Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Sad news this morning. We lost Dos during the night.

We have no idea how. There was no blood. She was fine all day, running with the other two. But she's never been quite as robust. Always at the edge of the group. When the others fought for meal worms she hung at the back.

My husband found her, at the edge of the nest/sleeping area, not quite where she'd have been snuggling the others and mom, but not where she'd be out in the open. It was in the upper 60s last night.

She appears to have been, not eaten, but chewed? Her neck mostly. Her body seemed mostly untouched. We do still have mice. Would they do this post-mortum?

Poor baby. I really wanted to watch this new little red hen grow up.

Spoiler: Not a pretty sight

View attachment 3607951

Spoiler: Same

View attachment 3607952

Oh I am so sorry. That is very sad.

 

[RoyalChick]

Okay...read up and maybe it was a snake! The head and neck seemed to be chewed on and wet, the body dry and unharmed. Maybe a large snake killed and tried to swallow, but couldn't get it down and regurgitated it? No blood, so something that constructs or poisons makes sense.

I cropped the prior pics. But her head seemed most "plucked".

Spoiler: Poor Dos

View attachment 3608095

Looks like you need to triple check coop security before nightfall.
So sad.

 

[rural mouse]

this is wonderful!! So happy for your son (is he thinking about allowing himself to be poached? Or is he just enjoying the attention at the moment?)

He's slated for the job he really wanted, not available in the marines. I don't think he's poachable (but the brotherly razing he will give as good as he gets)

 

[knoturavggrl]

Sad news this morning. We lost Dos during the night.

We have no idea how. There was no blood. She was fine all day, running with the other two. But she's never been quite as robust. Always at the edge of the group. When the others fought for meal worms she hung at the back.

My husband found her, at the edge of the nest/sleeping area, not quite where she'd have been snuggling the others and mom, but not where she'd be out in the open. It was in the upper 60s last night.

She appears to have been, not eaten, but chewed? Her neck mostly. Her body seemed mostly untouched. We do still have mice. Would they do this post-mortum?

Poor baby. I really wanted to watch this new little red hen grow up.

I am so sorry for your loss

A rat for sure would do that. Maybe time to try to get mom and the littles up on a roost at night. Both myself and @knoturavggrl have lost chicks to rats.

Yes, I lost one to rats. She was gone though just feathers left. I think a snake could be your culprit and possibly a rat interrupted before dragging it away.

I have a dirt floor coop and it will likely remain so for the foreseeable future and so I can’t make my coop as secure as I would like it to be. It will always be vulnerable to ground digging predators.

 

[RoyalChick]

How wonderful! He looks like my Bob!!

View attachment 3608107

That is because they are both Leghorns!

 

[Lilion]

awwww poor baby, such a shame, who knew keeping chickens was so stressful.

I don't know what you can do about snakes, maybe small hole wire? Did you see the photos that @GregnLety posted a while back with the snake in his pen wound through the wire fencing?

Yes, I did. I suspect it went right in through the egg door since I've left to open and really not covered well. I'm just going to close it. We seem done with triple digits <knock wood> and since I don't want them sleeping there anymore, ventilation there isn't as necessary.

 

[rural mouse]

Sad news this morning. We lost Dos during the night.

We have no idea how. There was no blood. She was fine all day, running with the other two. But she's never been quite as robust. Always at the edge of the group. When the others fought for meal worms she hung at the back.

My husband found her, at the edge of the nest/sleeping area, not quite where she'd have been snuggling the others and mom, but not where she'd be out in the open. It was in the upper 60s last night.

She appears to have been, not eaten, but chewed? Her neck mostly. Her body seemed mostly untouched. We do still have mice. Would they do this post-mortum?

Poor baby. I really wanted to watch this new little red hen grow up.

Spoiler: Not a pretty sight

View attachment 3607951

Spoiler: Same

View attachment 3607952

 

[RoyalChick]

It’s Pony Sunday.

I so rarely have any thing to contribute that isn’t a cat or a chicken but today I have a few things to wish everyone a happy Sunday.

I had a daytime visitor (thank goodness someone eats the dandelion leaves!).

And several nighttime visitors (what is with that jumping movement coming towards the camera?).

And finally something to make everyone smile. Warning just let the site scroll through the pictures for you - I couldn’t figure out how to see them at my own pace.
https://www.comedypetphoto.com/

Happy Sunday everyone.

 

[GregnLety]

Chinaberry trees might not be the best option - do you have another berry or fruit bearing tree that wouldn't be toxic to the dogs but would still provide both shade/shelter AND food for the chooks?
What is your growing zone? These might be a good alternative Chokecherry

They are thick here and haven't caused any sickness among my dogs. Our dogs eat em like candy with no effects. When we buy trees to plant it's always fruit trees, more pear and apple trees are on the agenda this fall. We're in zone 9 but I have found a apple and pear that grows well here.

 

[GregnLety]

They grow super fast here, but they don't live long has been my experience - maybe 15 yrs? Don't use Weeping Willows - while absolutely wonderful and grow fast, they are messy trees prone to dropping branches (teeheehee poor Sally got bopped one day when a branch fell down she was ok but startled her!).

@GregnLety Can Maples grow there? they are fast growing and have a large canopy.

I'm not sure there's any maples that can grow in zone 9. Thinking 2 apple trees. One on the east and one on the south once they start growing will shade that corner. Maybe 3 trees will be necessary.