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

[Anniebee]

I only have the one D'uccle at the moment, Beatrice (or just Bea).



She wasn't sold to me as any particular colour, and as some patterns don't emerge until the bird gets older, I don't know if this is her final colouring or not. Is there a chance she could be a mille fleur? Or if not should I use that as an excuse to adopt one? She's just turned three months old. If she is just a black and gold variety, that's fine with me (it's actually really good camouflage for her, as the grass currently varies from shades of pea green to a dead crunchy brown). She's little, but very big on personality. Watching her run is hilarious, those feathers are like oversized clown shoes. This little Willie Wagtail that's been hanging around lately makes her look huge though!

And here's a pic of little Agnes, now she's officially become a hen. She was hard at work this arvo ( I thought it was too late in the day to lay an egg, apparently not). Only taken one rdo so far.

MyHaven .... it is such wonderful news that little Agnes is laying so well. Forgive me, but I cannot remember whether it was your Agnes or someone else's Agnes on here, who had the respiratory problems and was in a lot of trouble at one stage.

If the Agnes in trouble was yours, she has recovered so very well, and is doing her 'thing' .... she is quite beautiful ... thanks to you and your wonderful care of her.

Your D'uccle is a lovely hen too. much diversity of colour there too ? She ( Bea ) is very pretty.

Cheers ........

 

[Fancychooklady]

Thanks Satay! I posted the question in the D'uccle thread, and got another vote for quail Watching her grow and change is going to be exciting

Question about broodies, as I've never actually had one, but am anticipating it with Agnes ( given the reputation of Silkies) and Esme (my Pekin who should start laying in a month or two). So is summer the season they go broody, or just warm weather basically? I'm guessing if that's the case they calm down over winter then? Just so I know when to potentially expect it. Thanks.

My silkies lay all through winter, but the rest of the year lapse in and out of broodiness.

 

[User395221]

I knew someone who had silkies and the mum had babies. Watching them follow her about was the cutest thing. They were "good mothers".

 

[Fancychooklady]

I knew someone who had silkies and the mum had babies.  Watching them follow her about was the cutest thing.  They were "good mothers". 

They are exceptional mothers. I currently have Silkie moms raising Wyandotte and Sussex chicks.
They know no boundaries and have no discrimination on colour or breed. If they are babies , they need tending.
The Angelina Jolie of the bird kingdom.

 

[Anniebee]

I did love my sons Silkie. She was a gift for his second birthday and would sit on his lap. It makes me sad to think what happened to her. They are so inoffensive and defensless.

I can't believe I could get a fox in my backyard. The council are coming to trap again next week. This is just a precaution none have been back that I know. Last time they trapped, the first night we caught a possum (it's a kind trap) and the fox must have walked passed it to get in for the second attack on my chooks. Then we caught a domestic dog and finally a fox. It turns out your yard is really busy at night.

Yes, some people do not take the care of their animals they should and don't consider their neighbours.

To MyHaven and anyone else who might be interested :

.... foxes seem prevalent all over Australia. Hubby goes to work very early in the a.m. and has seen many of them wending their way back to their dens with or without food in their mouths. When feeding young kits, they are particularly on the hunt. The biggest grey fox he saw, was about the size of a German Shepherd. Mostly we have the red fox, but they can look distinctly grey in colouring in the dawn light.

Locking up chickens in early evening, and letting them out when full daylight occurs, is the best way to try to protect them - but wily foxes can figure out ways into a coop. They also do range for food, during the day time, particularly in very quiet areas - not so much in built up busy areas.

I have small locks on my nesting box lids - and the girls 'go back to prison' in the evenings - well, that's what it's like, because I have so many latches, bricks, rat stoppers and looped car top elastics, to stop anything getting in there. Plus small faced wire on their doors.

Now - if you have a dog, it is wise to leave some newly deposited woopsies from the dog, near anywhere you might think a fox can think of entering. They do not like the smell of dog faeces - is frightening to them apparently. Our back yard is entirely fenced off, and the only way a fox could enter ( relatively easily as they do climb ) is over the side gates, and side trellis high fenced parts. The other 3 sides of our back garden is very high wooden fenced.

Secondly, if you can get hubby to pee along the possible / probable areas of entry, ( my husband flatly refused --- because he is kinda just like that about such things !!!

) male human urine is a distinct ward off for foxes. Female human urine does nothing, so don't bother with the potty. When I knew there were foxes around, ( and with 'NO' from husband ) ... I sprayed ammonia around everywhere, hoping it might do a similar job. That is apparently used in commercial fox repellant spray, and is effective.

Below is a link, that explains a bit more .... and underscores a couple of things I have already mentioned .... but it should help. Because if you have had them in your back-garden, you will have them again - some time. They have an innate ability to remember where good food can be obtained.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2012/jul/11/chickens-foxes

Good luck with all that ..... I hope you win big time against the sneaky and clever, foxes.

Cheers .........

 

[MyHaven]

MyHaven .... it is such wonderful news that little Agnes is laying so well.   Forgive me, but I cannot remember whether it was your Agnes or someone else's Agnes on here, who had the respiratory problems and was in a lot of trouble at one stage.  

If the Agnes in trouble was yours, she has recovered so very well, and is doing her 'thing' .... she is quite beautiful ... thanks to you and your wonderful care of her. 

Your D'uccle is a lovely hen too.   much diversity of colour there too ?  She ( Bea ) is very pretty.   

Cheers ........ 

Thanks AB but I can't take credit for Fizzybelles birds.

 

[Anniebee]

Thanks AB but I can't take credit for Fizzybelles birds.

Ooops !! .... I find it difficult at times to keep up. !!

Especially when I haven't opened my computer or ( now iPad ) for a day or two.

From a very vague memory, Fizzybelles' Agnes, made a good recovery ? At least I sure hope she did.

Cheers ......

 

[Fancychooklady]

To MyHaven  and anyone else who might be interested :  

.... foxes seem prevalent all over Australia.   Hubby goes to work very early in the a.m. and has seen many of them wending their way back to their dens with or without food in their mouths.   When feeding young kits,  they are particularly on the hunt.   The biggest grey fox he saw, was about the size of a German Shepherd.  Mostly we have the red fox, but they can look distinctly grey in colouring in the dawn light.    

Locking up chickens in early evening, and letting them out when full daylight occurs, is the best way to try to  protect them - but wily foxes can figure out ways into a coop.   They also do range for food,  during the day time, particularly in very quiet areas - not so much in built up busy areas.    

I have small locks on my nesting box lids - and the girls 'go back to prison' in the evenings - well, that's what it's like, because I have so many latches, bricks, rat stoppers and looped car top elastics,   to stop anything getting in there.   Plus small faced wire on their doors.  

Now - if you have a dog, it is wise to leave some newly deposited woopsies from the dog, near anywhere you might think a fox can think of entering.   They do not like the smell of dog faeces - is frightening to them apparently.   Our back yard is entirely fenced off, and the only way a fox could enter ( relatively easily as they do climb ) is over the side gates, and side trellis high fenced parts.   The other 3 sides of our back garden is very high wooden fenced.  

Secondly, if you can get hubby to pee along the possible / probable areas of entry, ( my husband flatly refused --- because he is kinda just like that about such things !!!    )  male human urine is a distinct ward off for foxes.   Female human urine does nothing, so don't bother with the potty.  When I knew there were foxes around, ( and with 'NO' from husband ) ... I sprayed ammonia around everywhere, hoping it might do a similar job.  That is apparently used in commercial fox repellant spray, and is effective. 

Below is a link, that explains a bit more .... and underscores a couple of things I have already mentioned .... but it should help.   Because if you have had them in your back-garden, you will have them again - some time.   They have an innate ability to remember where good food can be obtained. 

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2012/jul/11/chickens-foxes

Good luck with all that ..... I hope you win big time against the sneaky and clever,  foxes. 

Cheers ......... 

Annie , contrary to FEP ( fox eradadication program ) there are no foxes in Tassie. Thanks to the 1080 baits laid all over Tassie to kill the elusive ' imaginary ' beast , there are also fewer wombats, wallabies, quolls , Eagles and owls.

 

[Anniebee]

Annie , contrary to FEP ( fox eradadication program ) there are no foxes in Tassie. Thanks to the 1080 baits laid all over Tassie to kill the elusive ' imaginary ' beast , there are also fewer wombats, wallabies, quolls , Eagles and owls.

Fancy ... in a way you are very fortunate not to have foxes down there in beautiful Tasmania.

But to think you have lost so many other birds and animals because of the eradication process with 1080 bait - is gruesome and just awful.

From your comment, perhaps there were never any foxes there in the first place ? .... I would think free ranging, wild 'families' of the Tassie 'devil' might have been a natural deterrent to any foxes. Figure they wouldn't like them too much.

Seems there has been some good progress made in curtailing the facial cancer that has infected so many of the Tassie devils. Saw where a new drug has had good success, obtained from the rainforests of Queensland ... called EBC-46. It has also been trialled for use on humans with cancer, and those trials are ongoing at this time.

Cheers ........

 

[MyHaven]

To MyHaven  and anyone else who might be interested :  

.... foxes seem prevalent all over Australia.   Hubby goes to work very early in the a.m. and has seen many of them wending their way back to their dens with or without food in their mouths.   When feeding young kits,  they are particularly on the hunt.   The biggest grey fox he saw, was about the size of a German Shepherd.  Mostly we have the red fox, but they can look distinctly grey in colouring in the dawn light.    

Locking up chickens in early evening, and letting them out when full daylight occurs, is the best way to try to  protect them - but wily foxes can figure out ways into a coop.   They also do range for food,  during the day time, particularly in very quiet areas - not so much in built up busy areas.    


I have small locks on my nesting box lids - and the girls 'go back to prison' in the evenings - well, that's what it's like, because I have so many latches, bricks, rat stoppers and looped car top elastics,   to stop anything getting in there.   Plus small faced wire on their doors.  

Now - if you have a dog, it is wise to leave some newly deposited woopsies from the dog, near anywhere you might think a fox can think of entering.   They do not like the smell of dog faeces - is frightening to them apparently.   Our back yard is entirely fenced off, and the only way a fox could enter ( relatively easily as they do climb ) is over the side gates, and side trellis high fenced parts.   The other 3 sides of our back garden is very high wooden fenced.  

Secondly, if you can get hubby to pee along the possible / probable areas of entry, ( my husband flatly refused --- because he is kinda just like that about such things !!!    )  male human urine is a distinct ward off for foxes.   Female human urine does nothing, so don't bother with the potty.  When I knew there were foxes around, ( and with 'NO' from husband ) ... I sprayed ammonia around everywhere, hoping it might do a similar job.  That is apparently used in commercial fox repellant spray, and is effective. 

Below is a link, that explains a bit more .... and underscores a couple of things I have already mentioned .... but it should help.   Because if you have had them in your back-garden, you will have them again - some time.   They have an innate ability to remember where good food can be obtained. 

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2012/jul/11/chickens-foxes

Good luck with all that ..... I hope you win big time against the sneaky and clever,  foxes. 

Cheers ......... 

Thanks for that.

The fox that visited won't be back. He's been disposed of. But if there is one there will be another. I watch for sign. I fortified and moved my nurserys and quarantines closer to the house where I have better line of sight. I must say that the council were great. They actually are looking for good places to trap. While they won't trap in the same spot on an ongoing basis they are coming back for the second time since October last year. I saw some wild bird remains - feathers only in a couple of places in the yard. One patch was outside of my bantam pen that appeared overnight. It could have been cats but cats aren't normally that thorough. While foxes normally only behead the birds the ones here have only done that to one while the other birds have been taken with very little remaining. It was like a grab and run.

I am just being careful. While I am enjoying restocking and building our family numbers, I can't stand the thought of having to go through it again.

Thanks for you tips.