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

[MyHaven]

Im having the same issue.  She is so hot when I pick her up out of the coop, thats also why Ive been dunking my girl in the wadding pool.  She shakes it off, wanders a bit and then back to the coop... then the cycle starts again.  Oh the things we do...

I know a lady who grew up on a commercial egg farm. Her mother used to dunk the cluckies.

I had a hen overheat once - I dunked her quickly in the kids wading pool. That fixed her. She wasn't clucky anymore and I swear she had that - do it again look.

 

[LuckysMum]

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.

Tell the council they can pay for the chickens if they won't pass on the details. Dogs are not allowed to roam here. Surely the council has to enforce that at least. We can be fined here if our dogs are wondering. I would have thought that was the same Australia wide. If they were in their backyard they couldn't attack your chickens. I think you said you have small children. what happens if one of your kids had been the ones that the dogs had decided to fight their food for. Good Luck

 

[Anniebee]

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.

While that is a gross situation MyHaven ... the dogs not even declared dangerous ?? ... I think that dogs are only considered dangerous and put to sleep, if they attack a human being. That's my reading of what rules / laws apply anyway - here in Victoria. ... Anything else ( cats, wild birds, chickens, guinea pigs, other smaller dogs etc. ) are ' fair game' and not considered important enough to do anything about. Which is revolting. ... Dogs allowed to roam unleashed, or unattended are a no-no up here, and maybe you could submit a report to the Council on that premise alone. But then, these rules might be different in Queensland.

Councils, like many other ruling authorities / businesses / controlling bodies - will make a quid wherever / whenever they can, and charging you for an investigation report and owners contact details, is of no surprise to me. But it stinks.

If you could find the owners of these dogs - even if having to pay for that information only - and a subsequent visit to the owners, with a nicely worded warning ( which should contain no doubt as to what is possible if you see the dogs again ) ... might have some effect. There are I would think, many ways of getting the message across very firmly, without breaking any laws, especially as the dogs threatened you - a human being. Just imagine if it had been a child going out there to discover this horror - and not an adult person with experience around dogs ?

Some time back, several dogs ( who may have become feral as a pack ) raided a home which had grazing sheep and lambs on their fairly large property up here. The result was horrific. The Council sent their Rangers out to try and find the predators, but with no luck - however, they did issue a warning to all in this area via posters and leaflets, to make sure everything was locked up securely, and to report any sightings of these roaming dogs. I never did find out the result of that. But can say, there have been no repeat attacks of that kind. Foxes here are a major problem however, - there are so many of them. I always leave some of Miss Rubys' freshest 'doings', in the yard, to deter foxes - even though they cannot get into the hens at night or early morning. I don't even want them 'thinking' they can scrounge around in our back garden ( which is fenced and gated off ).

As for dogs - 'feeding them chicken' - that is absurd, as the chicken most dogs eat, is in kibble form, and they wouldn't even know the difference. They are dogs, and dogs can hunt - no matter what the taste of the prey.

A horrid situation all round ....

 

[sjturner79]

R
Hatch day again already!

 

[Anniebee]

Fancy ....

You mentioned a few pages back, the following :

If the chick can get to food and water and isn't chirping constantly ( an indication of pain ) then I would be adding a vitamin supplement like Anitone to the ration.

I have searched and searched +++ - hours of it, for some information about ( who else ) ... Mandy and her strange 'arthritic' (?) condition - with little result. Your comment about what is an indication of pain in a chick, made me wonder.

So - I have to ask ... do hens do anything similar ?. Do they cry continually, in some way when in pain ?
........If your answer is yes - I have no problem ( she doesn't cry or make noise continually )
........If it is no - then I am at a loss ( again ).

Several times a week, I think "this is it" ... as she lowers - spreading her wings to balance herself until she sits. That might be ( as an example only ) at 10 am. .... At 10.10 am she can be up and about, standing tall, fluffing and flapping normally as chookies do to shake themselves - and then walks slowly, almost to stagger stage - before she settles on the ground and raises her tail.

She is driving me to distraction !!! ​

From day 1, as a pre POL pullet - she has growled, with a few cackle-shrieks here and there. . This apparently is her preferred noise. Her mate Molly 'honks' - does nothing much else... and Mindy - shrieks and does rooster impersonations. None of them have ever done much of the 'egg song', but occasionally have. They are generally very quiet chookies.

Again, I repeat - to anyone else who can lend a hand, the following :

Mandy - is : ........ Laying eggs .... growling as usual, but only when I and / or others are around .... has a bright good comb, bright rounded eyes ... eats very well ... drinks her water .... has reasonable, but not excellent, muscle around and on the keel .... jogs ( yes - JOGS on upright legs ) to the fence if she thinks there is new goody food coming out our back door - ... and squats continually ( and normally,) for a chook who is being submissive. She 'purrs' as she always has, when laying or preparing to lay. I have discovered on other BYC threads, that 'purring' indicates contentment. Everything I have researched so far, is a tick for good - feathers clean and not fluffed up, she preens regularly, ( sitting or standing ). However, she does walk with her feet / toes turned ever so slightly inward. ?? More or less pigeon toed. ? She does not limp or hop. She gets Anitone daily.

I am really quite upset about all this - as my hubby tells me about the 'bad times' he sees, and suggests I cull her, yet I see her ( when he is not around to show him ) her 'jogs' to the gate for "Mum tucker" and other good signs. I don't deceive myself however, I also see the bad moments. She remains in her coop bed ( the original nesting box ) until around midday. After that, her day begins, with intermittent episodes of good and not so good. She gets cuddles which she enjoys.

I am not looking for yes or no - about putting her to sleep - and I very much doubt anyone would want to say anything about that. It's just that she is such a monumental puzzle. Summer will be difficult, but I will bring her inside into the cool, where I think she will be quite happy to sit down most of the time. .... That's another thing - my other two chickens have taken to doing quite a bit of sitting down recently too - maybe they are copying her. ?? They all seem to 'sit' at the same times. Not something they have ever done until recently.

Appreciation, if anyone has any ideas.

...........

 

[sjturner79]

Fancy .... 

You mentioned a few pages back, the following :  

[COLOR=333333]If the chick can get to food and water and isn't chirping constantly ( an indication of pain ) then I would be adding a vitamin supplement like Anitone to the ration.[/COLOR]

I have searched and searched +++  - hours of it, for some information about ( who else ) ... Mandy and her strange 'arthritic' (?) condition -  with little result.   Your comment about what is an indication of pain in a chick, made me wonder. 

So - I have to ask ... do hens do anything similar ?.   Do they cry continually,  in some way when in pain ?
........If your answer is yes - I have no problem ( she doesn't cry or make noise continually )  
........If it is no - then I am at a loss ( again ). 

Several times a week, I think "this is it" ... as she lowers - spreading her wings to balance herself until she sits.   That might be ( as an example only ) at 10 am.   .... At 10.10 am she can be up and about, standing tall, fluffing and flapping normally as chookies do to shake themselves - and then walks slowly, almost to stagger stage  - before she settles on the ground and raises her tail.

She is driving me to distraction !!!  ​

From day 1, as a pre POL pullet - she has growled, with a few cackle-shrieks here and there. .  This apparently is her preferred noise.   Her mate Molly 'honks' - does nothing much else... and Mindy  - shrieks and does rooster impersonations. None of them have ever done much of the 'egg song', but occasionally have.  They are generally very quiet chookies.   

Again, I repeat - to anyone else who can lend a hand, the following :

Mandy - is : ........ Laying eggs .... growling as usual, but only when I and / or others are around .... has a bright good comb, bright rounded eyes ... eats very well ... drinks her water .... has reasonable, but not excellent,  muscle around and on the keel .... jogs ( yes - JOGS on upright legs ) to the fence  if she thinks there is new goody food coming out our back door - ... and squats continually ( and normally,)  for a chook who is being submissive.   She 'purrs' as she always has, when laying or preparing to lay.   I have discovered on other BYC threads,  that 'purring' indicates contentment.  Everything I have researched so far, is a tick for good - feathers clean and not fluffed up, she preens regularly, ( sitting or standing ).   However, she does walk with her feet / toes turned ever so slightly inward. ??  More or less pigeon toed.  ?  She does not limp or hop. She gets Anitone daily.    

I am really quite upset about all this - as my hubby tells me about the 'bad times' he sees, and suggests I cull her, yet I see her ( when he is not around to show him ) her 'jogs' to the gate for "Mum tucker" and other good signs.  I don't deceive myself however, I also see  the bad moments.   She remains in her coop bed ( the original nesting box ) until around midday.   After that, her day begins, with intermittent episodes of good and not so good.  She gets cuddles which she enjoys.  

I am not looking for yes or no - about putting her to sleep - and I very much doubt anyone would want to say anything about that.  It's just that she is such a monumental  puzzle.   Summer will be difficult, but I will bring her inside into the cool, where I think she will be quite happy to sit down most of the time.   .... That's another thing - my other two chickens have taken to doing quite a bit of sitting down recently too - maybe they are copying her.  ??  They all seem to 'sit' at the same times.  Not something they have ever done until recently.   

Appreciation, if anyone has any ideas.  

...........       

Unfortunately an adult chicken does its best to hide its pain in whatever ways it can making it hard to find thier problem. When all the girls are sitting are they tail up or down ? Heads up and alert , checking the ground and selves or resting?
Other than that from your many stories about her I have no help, but unless they are tail down and heads down when sitting the others are fine and just looking after her.

 

[Teila]

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.

 

[Chook Newby]

I know a lady who grew up on a commercial egg farm. Her mother used to dunk the cluckies.

I had a hen overheat once - I dunked her quickly in the kids wading pool. That fixed her. She wasn't clucky anymore and I swear she had that - do it again look.

Oh so funny

 

[MyHaven]

Fancy .... 

You mentioned a few pages back, the following :  

[COLOR=333333]If the chick can get to food and water and isn't chirping constantly ( an indication of pain ) then I would be adding a vitamin supplement like Anitone to the ration.[/COLOR]

I have searched and searched +++  - hours of it, for some information about ( who else ) ... Mandy and her strange 'arthritic' (?) condition -  with little result.   Your comment about what is an indication of pain in a chick, made me wonder. 

So - I have to ask ... do hens do anything similar ?.   Do they cry continually,  in some way when in pain ?
........If your answer is yes - I have no problem ( she doesn't cry or make noise continually )  
........If it is no - then I am at a loss ( again ). 

Several times a week, I think "this is it" ... as she lowers - spreading her wings to balance herself until she sits.   That might be ( as an example only ) at 10 am.   .... At 10.10 am she can be up and about, standing tall, fluffing and flapping normally as chookies do to shake themselves - and then walks slowly, almost to stagger stage  - before she settles on the ground and raises her tail.

She is driving me to distraction !!!  ​

From day 1, as a pre POL pullet - she has growled, with a few cackle-shrieks here and there. .  This apparently is her preferred noise.   Her mate Molly 'honks' - does nothing much else... and Mindy  - shrieks and does rooster impersonations. None of them have ever done much of the 'egg song', but occasionally have.  They are generally very quiet chookies.   

Again, I repeat - to anyone else who can lend a hand, the following :

Mandy - is : ........ Laying eggs .... growling as usual, but only when I and / or others are around .... has a bright good comb, bright rounded eyes ... eats very well ... drinks her water .... has reasonable, but not excellent,  muscle around and on the keel .... jogs ( yes - JOGS on upright legs ) to the fence  if she thinks there is new goody food coming out our back door - ... and squats continually ( and normally,)  for a chook who is being submissive.   She 'purrs' as she always has, when laying or preparing to lay.   I have discovered on other BYC threads,  that 'purring' indicates contentment.  Everything I have researched so far, is a tick for good - feathers clean and not fluffed up, she preens regularly, ( sitting or standing ).   However, she does walk with her feet / toes turned ever so slightly inward. ??  More or less pigeon toed.  ?  She does not limp or hop. She gets Anitone daily.    

I am really quite upset about all this - as my hubby tells me about the 'bad times' he sees, and suggests I cull her, yet I see her ( when he is not around to show him ) her 'jogs' to the gate for "Mum tucker" and other good signs.  I don't deceive myself however, I also see  the bad moments.   She remains in her coop bed ( the original nesting box ) until around midday.   After that, her day begins, with intermittent episodes of good and not so good.  She gets cuddles which she enjoys.  

I am not looking for yes or no - about putting her to sleep - and I very much doubt anyone would want to say anything about that.  It's just that she is such a monumental  puzzle.   Summer will be difficult, but I will bring her inside into the cool, where I think she will be quite happy to sit down most of the time.   .... That's another thing - my other two chickens have taken to doing quite a bit of sitting down recently too - maybe they are copying her.  ??  They all seem to 'sit' at the same times.  Not something they have ever done until recently.   

Appreciation, if anyone has any ideas.  

...........       

Hi AB, in my experience an adult chicken will be almost dead before revealing they are not well or experiencing pain. They don't have mum to protect them like a chick, and the flock won't in those circumstances (I hate to say they can be nasty critters) so mask it.

It comes down to quality of life I think. Some of my chickens sneeze a bit following the CRD. I could medicate them again but that costs a fortune to little avail. We all know continued doses of antibiotics is not good.

I have suffered with joint pain for the last two years. It's cause is not known but I have inflammation in all the joints. I'm in pain but I still have quality of life - even when I don't take the anti-inflammatory meds because of side effects. So perhaps Mandy is not always comfortable but still has quality of life. She can run when she wants to. However I do not agree with letting animals suffer.

Only you, from knowing her, can tell how uncomfortable she is, if at all.

Just my thoughts. I do wish I could offer more.

 

[MyHaven]

Thanks for The support on the dog issue.

I was still fuming - and still am when I posted the update.

To be clear - the owners have been fined but I do not know for what. It could be for attacking the girls or it could be for just being at large. They won't provide me with the investigation findings.

An investigation by the way that did not include a statement from me, other than when the Rapid Response investigator turned up.

They said that the owner had put another latch on their gate so the dogs won't get out again. They said the dogs have never been out before so they get a second chance. That is when I got the 'you can't blame a dog for being a dog' talk. I used to train dogs we all know dogs going unchecked will attack.

I have a new house built behind me and the neighbours in it told me that they had a man race in before the event searching frantically for the dogs. He could be a caring owner or he could be aware of what the dogs are capable of. How would you know. The point is that they have killed and they know where my chickens live. I have a zero tolerance for damage and danger to other people.

Also, when I had the fox trap in the backyard it caught a husky. I'm not sure it wasn't one of them. If so it has been out before.

Animal control laws differ between jurisdictions. In Qld each council writes its own local law which is approved by the state minister for local government.

The local law says they can be declared dangerous. So they are not enforcing it. I need to see their policy. The investigator is getting his boss to ring me. I said many of the thing you guys have said.

Any more thoughts and arguments are welcome.

Did you know: cock fighting was illegal in Oklahoma until 1963, when a judge ruled that chickens are not animals and therefore unprotected by anti cruelty laws.
-U.S. News & World Report. Found that on Google