Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ValerieJ]

He's the best looking one here imo. Unfortunately he's not the best at anything else.

Some birds are just ornamental.

 

[ValerieJ]

The bald eagle is a scavenger. It's very unlikely to try for a chicken. They will fish but you are more likely to see a bald eagle eating road kill for example than you are seeing it hunt.
It's a bit like the buzzards we have here. They look and act the part but we have lots here and they need to be desperate to try for live prey.
The falcons and proper hawks here are a different matter.

Until the government steps in and disrupts the eco system of the river. Then hungry bald eagles will eat chicken. Trust me on this one. I lost 3 chickens to them, and a couple neighbors lost several of theirs. I guess once they tasted chicken they decided they like it just fine.

Bird netting helps. They have to have the room to swoop in on their prey. They can't drop straight down like I've seen the owls and hawks do. My chickens are safe now, after the eagle attack. Owls and hawks can't drop through the netting either. Mine is a knotted nylon net. Not sure the plastic ones would work.

 

[Ribh]

I need some leghorns...and Sebrights

Seabrights are on my short list too. Unfortunately I haven't found a reputable breeder here yet.

 

[ValerieJ]

Seabrights are on my short list too. Unfortunately I haven't found a reputable breeder here yet.

I haven't seen one around here either.

 

[Ribh]

Most of our raptors are scavengers too, which is nice because we have a lot of them.

I was taught to use a gun when I was about 13 & was quite a good shot @ a stationary target but I have never owned a gun, never hunted, & doubt I could shoot anything now.

 

[RoyalChick]

I don't know what this says about my intelligence but I have been thoroughly outwitted by my chickens today. Not once, but twice.
The first time I was trying to give Maggie some extra food away from the flock because she is molting badly and you know I wake up every day thinking it will be her last day on earth.
So I got her in covered run #2 of The Chicken Palace, and carefully closed the door to keep her sisters confined to covered run #1. I sat down with Maggie and a nice bowl of oatmeal, beef, and canned mackerel. Imagine my surprise when I saw there were 5 beaks in the bowl. I had failed to close all the chicken doors and they navigated the maze and came up behind me. Sigh.
The second time was shortly after, when the plate was cleared I put it down on the step with the spoon that I had been using to hand-feed Maggie. Elizabeth picked up the spoon and dropped it neatly down between the floor boards of the vestibule where it is now buried deep under the vestibule floor - the one area that only the mice can get to.
Sigh.

 

[ValerieJ]

They will fish but you are more likely to see a bald eagle eating road kill for example than you are seeing it hunt.

Not to belabor the point, but I hear this a lot on here about bald eagles, and when I was in VA I did see them feasting on a dead deer from time to time. But the pair we have here are primarily fishers, and sometimes thieves of chickens, small dogs and small cats. I have seen them with a snake before. But I have never seen them with any sort of carrion they didn't create. I guess ours are special.

 

[Ribh]

I don't know what this says about my intelligence but I have been thoroughly outwitted by my chickens today. Not once, but twice.
The first time I was trying to give Maggie some extra food away from the flock because she is molting badly and you know I wake up every day thinking it will be her last day on earth.
So I got her in covered run #2 of The Chicken Palace, and carefully closed the door to keep her sisters confined to covered run #1. I sat down with Maggie and a nice bowl of oatmeal, beef, and canned mackerel. Imagine my surprise when I saw there were 5 beaks in the bowl. I had failed to close all the chicken doors and they navigated the maze and came up behind me. Sigh.
The second time was shortly after, when the plate was cleared I put it down on the step with the spoon that I had been using to hand-feed Maggie. Elizabeth picked up the spoon and dropped it neatly down between the floor boards of the vestibule where it is now buried deep under the vestibule floor - the one area that only the mice can get to.
Sigh.

Whoever said chickens were dumb, huh?

 

[ValerieJ]

I don't know what this says about my intelligence but I have been thoroughly outwitted by my chickens today. Not once, but twice.
The first time I was trying to give Maggie some extra food away from the flock because she is molting badly and you know I wake up every day thinking it will be her last day on earth.
So I got her in covered run #2 of The Chicken Palace, and carefully closed the door to keep her sisters confined to covered run #1. I sat down with Maggie and a nice bowl of oatmeal, beef, and canned mackerel. Imagine my surprise when I saw there were 5 beaks in the bowl. I had failed to close all the chicken doors and they navigated the maze and came up behind me. Sigh.
The second time was shortly after, when the plate was cleared I put it down on the step with the spoon that I had been using to hand-feed Maggie. Elizabeth picked up the spoon and dropped it neatly down between the floor boards of the vestibule where it is now buried deep under the vestibule floor - the one area that only the mice can get to.
Sigh.

When it comes to treats and chickens, there is always a will, and they will find a way.

 

[RoyalChick]

Until the government steps in and disrupts the eco system of the river. Then hungry bald eagles will eat chicken. Trust me on this one. I lost 3 chickens to them, and a couple neighbors lost several of theirs. I guess once they tasted chicken they decided they like it just fine.

Bird netting helps. They have to have the room to swoop in on their prey. They can't drop straight down like I've seen the owls and hawks do. My chickens are safe now, after the eagle attack. Owls and hawks can't drop through the netting either. Mine is a knotted nylon net. Not sure the plastic ones would work.

I haven't seen eagles here but I get lots of hawks of various types and owls. And whole armies of Turkey Vultures (who I think are pure scavengers),