Consolidated Kansas

[ChicknBaron]

Well, here are the details: We have a very open yard but a tall chainlink fence a round it so we've never worried about coons or foxes, but then of course if they can't get'm the blasted hawks will

We went down to check on them around 5:30 and I had been working around the yard and whatnot, so when i got done i decided to go check under the trailer (the place they always run under and stay under all day everyday, for protection from above i realize now) so when i got there i realized i had only seen three and there were only to in the coop laying eggs so that left 3 missing!!! i started worrying and frantically searching all over the yard when i came around the corner and saw the vivid yellow feathers of my BO scattered... I was horrified and couldn't believe my eyes... the hawk had been there the whole entire time I had been running around the yard, protecting his meal and hadn't flown off! I was so mad and yelled to my dad (who was helping me search on the other side of the yard) to come over saying "DAD! the hawk! its a hawk, and it killed octavius!!!! It's still here!" and not until my dad popped out behind it did it fly off a few yards to the peak of the roof on his nearby shop. I was so mad the poor chickens neck had been stripped of its feathers and i just felt so bad for what it'd gone through, it must have been terrified

Then the thought dawned on me that he had been there the whole time within 20 yards of the others! when i had realized what had happened to I realized that there were still two hens MIA, so i jumped up on some junk and looked around and found a healthy (but extremely mortified) barred rock hen cowering in the dense weeds.

that was a small relief until i realized that the other was still missing (i had figured the two would be together) and i still haven't found her My dad and i were wandering if a huge hawk of the size we had, could carry off a hen??? we couldn't find any feathers or any trace of a crime from the other hen. There was a huge trail of feathers from the yellow chicken kill but we started to think that the missing one may have been carried off??? Is that even possible? i didn't figure they could carry that much weight!

Well i'm at a HUGE crisis point and am very discouraged from all these things happening in such a short time, it's all to much for a 15 year old to take in at once

with the city telling us to get rid of them all together and now we have to go to the meeting tomorrow to try to convince them otherwise and trying to keep up with the chicks and homework and sports and trying to maintain a flock that is under fire from above and GAAAAHHHH!!! the list goes on! I can't think of what to do with all of it because after tomorrow if the city doesn't overturn the ordinance then we only have one day to find a new home and remove the coop until they start fining us! and we are just

that they will because we can't afford to the time or money to move them with business lately... and then even if we do get them to overturn it, it will probably take forever for them to implement the new ordinance thus making us move our chickens somewhere and then having to bring it all back! AND THEN even if that all straightens itself out... we STILL have a hawk problem!

These hens are used to free ranging everyday and do not like being cooped up literally all day! due to the fact that we've always free ranged them we don't have a run that we could use to protect them and still let them out during the day... SO we have to find something quickly to implement into our coop and we were thinking maybe constructing a chicken tractor but we have to do it fast because they have nothing to do but stay in the coop because I am NOT letting them out to free range with that hawk constantly hovering above! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY OVERWHELMED!!!!!!!!! I just don't no what else to say...

 

[HEChicken]

ChicknBaron, so sorry for your losses.

Mommahen, I've heard good things about that hatchery. There is a whole thread about them here on the forum.

Josie, wow, you are really getting rid of a lot of birds!

Danz, that is so funny about the birds napping with your husband. Yep, I think you've got them spoiled. Ummm...did they make a mess of the bedspread though?

Karen - congrats on the turkey tom - I bet Tookie is so happy to have him for company. My pair are really bonded now and you never see one without the other.

I can't believe how cold it got - from 85 last Wednesday to only 45 today. So far everyone seems to be handling the change in temp fine. If anything, they seem to like the colder weather and are out foraging more. I can't say the same for me. It was one of those days all I wanted to do was be indoors doing cozy things like drinking tea and reading. I know its going to get a whole lot colder, but the sudden change in temp makes it feel really cold already.

 

[medawinks]

Howdy everyone! I am doing one last final sweeping clean out of birds. I hate to do it but I don't want to be huge and prego and out there trying to fill waterers this winter.

I have decided to concentrate on my banty cochins, geese and couple large fowl projects. DH can deliver to Andover on Mondays too if that helps anyone down that direction.
I though I would post the list here in case anyone is interested in anything just let me know. This is the list I am putting on craigslist so obviously prices are highly negotiable to fellow consolidated kansas byc friends.

I am thinking anything that is still here the end of the month I will take to the auction down in Garnett. I have never done that before but am thinking it may be a good option.


4 Royal Palm Turkeys 4 months old 2 males 2 females $30 for a pair or $50 for all 4, purchase of turkeys and get four free guineas, raised with the turkeys and protect them while free ranging
2 Ancona pullets 4 months old $6 each
2 Dominique pullets 4 months old $6 each
2 Large fowl blue cochin hens in molt 2 years old $12 for both
1 Gold laced wyandontte hen in molt 2 years old $6
1 pair breeding quality blue silkies, 4 months old $20 pair
1 pet quality black mottled bantam cochin cockerel 5 months old Free
2 Mille fleur cochin cockerels 5 months old $5 each
1 pair hatchery quality bantam salmon faverolles $10 pair
1 breeding quality blue silkie cockerel 8 months old Free
3 silkie/cochin hens 1 yr old 1 blue/2 splash, great broodies $15 all three
3 splash french maran roosters 8 months old Free
3 silver and white crested ducks 1 male, 2 female Free PET HOME ONLY!
1 black crested gold laced polish pullet $8
3 Cameo peachicks 4 months old $50 each
3 lavender orp cockerels 4 months old $5 each

Whoa!!! I definitely missed something!!! You are really downsizing but for a WONDERFUL reason! Congratulations! Congrats on the new job too!!! I would help, but don't have room or time to add more.... ChicknBaron, so sorry about the hawk! I will hope that you can convince your town to let you keep your birds and then you can figure out a way to keep netting over their run. Danz, I am absolutely in stitches over the birds taking a nap on the bed! I love my birds, but if I woke up with one in bed with me...... Lets just say the neighbors would be calling the police thinking that I was being attacked or being excorcized!! Too funny!! I wonder what the details will be..... BTW my oldest says that she would be happy to help you decorate, as would the littles Also, my wobbly chick who couldn't stand at all at this time last week, is walking around today like it never happened! Just yesterday she would appear to lose her balance a bit, but today- No signs of trouble at all Now if she will just be a pullet! I do think the Splash Rock is a roo, though. But hoping that it just has a pinker comb because it is cold. LOL. ! I hope the shows that we're mentioned go really well too! I wish I could catch up on all the posts and not just skim the last page, time is just in short supply as "me" time right now and my brain just doesn't hold much either

 

[tweetysvoice]

ChicknBaron - Hugs!! I'm sorry about the hawks and having to fight for your birds

Josie - Congrats!! I'd totally missed that you were expecting as well! I feel silly or I would have said how "glowing" you looked when we saw you.

Mommahen - sorry that you are having troubles with the pup. I'd be crushed as well!!!

Danz - I was cracking up when I read about them sleeping with your DH. I can't wait for the full story! LOL

Medawinks - The chick that I had to fix sprayleg on turned out to be my only pullet of the three, so I'm crossing your fingers that you have the same luck!

I had my granddaughter over tonight. We had a great night. No tears at all!! She's now crawling and pulling herself up to stand. Thought I'd share a couple pics.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Karen that is awesome. I might have to get some eggs from you next spring. Not that I need any more breeds! I just think those reds are gorgeous.
Maidenwolf, glad you posted. It reminded me I haven't shut the birds up yet.

Yup, I'll be looking for some Cream Legbars from you. Hilarious about your DH sleeping with the birds.

Well, here are the details: We have a very open yard but a tall chainlink fence a round it so we've never worried about coons or foxes, but then of course if they can't get'm the blasted hawks will

We went down to check on them around 5:30 and I had been working around the yard and whatnot, so when i got done i decided to go check under the trailer (the place they always run under and stay under all day everyday, for protection from above i realize now) so when i got there i realized i had only seen three and there were only to in the coop laying eggs so that left 3 missing!!! i started worrying and frantically searching all over the yard when i came around the corner and saw the vivid yellow feathers of my BO scattered... I was horrified and couldn't believe my eyes... the hawk had been there the whole entire time I had been running around the yard, protecting his meal and hadn't flown off! I was so mad and yelled to my dad (who was helping me search on the other side of the yard) to come over saying "DAD! the hawk! its a hawk, and it killed octavius!!!! It's still here!" and not until my dad popped out behind it did it fly off a few yards to the peak of the roof on his nearby shop. I was so mad the poor chickens neck had been stripped of its feathers and i just felt so bad for what it'd gone through, it must have been terrified

Then the thought dawned on me that he had been there the whole time within 20 yards of the others! when i had realized what had happened to I realized that there were still two hens MIA, so i jumped up on some junk and looked around and found a healthy (but extremely mortified) barred rock hen cowering in the dense weeds.

that was a small relief until i realized that the other was still missing (i had figured the two would be together) and i still haven't found her My dad and i were wandering if a huge hawk of the size we had, could carry off a hen??? we couldn't find any feathers or any trace of a crime from the other hen. There was a huge trail of feathers from the yellow chicken kill but we started to think that the missing one may have been carried off??? Is that even possible? i didn't figure they could carry that much weight!

Well i'm at a HUGE crisis point and am very discouraged from all these things happening in such a short time, it's all to much for a 15 year old to take in at once

with the city telling us to get rid of them all together and now we have to go to the meeting tomorrow to try to convince them otherwise and trying to keep up with the chicks and homework and sports and trying to maintain a flock that is under fire from above and GAAAAHHHH!!! the list goes on! I can't think of what to do with all of it because after tomorrow if the city doesn't overturn the ordinance then we only have one day to find a new home and remove the coop until they start fining us! and we are just

that they will because we can't afford to the time or money to move them with business lately... and then even if we do get them to overturn it, it will probably take forever for them to implement the new ordinance thus making us move our chickens somewhere and then having to bring it all back! AND THEN even if that all straightens itself out... we STILL have a hawk problem!

These hens are used to free ranging everyday and do not like being cooped up literally all day! due to the fact that we've always free ranged them we don't have a run that we could use to protect them and still let them out during the day... SO we have to find something quickly to implement into our coop and we were thinking maybe constructing a chicken tractor but we have to do it fast because they have nothing to do but stay in the coop because I am NOT letting them out to free range with that hawk constantly hovering above! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY OVERWHELMED!!!!!!!!! I just don't no what else to say...

It would be overwhelming for anyone ChicknBaron. Hang in there!

ChicknBaron - Hugs!! I'm sorry about the hawks and having to fight for your birds

Josie - Congrats!! I'd totally missed that you were expecting as well! I feel silly or I would have said how "glowing" you looked when we saw you.

Mommahen - sorry that you are having troubles with the pup. I'd be crushed as well!!!

Danz - I was cracking up when I read about them sleeping with your DH. I can't wait for the full story! LOL

Medawinks - The chick that I had to fix sprayleg on turned out to be my only pullet of the three, so I'm crossing your fingers that you have the same luck!

I had my granddaughter over tonight. We had a great night. No tears at all!! She's now crawling and pulling herself up to stand. Thought I'd share a couple pics.

OMGosh! Such a beautiful little chick!

She's growing up so fast, I can hardly believe it. She looks like lots of fun! Love the pic!

 

[Trish44]

Josie, I sent you a PM. Congrats on your new job by the way. You're really cutting back on birds!

KarenS, that's awesome about your new turkey! We may have crossed paths today.

ChicknBaron, I'm so sorry about your chickens.

That's about all I can remember right now, I'm kind of done in tonight & I'm on the laptop & am not really used to typing on it, so I'm not going to type too much. I hope everyone is staying warm & all the birds are doing OK.

 

[HEChicken]

I had my granddaughter over tonight. We had a great night. No tears at all!! She's now crawling and pulling herself up to stand. Thought I'd share a couple pics.

She is just gorgeous - love those big, brown eyes! You can tell by her big smile how happy she is, too.

That's about all I can remember right now, I'm kind of done in tonight & I'm on the laptop & am not really used to typing on it, so I'm not going to type too much. I hope everyone is staying warm & all the birds are doing OK.

We haven't seen too much of you lately - you must be staying really busy.

ChicknBaron, I didn't see your post detailing the attack, as we must have been typing at the same time. It wasn't until I saw someone had quoted you, that I went back and found your post. Hang in there - losing birds is always hard but you do have a lot going on all at once. I'll

for you for the meeting tomorrow. I think a tractor is a great idea, and some of them can be put together fairly quickly and cheaply. It does sound as though your parents are supportive, which is a great first start. If you do a search on here for "Omelays Chicken Tractor", that is one idea that can be built really cheaply and is a decent size. I will say that I tried to build it and there is NO triangulation so I was having difficulty getting it put together. It is half-built and now on the back burner until I get a chance to figure out how to triangulate it. But, once that is done, it is a 10x10 tractor that is lightweight and so far I only have about $50 in materials in it, so its pretty affordable. If your dad is able to help you, the two of you could probably knock it out in a few hours.

 

[HEChicken]

Okay, here's a "what would you do?" for all of you. I went out to check on birds this morning and make sure they had water since the thermometer said it was 29 degrees (Oh, I am SO not ready for ice - its only the first week of October). Anyway, while filling a water bowl, I looked up to see I was being watched. It was only about 100' away but was standing in long grass so it was hard to see it clearly. It was either a coyote or a fox. After awhile it sat down and watched us, and a little while later, got up and trotted off into the hedgerow. I think fox because it was behaving just exactly like my previous visitor. A few minutes later I saw it far down our pasture - a much greater distance away. After seeing it the second time I went inside and got the binoculars but by the time I got back out there it was gone and I didn't see it again. My dilemma is: do I eliminate a potential threat just because its there, or do I wait until it is an actual threat before taking action? I don't want to just get out there and kill, kill, kill because at heart I am a live and let live kind of person. At the same time I don't want to go through another fox attack like the one in July ever again. And of course, just because I only saw one, doesn't mean there aren't a whole slew of them. The neighbors have told me that coyotes travel across all of our properties in the fall so its possible it was just a coyote passing through, and won't be a threat to us. I'm thinking about perhaps relocating a .22 to the coop so I'll have it in case I need it.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Well, here are the details: We have a very open yard but a tall chainlink fence a round it so we've never worried about coons or foxes, but then of course if they can't get'm the blasted hawks will

We went down to check on them around 5:30 and I had been working around the yard and whatnot, so when i got done i decided to go check under the trailer (the place they always run under and stay under all day everyday, for protection from above i realize now) so when i got there i realized i had only seen three and there were only to in the coop laying eggs so that left 3 missing!!! i started worrying and frantically searching all over the yard when i came around the corner and saw the vivid yellow feathers of my BO scattered... I was horrified and couldn't believe my eyes... the hawk had been there the whole entire time I had been running around the yard, protecting his meal and hadn't flown off! I was so mad and yelled to my dad (who was helping me search on the other side of the yard) to come over saying "DAD! the hawk! its a hawk, and it killed octavius!!!! It's still here!" and not until my dad popped out behind it did it fly off a few yards to the peak of the roof on his nearby shop. I was so mad the poor chickens neck had been stripped of its feathers and i just felt so bad for what it'd gone through, it must have been terrified

Then the thought dawned on me that he had been there the whole time within 20 yards of the others! when i had realized what had happened to I realized that there were still two hens MIA, so i jumped up on some junk and looked around and found a healthy (but extremely mortified) barred rock hen cowering in the dense weeds.

that was a small relief until i realized that the other was still missing (i had figured the two would be together) and i still haven't found her My dad and i were wandering if a huge hawk of the size we had, could carry off a hen??? we couldn't find any feathers or any trace of a crime from the other hen. There was a huge trail of feathers from the yellow chicken kill but we started to think that the missing one may have been carried off??? Is that even possible? i didn't figure they could carry that much weight!

Well i'm at a HUGE crisis point and am very discouraged from all these things happening in such a short time, it's all to much for a 15 year old to take in at once

with the city telling us to get rid of them all together and now we have to go to the meeting tomorrow to try to convince them otherwise and trying to keep up with the chicks and homework and sports and trying to maintain a flock that is under fire from above and GAAAAHHHH!!! the list goes on! I can't think of what to do with all of it because after tomorrow if the city doesn't overturn the ordinance then we only have one day to find a new home and remove the coop until they start fining us! and we are just

that they will because we can't afford to the time or money to move them with business lately... and then even if we do get them to overturn it, it will probably take forever for them to implement the new ordinance thus making us move our chickens somewhere and then having to bring it all back! AND THEN even if that all straightens itself out... we STILL have a hawk problem!

These hens are used to free ranging everyday and do not like being cooped up literally all day! due to the fact that we've always free ranged them we don't have a run that we could use to protect them and still let them out during the day... SO we have to find something quickly to implement into our coop and we were thinking maybe constructing a chicken tractor but we have to do it fast because they have nothing to do but stay in the coop because I am NOT letting them out to free range with that hawk constantly hovering above! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY OVERWHELMED!!!!!!!!! I just don't no what else to say...

Oh goodness. I am so sorry. You really are having a hard time. I wish you lots of good luck to come. It is hard to deal with hawks becuase once they find food they stick around and we cant shoot them even thoughy they are quickly picking off our dear girls. I wonder if you contact conservation office if there is a way for them to trap the pest and relocate???

Maidenwolf, glad you posted. It reminded me I haven't shut the birds up yet.

Glad to help.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Okay, here's a "what would you do?" for all of you. I went out to check on birds this morning and make sure they had water since the thermometer said it was 29 degrees (Oh, I am SO not ready for ice - its only the first week of October). Anyway, while filling a water bowl, I looked up to see I was being watched. It was only about 100' away but was standing in long grass so it was hard to see it clearly. It was either a coyote or a fox. After awhile it sat down and watched us, and a little while later, got up and trotted off into the hedgerow. I think fox because it was behaving just exactly like my previous visitor. A few minutes later I saw it far down our pasture - a much greater distance away. After seeing it the second time I went inside and got the binoculars but by the time I got back out there it was gone and I didn't see it again. My dilemma is: do I eliminate a potential threat just because its there, or do I wait until it is an actual threat before taking action? I don't want to just get out there and kill, kill, kill because at heart I am a live and let live kind of person. At the same time I don't want to go through another fox attack like the one in July ever again. And of course, just because I only saw one, doesn't mean there aren't a whole slew of them. The neighbors have told me that coyotes travel across all of our properties in the fall so its possible it was just a coyote passing through, and won't be a threat to us. I'm thinking about perhaps relocating a .22 to the coop so I'll have it in case I need it.

I carry a revolver in my belt holster at all times. I am a wiccan and we are the "one with nature" type of people. But when something pops up that threatens my family, pets and livelyhood I have to do what is necessary. If and when this happens I make sure to put to use whatever I eliminate. I am a hunter as well because that is natures way and I always use every part of the animal in some way or find someone who will ( I am not big on organ meat). That is were I stand on that if this helps you in any way. I wish you good luck. I see a predator within a certain distance from my livestock a threat. I think you should set up your perimeters of where is ok and were is not ok. If I feel uncomfortable I take it out. If it is far enough away I try other tactics first. I have gotterid of the fox family on my property with 2 things, I set up a small fire pit between my coop and were I had seen them running and I started lighting it once a week and letting it burn at the times I had seen them crossing, and everytime I did se them I would let a shot off with my 20 gauge shotgun. So far it has been 2 years since I have seen them at all. I did notice a fox family suddenly appear up the road a few miles