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

[Susan Hampshire]

Good morning everyone, welcome to all the newcomers.
Its freezing in Perth lately, our chooks aren't laying much either. Poor Lucky died, 2 days ago. My son went out to give them a treat at lunch time and found her torn open in the middle of the lawn. Bear got the blame but after some thought there has been a big cat hanging around so I hope it was that not Bear. Lucky was an escape artist and the only one. Bear has never touched the chooks in 8 years so I can't think that he would just start doing it now. Anyway they are locked in the enclosed coop and run and only let out when we can watch at the moment. She was our first hatch and the only one that had survived I don't have the heart to tell my granddaughters . We still have 2 australorps so I'm hoping they won't notice, though Mia seemed to know who was who. With those dying from old age and Lucky we are down to 16 chooks now. Definitely going to have to get some more.

I hope everyone is coping with the cold weather, Fancy I would love to see some snow but I'm not sure if I could cope with the cold. haha Its good to see everyone gradually finding there way back on here.

Oh poor Lucky and so sad for you.. your poor son finding her...
Sincerely hope it's not Bear! I lost Lizzy Bordin (also an escape artist) to my mothers Jack Russell Oscar. I couldn't look at him for a week! He is not a breed I would normally have but Mum's in aged care now. It's their instinct to chase anything on the move and chickens necks are so fragile.

 

[Susan Hampshire]

Purchased some oysters and have tried crushed them.... what a job... thank goodness for my son! So now they have both !

 

[LuckysMum]

I have just been to a chicken breeder with 2 granddaughters I went to look at some 6weeks olds, haha came back with 4, 1 day old 3/4 australorps. Its gonna be a long wait for eggs. How could I say no to a 5 and 8 year old, I think I'm going to have to learn.

 

[Susan Hampshire]

Totally understand I have 10 yr and 8 yr old!!!.... note to self not to take them!

 

[Anniebee]

LuckysMum - - - So sorry for the loss of your dear hen - sad to hear that. ...
A big cat could do some terrible damage to chickens. Then again, dogs are always dogs - our Miss Ruby Golden Retriever I don't believe would ever hurt the chickens, but have noticed she will chase if one runs away - bounds after a running chicken with great glee, believing chicken wants to play ( I think ). Does the same with our new cat Benny - stands over or nudges him to make him move or do something, which results in a playful punch up in the middle of the family room. However, as Ruby is 10 times larger and heavier than Benny, I keep a good watch on all that. Benny I might add, is just as good at starting up rough play. Leaps up and 'hugs' Ruby around the neck, which leads to bites on Rubys' neck and mouth. Ruby has learned now how to gently deal with the hugs. !! Lets it happen, but is aware when Benny goes to bite - backs off then and the grip is loosened. Many hugs in a row can happen. Will post some pics when I can get a few good shots of all that.

But I am ever mindful that she is a dog, and dogs can respond strangely at times.

My bet however, is that Bear was not the culprit.

.........

 

[LuckysMum]

Thanks Annie , I was talking to my daughter in-law and she doesn't think Bear would do it either. We've got new neighbours and more down the road so maybe a new cat too. We do have a few in the area. I am wondering if they got her and dumped her when Bear came to see what was going on. As she was in the middle of the lawn and she was soaking wet, it hadn't rained for a few hours so she was probably there for a little while and if Bear was the culprit I don't think he would have just left it there. That's my thoughts anyway. For nearly 2 years these chickens have been out with him, and Lucky got out on her own everyday, because she was so big (australorp) I didn't worry about bird predators. But Bear is a bit slower these days and he sleeps in the carport when its so cold, so maybe a cat did get to her before he could protect her.
On more of a chook note. I looked over my day old chooks properly today, I didn't want to upset them anymore after their ride in the car. So I put them in the laundry and left them in the quiet.
This morning I notice a bit of red poo so I picked each one up and they had poo on their bottoms so I used warm water and cleaned them, they I noticed quite a bit of feather on the wings. I also thought their toes look like clubs. So I rang the lady where I got them and it turns out they are 8 days old and the clubs toes is a build up to dirt. The conditions they were in were not the best, but hey they have heaps to care for. Just having a few at a time I can keep mine all very clean. I am not completely happy that they are healthy and they seem small for 8 days, I'm entirely sure about what to do. Should I clean up their feet and keep them for a few days and see if the poo gets better and maybe without so much competition for food they will grown quickly now.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
I think in the future I will hatch my own or get them from people I know. That's the trouble of taking grand kids who think the chicks are so cute can we please have them.
Well I hope everyone is having a warm dry day today and enjoying their Sunday.

 

[Anniebee]

Thanks Annie , I was talking to my daughter in-law and she doesn't think Bear would do it either. We've got new neighbours and more down the road so maybe a new cat too. We do have a few in the area. I am wondering if they got her and dumped her when Bear came to see what was going on. As she was in the middle of the lawn and she was soaking wet, it hadn't rained for a few hours so she was probably there for a little while and if Bear was the culprit I don't think he would have just left it there. That's my thoughts anyway. For nearly 2 years these chickens have been out with him, and Lucky got out on her own everyday, because she was so big (australorp) I didn't worry about bird predators. But Bear is a bit slower these days and he sleeps in the carport when its so cold, so maybe a cat did get to her before he could protect her.
On more of a chook note. I looked over my day old chooks properly today, I didn't want to upset them anymore after their ride in the car. So I put them in the laundry and left them in the quiet.
This morning I notice a bit of red poo so I picked each one up and they had poo on their bottoms so I used warm water and cleaned them, they I noticed quite a bit of feather on the wings. I also thought their toes look like clubs. So I rang the lady where I got them and it turns out they are 8 days old and the clubs toes is a build up to dirt. The conditions they were in were not the best, but hey they have heaps to care for. Just having a few at a time I can keep mine all very clean. I am not completely happy that they are healthy and they seem small for 8 days, I'm entirely sure about what to do. Should I clean up their feet and keep them for a few days and see if the poo gets better and maybe without so much competition for food they will grown quickly now.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
I think in the future I will hatch my own or get them from people I know. That's the trouble of taking grand kids who think the chicks are so cute can we please have them.
Well I hope everyone is having a warm dry day today and enjoying their Sunday.

Hi LM ... A good clean up of each little bird, which you are doing now is good, and is it possible to keep them separated for a few days - mainly to see if there is any more red ( blood ? ) in the poo, and then know which one is passing that. I am not sure how old chickens have to be before worming them. Someone else should be able to answer that question. Only 8 days old, perhaps indoors in a very warm room in boxes filled with straw and old towels etc. for warmth ( boxes from local supermarket ? ). Boxes close together so's they can hear one another ? I know the very young chicks need to be kept as warm as possible. I am very much a 'not-know' about very young chickens. Are they eating ? ... food and water in separate boxes with them, will tell you also who is eating what. Presume you are feeding chicken starter ? Good luck ... hope all goes well with them - will be quite a bit of work for you, for a week or two.

Cheers -

 

[mareeirene]

Some times it takes them a while to get the hang of going to bed. Fingers crossed they figure it out for you soon.

 

[mareeirene]

Success last night after about two weeks of putting them to bed , but had to coax them with a light inside the coop , hope this is the start of something lol

 

[LuckysMum]

Success last night after about two weeks of putting them to bed , but had to coax them with a light inside the coop , hope this is the start of something lol

I'm sure they'll get the hang of it now. Mine hated it when I moved them into another coop. But after a couple of nights of chasing them in with a light after dark they got used to going in on their own. Usually just before it gets dark they put themselves to bed.

Thank Annie they all seem to be pooing normally now so I'll just keep an eye on them for a bit and hope it was just the stress of moving them.