California - Northern

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: Talking about the Bobcat reminded my of a person that felt bad leaving for work while the chickens were locked up in their secure run. She had to remind her self that the secure run was to protect the chickens and that leaving them in it was the best thing for them.

Big Bobcats are scary!
Bobcats are a pain. They can climb a 6 ft fence in nothing flat. Lost 2 hens to one a couple of years ago.

So PLEASE feel free to tempt me to drive out ...What do you have available?

blessings,
Flowers

Not Deb, but Welsummers are better layers than Barnevelders. Barnevelders are much more laid back and mellow though, plus with being good broodies, they have their advantages. Wellies are more "hands off" - they are friendly and will come running to you, but don't like to be handled so much. My welsummers usually give about 5 eggs a week per hen.

If you want high egg output, you can't beat Australorps. They have the most eggs in a year record.

Thanks for the support everyone, it really helps a lot

Quote: It could have been much, much worse. At least you are only dealing with a bacterial issue and not a disease.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Amy - fantastic pictures as always!

 

[Deerling]

It could have been much, much worse. At least you are only dealing with a bacterial issue and not a disease.

Thank you. I am hoping that really is the problem and everything clears up. I have read a few stories lately of diseases causing life-long consequences for the chicken owners (keeping a closed flock, not being able to sell eggs, etc) and do feel lucky that that is probably not the case right now.

You said you lost two hens to a bobcat (Sorry to hear that) but do you know at that point, did the bobcat move on or did you do something to deter it?

 

[Happy Chooks]

You said you lost two hens to a bobcat (Sorry to hear that) but do you know at that point, did the bobcat move on or did you do something to deter it?

The bobcat moved on because on it's 3rd attempt, I heard the rooster sounding his alarm call - and took my dog out with me. She is a German Shepherd with a VERY high prey drive. She saw it in the brush and chased it away. It's not been back since.

We are out in the country and have bobcats, foxes, mountain lions, bears, racooons, opossum, etc - so when you have all the predators around, a dog that chases critters away is a blessing............even if she mostly chases squirrels. She has the squirrels trained that when the back door opens, they are up a tree in a heartbeat.

Unfortunately, she's found skunks on occasion - so we now leave her INSIDE when we go out after dark. She paced our fence for over 2 hours a couple days ago because she chased a deer off the property. And she's FAST - she can keep up with my DH on his dirtbike when he's in 3rd gear.

 

[Nikon]

I forgot to mention, too, that I have seen a few really watery poops, and some look kind of like spit. Like they have some bubbles. Oh man, my poor babies are a mess, aren't they? So that would speak to worms, right?

Ugh, I feel sick. Partly because I had two cups of coffee and no breakfast, but mostly because I just called and got the report - no parasite eggs, nothing about cocci, but apparently a large number of e-coli (I had them test for that, too). How did this happen? If I remember right I need to be giving them yogurt and probiotics? I'll ask in the Diseases etc forum, but does anyone know anything about this? We have ducks and bantams and then the new baby silkies, too. The babies are inside only and we've been very careful about biosecurity. The bantams have been in with the big girls and go outside in the garden area with them and the ducks. We just put the big girls them in the coop last night. So what should my course of action be as far as feeding, separating and cleaning/disinfecting? And for the sneezing?

I hate feeling like I'm not doing right by my animals! I need a hug.

 

[Nikon]

Good grief it took me a few hours to catch up!

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Deb, I need some Marans and olive egger eggs for a friend of mine. how much?

Be careful with Bobcats. A Full Grown Bobcat can kill a dogs if it felt the need. But they are not as bad as what can do this.


A mountain lion dragged this into my carport.

A pack of coyotes is worse though. My wife is a vet tech. Last year a 105 lb German Shepherd was killed by a pack. Female coyote lured him in and was surrounded and killed by the rest.
as far as hawks go. A red tail hawk can kill any size chicken. I know.

 

[ronott1]

Deb, I need some Marans and olive egger eggs for a friend of mine. how much?

Be careful with Bobcats. A Full Grown Bobcat can kill a dogs if it felt the need. But they are not as bad as what can do this.


A mountain lion dragged this into my carport.

A pack of coyotes is worse though. My wife is a vet tech. Last year a 105 lb German Shepherd was killed by a pack. Female coyote lured him in and was surrounded and killed by the rest.
as far as hawks go. A red tail hawk can kill any size chicken. I know.

Megan told me that coyotes got a couple of her chickens last Fall. They watched one run off with a Pinta Pita Rooster....

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Megan told me that coyotes got a couple of her chickens last Fall. They watched one run off with a Pinta Pita Rooster....

 

[lizanne]

One of my one week old chicks is doing a wierd hiccup/gagging thing and hasn't stopped. It's breathing, and makes a peeping sound some of the time. I checked it's throat to make sure there wansn't anything stuck, and it's crop is empty. I also gave it some water/vitamin mix. Any other suggestions? Has anyone seen this before? Here is a video of it.