

Anniebee I so wish I could help and have an answer for you.  Not being able to see what Mandy is doing is difficult and as you know, you are the best judge of what she is feeling and doing.  However, I will add that my girls definitely do not wander around all day and spend a few hours just napping on the deck or in a dirt hole they have dug.  If it is mooching time, they all mooch; if it is sleepy time, they all sleep.  It is not often that you find them split with some mooching and some sleeping; they definitely mimic each others current mood and activity options.  

it's nearly 3pm and its still 40.1c

 

[Anniebee]

To sjturner79, MyHaven and Teila

Thank you first for being patient with me and my many updates about Mandy., and for answering my long winded vent, and questions.

I can understand that an adult chicken would hide pain, but I had to ask to make sure. Cats and dogs are very good at that too ...

Today, she was out free ranging ( which for her - is sitting down and pecking at grass ) and I appeared with the bag of scratch mix, calling for Molly in particular ( as I thought Mandy would ultimately bring up the rear fairly slowly ) ....

To my utter UTTER astonishment, down the path at a rattling pace - a real RUN ... not just a jog, came Mandy.

Not just a few steps either. About 18 feet of pathway.???

She reached the gate, stumbled a little, continued walking, spread her wings out and lowered herself to the ground, to pick at the scratch mix.

Molly eventually decided scratch mix sounded nice, and heaved herself out of the hole she'd dug for bathing - and sedately walked back to the run. Whereupon I closed the gate and watched. All was well.

To answer your question sjt ... all the girls have tails raised when sitting. Mandy does the same. She lowers her tail when things get difficult standing, but as soon as she sits, up goes the tail ( which to me indicates comfort ). She sits near the fence which has a solid wooden 1 foot 'skirt' around the bottom of it, and as soon as that back door opens, even if I cannot see her clearly - up pops the head to see what might be going on. While sitting she pecks at the ground around her, picking up heaven knows what, and she preens herself, either while standing for a very short time, or when sitting.

I too will not let an animal suffer -- this indeed has been the thing that leads me to daily hair tear-outs. However, at this time, I will let her be, to continue with what I think is quality of life remaining, with the interruptions to her abilities to move normally. I will certainly know if she deteriorates, and will take action quickly.

Thank you all .....

 

[Fizzybelle]

My d'uccles make great mums but I find them easy to break if I'm not letting them hatch.

Mine laid and egg and sat on it until I confiscated it this arvo. Every time anyone walked past the pen today, you hear her scream out. For a little bird, she's scary when she wants to be lol.

That really sucks about the council. I think in future situations unfortunately you'd need to play up the potential danger to people angle rather than the proven pet angle. I mean these dogs got out, came onto your property and killed your birds, then threatened you. And the protecting their food argument? Uh, no they were killing your pets, pets are not a food source. I feel so angry and upset for you. I hope there's a solution to all of this. I really wish you the best with this, you and your poor chookies deserve justice, and you should feel safe in your own yard with your birds. Dogs might be dogs, no, if they got out then that is negligence on the part of the owner to not ensuring their property is secure.

Chook Newby, I don't think white earlobes in general are a problem, I have other girls with them, it's pretty common, I just saw what I think was actually dry skin which made me think otherwise. Plus I was tired, don't diagnose at night lol. Funny you should mention blueberries, I gave my girls the leftover ones from the punnet I finished off, and they acted like I'd given them lumps of coal to eat or something. If they were growing on a bush though, they'd be all for it. Oh well, more for the possum to eat later.

How about that rain this morning for those of us in Brisbane? I didn't let the girls out till a quarter to six, despite their protesting and insistence, I didn't think playing in a thunderstorm was a wise thing to do. More on the way apparently. The breeze right now is really nice too.

 

[LuckysMum]

To sjturner79, MyHaven and Teila

Thank you first for being patient with me and my many updates about Mandy., and for answering my long winded vent, and questions.

I can understand that an adult chicken would hide pain, but I had to ask to make sure. Cats and dogs are very good at that too ...

Today, she was out free ranging ( which for her - is sitting down and pecking at grass ) and I appeared with the bag of scratch mix, calling for Molly in particular ( as I thought Mandy would ultimately bring up the rear fairly slowly ) ....

To my utter UTTER astonishment, down the path at a rattling pace - a real RUN ... not just a jog, came Mandy.

Not just a few steps either. About 18 feet of pathway.???

She reached the gate, stumbled a little, continued walking, spread her wings out and lowered herself to the ground, to pick at the scratch mix.

Molly eventually decided scratch mix sounded nice, and heaved herself out of the hole she'd dug for bathing - and sedately walked back to the run. Whereupon I closed the gate and watched. All was well.

To answer your question sjt ... all the girls have tails raised when sitting. Mandy does the same. She lowers her tail when things get difficult standing, but as soon as she sits, up goes the tail ( which to me indicates comfort ). She sits near the fence which has a solid wooden 1 foot 'skirt' around the bottom of it, and as soon as that back door opens, even if I cannot see her clearly - up pops the head to see what might be going on. While sitting she pecks at the ground around her, picking up heaven knows what, and she preens herself, either while standing for a very short time, or when sitting.

I too will not let an animal suffer -- this indeed has been the thing that leads me to daily hair tear-outs. However, at this time, I will let her be, to continue with what I think is quality of life remaining, with the interruptions to her abilities to move normally. I will certainly know if she deteriorates, and will take action quickly.

Thank you all .....

I was told when a hen is in pain her comb goes pale. Is it possible that she is happy with how she does things. She can obviously move when she wants too. I am the same I don't like to see an animal suffer, does she actually look like she's suffering or maybe just uncomfortable.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Annie, as others have explained, fully grown birds are generally quite stoic. A weakness in the flock can leave them vulnerable to predators and also result in a lowering of status, that is in the pecking order. Chicks that cheep constantly are usually in pain or cold.
I think that you will have to learn to be happy with Mandy 's ' uniqueness ' . There are a myriad of possible causes for her unusual stance , but as long as she is eating drinking and appears to be comfortable, just keep doing what you are doing.
I got home late from showjumping xmas party last night and my bubs were still outside in their day pen. They were all huddled together and so very happy to see me, but just as happy to be put back out at 6 am this morning.

 

[Chook Newby]

it's nearly 3pm and its still 40.1c

OMG! 40.1! I feel for you. We are not quite there yet but will be soon

I keep a wadding pool out for my chickens and dogs... even if they just drink from it...

 

[Teila]

Gees MyHaven How ridiculous and frustrating!

So, where is the line drawn? Obviously not at chicken .. cat? small dog? big dog? How is a chicken, which is larger than some smaller breeds of dogs, less important? What would be the ruling if the dogs broke into an old aged person’s courtyard and ate their pet Chihuahua or cat? It would be all over the news .. how sad! how tragic! Yet, how does that differ from breaking into your coop and eating your pet chickens?

When Charlie-Bear was attacked by the neighbours’ dog, I forced Council’s hand. I sent a letter of complaint to the local Council and copied in the local newspaper. Charlie-Bear ended up on the front page of the paper and the dog was declared dangerous. May be that is an option for you .. shame the Council by advertising their obvious disregard for your pets.

May be the dogs only did get out that one time and the owner might also be devastated by what they have done but you deserve to be treated fairly and with respect and it does not sound like that is the case. If anything, it sounds like they are protecting the dogs and their owners, leaving you in the dark and unrepresented.

 

[Chook Newby]

Mine laid and egg and sat on it until I confiscated it this arvo. Every time anyone walked past the pen today, you hear her scream out. For a little bird, she's scary when she wants to be lol.

That really sucks about the council. I think in future situations unfortunately you'd need to play up the potential danger to people angle rather than the proven pet angle. I mean these dogs got out, came onto your property and killed your birds, then threatened you. And the protecting their food argument? Uh, no they were killing your pets, pets are not a food source. I feel so angry and upset for you. I hope there's a solution to all of this. I really wish you the best with this, you and your poor chookies deserve justice, and you should feel safe in your own yard with your birds. Dogs might be dogs, no, if they got out then that is negligence on the part of the owner to not ensuring their property is secure.

Chook Newby, I don't think white earlobes in general are a problem, I have other girls with them, it's pretty common, I just saw what I think was actually dry skin which made me think otherwise. Plus I was tired, don't diagnose at night lol. Funny you should mention blueberries, I gave my girls the leftover ones from the punnet I finished off, and they acted like I'd given them lumps of coal to eat or something. If they were growing on a bush though, they'd be all for it. Oh well, more for the possum to eat later.

How about that rain this morning for those of us in Brisbane? I didn't let the girls out till a quarter to six, despite their protesting and insistence, I didn't think playing in a thunderstorm was a wise thing to do. More on the way apparently. The breeze right now is really nice too.

I know its not funny but it sounds really cute that she is screaming out when every anyone walks past

If white earlobes are not an issue then I wont worry too much next time I see one. Very interesting how your girls turned their noses up at blueberries... its an all in brawl to get one when Im throwing them around the yard for them... and its not just the chickens that love them, the dogs do too! All 4 chickens and both dogs bolt to get one

 

[Fancychooklady]

I know its not funny but it sounds really cute that she is screaming out when every anyone walks past

If white earlobes are not an issue then I wont worry too much next time I see one.  Very interesting how your girls turned their noses up at blueberries... its an all in brawl to get one when Im throwing them around the yard for them... and its not just the chickens that love them, the dogs do too!  All 4 chickens and both dogs bolt to get one 

What breed are the birds with white lobes ?

 

[Chook Newby]

So it turns out that dogs can kill your pet chickens and you "can't blame the dog for being a dog" or "you can't blame them for killing chickens when we feed them chicken" and " you can't blame them for protecting there food" when they lunged at and threatened me.

The dogs won't be destroyed - although that would be sad I think it is the only way anyone can be certain of no other attacks taking place. They will not even be declared dangerous.

The council took 6 working days to get back to me and I will have to pay the council to get the investigation report and results and to get the dog owners contact details to take civil action. And that is only if the council decides to give me the information.

I suspected I'd get the "they're only chickens" result.

So sorry to hear that this is the outcome you have had. This is the problem with this country, our animal protection laws are not tough enough. It is infuriating how certain animals are not seen as valuable as others

I hope you are doing ok MyHaven