Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

My Foe

The following spoiler shows my rodent enemy enjoying a beautiful sunny day running around in the run. It is very intrigued by the bait but has not yet gone in to eat. I have the camera set so I have documentation that it has taken the bait. If it has not by next week, we will add additional methods.

Spoiler: My Foe

Yikes - you didn't put poison bait out did you? That can kill the chickens even if they don't eat the bait but only eat the rat. Please tell me it is bait in a snap trap or a zapper. You have me all worried now.

 

[BY Bob]

Yikes - you didn't put poison bait out did you? That can kill the chickens even if they don't eat the bait but only eat the rat. Please tell me it is bait in a snap trap or a zapper. You have me all worried now.

This was a tough decision but it is poison bait. That is why I am keeping such an active look on things. My hens have always ignored rodents. I catch a lot of mice and moles in the pool. No one is interested in eating them. However I am keeping a close eye on everything to be safe. I will not be leaving bodies where the hens can get at them and the bait will not be out long term. This is just to get on top of things quickly.

I understand the risk and believe that I can keep them safe. We used similar on the farm and lost no hens and I will be way more vigilant than we were there.

 

[RoyalChick]

This was a tough decision but it is poison bait. That is why I am keeping such an active look on things. My hens have always ignored rodents. I catch a lot of mice and moles in the pool. No one is interested in eating them. However I am keeping a close eye on everything to be safe. I will not be leaving bodies where the hens can get at them and the bait will not be out long term. This is just to get on top of things quickly.

I understand the risk and believe that I can keep them safe. We used similar on the farm and lost no hens and I will be way more vigilant than we were there.

I trust that you have really thought it through, but know I will be anxious about it so please keep us all posted!
They do make rat-sized snap traps. Of course those also have to be kept away from the chickens and they are terrifying to set because I am confident you could lose a finger if you got snapped.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm so sorry.

It seems like she will be OK the though, right? Those Goshawk seem quite good at what they do unfortunately.

How bad do you think her injury is? Is she going to be OK?

She should be okay. The moulting isn't helping. Added stress will slow the healing up a bit, plus the not eating as much as she normally would. The wounds are clean. I just hope I've found them all. Little tallon punctures can be hard to find and I have to be extra careful when looking because of the pin feathers.
She's in with me tonight. It's got a lot colder here, from + 12 at night to +4 tonight and she needs to be warm.
I'll disinfect her again in the morning and pack the holes with a cream I have. She shouldn't be stressed in with me having laid eggs here and sat and hatched.
Hurry's limp isn't bad so she's in with the tribe.
What I didn't notice was Cillin has broken the end off one of his spurs and that's bled a lot. I've sealed the end up with Stockholm Tar and he went off to roost with his hens nervous but fit.

 

[Shadrach]

The Metacam has kicked in and she's not panting any more.

Treacle has been concerned about mum and stayed here until I put her in the pet carrier.

Fed, warm and safe, but obviously not entirely comfortable sitting down. I think it's because of the pin feathers.

 

[BY Bob]

I trust that you have really thought it through, but know I will be anxious about it so please keep us all posted!
They do make rat-sized snap traps. Of course those also have to be kept away from the chickens and they are terrifying to set because I am confident you could lose a finger if you got snapped.

An old fashioned rat trap will be next so I can put peant butter and feed on it. (learned that from you) This bait trap is designed to gather the body as well. Hopefully that part works.

 

[BY Bob]

She should be okay. The moulting isn't helping. Added stress will slow the healing up a bit, plus the not eating as much as she normally would. The wounds are clean. I just hope I've found them all. Little tallon punctures can be hard to find and I have to be extra careful when looking because of the pin feathers.
She's in with me tonight. It's got a lot colder here, from + 12 at night to +4 tonight and she needs to be warm.
I'll disinfect her again in the morning and pack the holes with a cream I have. She shouldn't be stressed in with me having laid eggs here and sat and hatched.
Hurry's limp isn't bad so she's in with the tribe.
What I didn't notice was Cillin has broken the end off one of his spurs and that's bled a lot. I've sealed the end up with Stockholm Tar and he went off to roost with his hens nervous but fit.

That's great news.

How do you think he broke his spur? How did you know there was an attack? Did you see it?

 

[BY Bob]

The Metacam has kicked in and she's not panting any more.
View attachment 2418464
Treacle has been concerned about mum and stayed here until I put her in the pet carrier.
View attachment 2418465
Fed, warm and safe, but obviously not entirely comfortable sitting down. I think it's because of the pin feathers.
View attachment 2418466

Get well soon sweetie.

 

[Shadrach]

That's great news.

How do you think he broke his spur? How did you know there was an attack? Did you see it?

I didn't see the attack and I don't know how he broke his spur. The most likely explanation is he broke it getting into the bamboo.
I'm going to sound a bit silly now but I can sense when there is a problem. That doesn't mean I know what the problem is.
There are changes in the sounds here.
There is almost always some creature noise. It was dead quiet.
Islay, one of the dogs was outside. She tries despite the hinderences from the main house.
I couldn't see a single chicken.

I start hunting then and don't stop until I've found every chicken. All Tribe 1 were in the bamboo and I could see Mel and what caught my eye was her foot was covered in blood. I crawled into the bamboo and eased her out.

 

[BY Bob]

I didn't see the attack and I don't know how he broke his spur. The most likely explanation is he broke it getting into the bamboo.
I'm going to sound a bit silly now but I can sense when there is a problem. That doesn't mean I know what the problem is.
There are changes in the sounds here.
There is almost always some creature noise. It was dead quiet.
Islay, one of the dogs was outside. She tries despite the hinderences from the main house.
I couldn't see a single chicken.

I start hunting then and don't stop until I've found every chicken. All Tribe 1 were in the bamboo and I could see Mel and what caught my eye was her foot was covered in blood. I crawled into the bamboo and eased her out.

I get it. I get that feeling as well and I'm sure it is the same thing. Noises are not as they should be. I'm so glad everyone survived.