constructing a single chicken family unit for porch

[welasharon]

My lab knows when the possum comes in the front yard and, sure enough, you soon see him on the porch. Couple nights ago, he started going nuts....a racoon meandered up out front. I would think it is hearing them.
sharon

 

[centrarchid]

ADULT RED-TAIL HAWK MAKES EFFORT AGAINST FRONT PORCH FLOCK AND DOMINIQUE HYBRIDS


Today at about 1100 an adult red-tail hawk, probably resident male, gave the front porch flock a scare. Scoob, already inside, alerted me to situation despite not being able to see hawk. Never-the-less Scoob was looking up once he could get outside. Scoob was about to tear through window to get outside before I subdued him to watch encounter. Most of flock found cover within stems of sweet sumac and woven wire fence. Hawk was about 20 feet above on powerline. Birds he was after did not include a rooster that would likely have tried to fight back. The red jungle fowl x American games maybe too small and the dominique crosses appear not mature enough. Eduardo (full adult American game) in coop about 75 feet away appeared to be loaded with attitude. Some of the front porch flock pullets sought cover between coops / pens of games where Eduardo and others now housed. Scoob was able to discern threat was a hawk based on vocalizations of chickens only. Ability not instinctive so Scoob had to learn chicken language for hawk.


Photo showing part of sweet sumac patch as it appeared last year. Does not look like much but red-tailed hawk does not fly into it and chickens appear to know this.

 

[centrarchid]

PREPARING FOR WINTER TIME FLIGHTS



This winter the front porch flock will be provided with three feeding stations marked by straw bales. Distance between them is at least 125 feet but no more than 200 feet. The first feed stations are armed only with layer pellets, second with BOSS, or third with scratch grains dominated by corn. The layer pellet station is always armed in excess of what birds will consume. Presently during course of a day the birds walk between feeding stations. If last year is repeated, then when snows greater than 4 inches arrive the birds will fly at least between roost on front porch an first feeding station which is a distance of 125 feet. Arrows indicate flight paths assuming straight line only. If all works as planned, then "whirr-cackles" proceeding flights will be recorded.

First snow just over 1”.

Bare spot birds flew to about 75 feet from front porch.

Refuge sought by birds with limited flying ability. Refuge is summer roost birds no longer use because barred owls harass them. I think barred owls hunt voles which are becoming increasingly abundant.

 

[centrarchid]

SCOOB HAD TO WORK THIS MORNING

This morning at about 0800 Scoob went nuts trying to get out of the house. I could here the front porch flock cackling "threat" of some sort and based on their location when I looked outside the expectation was to see a red-tailed hawk on powerline above day roost. After looking for a good 30 seconds I spotted cause of commotion, a rather pretty pitbull mix. It did not appear to be pressuring the flock but they were giving it wide berth anyway. When I opened the front door, Scoob was on the strange dog chasing it through the front porch flock with his tail high and back hairs erect. His target was a good 15 pounds larger but Scoob still chased it down drive towards neighbors geese. That could be a problem in its own right. The local trailer court sure does have a lot of pitbull and pitbull crosses but luckily only one has had interest in my chickens.





HENS FROM ANOTHER FLOCK BEING MOLESTED BY FRONT PORCH FLOCK ROOSTERS RILE SCOOB MORE THAN WHEN ROOSTER MOLESTING FLOCK MATES

Earlier, Scoob got riled about commotion in garage. A hen from another flock in pasture had ventured into front porch flock territory and was cornered in the garage. The cockerels were trying to mate with her aganst her better judgement and the commotion riled Scoob up much more than if target was a front porch flock member. Dynamics of such interactions differ as a function of whether hen is local or not.

 

[centrarchid]

SCOOB BUSY AGAIN

An adult male northern harrier hawk flew low over yard searching for small prey. Scoob gave chase and almost caught it from behind. Hawk's reponse to Scoob was fastest
I have seen a harrier fly. Very pretty bird but not a threat to front porch flock. Needed a picture of that guy!

 

[centrarchid]

STILL DISTINGUISHING FULL- AND HALF-SIBLINGS 6 MONTHS POST-HATCH


The front porch flock is now made up of eight birds. Six are F1 red jungle fowl x American game (4 cockerels and 2 pullets), one is an American game pullet (Tippy) and remainder is a red jungle fowl hen. Despite beng the largest and full American game, Tippy is the lowest ranking within the flock. The hybrids, male and female, drive her to periphery of feeding stations but get along just fine among themselves. As an experiment I released Sallie (Tippy's mom) so she could go to roost with balance of front porch flock. While Sallie was out and about Tippy was at top rank second only to Sallie and she went to roost next to her mother in the top spot. For last 45 days, Tippy spends much of her day loitering outside Sallie and Eduardo's pen so they still know each other. When I am out doing yard work Tippy breaks of from whatever group she is foraging with and follows me about. It appears impart for companionship. The smaller hybrid cockerels seem not to keep her attention.

 

[centrarchid]

SOMEBODY IS TRYING VISIT


Multiple times tonight a canid of some sort has being trying come into front yard. Scoob is aware of its presence and complains at door to be let out. Animal keeps retreating to east with Scoob hot on its trail. I suspect attractent is a pile of cinnamon covered pretzel bits I dropped and failed to pickup. This is classical situation where a food item for me or chickens is bringing in a potential threat to chickens. This already constant concern in cockyard where every effort is made to feed no more than birds will consume since leftovers are a powerfull way to lure hungry oppossums to where they will be a problem once attractent looses its appeal.

 

[centrarchid]

GETTING READY FOR LONG FLIGHTS

Front porch flock has after about a week learned feeding stations marked by straw bales are only locations I put out food for them. This morning I got out late, just after dawn, and birds were as flock systematically checking feeding stations for eats. They were walking between them as a group at a pretty good clip, checking a station and moving to the next when nothing was found. Everything looks very good for when first significant snow hits. They are going to fly between straw bales to avoid walking through snow. Distances are as follows; roost (R) to station 1 about 125 feet, station 1 to stations 2 and 3 about 200 feet, and distance between stations 2 and 3 exceedes 300 feet. As figure indicates they will not have line of sight between stations 2 and 3. Will they still make that longer flight? How long will they rest between flights? Will they all go as individuals or will they coordinate somehow with "whir-cackles'? If they go as individuals or not part of whole group, will they go to stations in different sequences?

SLEEPING ON GUTTER ABOVE FRONT PORCH

Four have moved to gutter above porch. That may get cold feet when temperatures drop.

 

[centrarchid]

TID BITTING RESUMED IN MALES WHERE FEATHER REPLACEMENT IS COMPLETE


Since early October, males of the front porch flock have not pointed out feed (tid bitted) for females. Males (even Eduardo) would immediately consume items. Mealworms were the item I provided for test. During this time birds were molting tail feathers. Now when mealworms are provided, some of the males will offer them to hens. The difference between males that do and do not is feather regrowth. Males in full feather becoming more aggressive and hens are starting to associate with those males more. Presently 2 of 4 free-ranging males are tid bitting and doing well with ladies. Pure games (also confined) are all amoung group that is not tid bitting.

 

[centrarchid]

Main man Mr. Man (aka Trueman) preparing for poultry brooding trial some time in future. He still needs to brood himself as presently he is still a bit of a slacker.