Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I was looking for a nice hair tie last week, so grabbed what I thought was a nice material hair scrunchy, it was a thong.


I actually tried too crawl under the carpet as I was leaving the shop with several ladies laughing as I left.

Oh no. I should not laugh at that.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh I think we may have restarted the great thong debate again.

This is going to require a lot of tax photos if we go down that road again.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Ok, I now officially know what got Drumstick. 2 days ago I also had Spooky one of my growouts from Henrietta vanish. I started then to suspect a hawk as these attacks are happening in the morning before noon. Today I had a dr appointment for Rosie to get tested for covid and was gone for 2 hours. I came home to hear from my brother that a pair of Hawks got another of my hens before he could run them off. This time the victim was one of my Marans hens Clover. I've now declared war on the beasts. My options are limited as I can not kill them, but there is no law saying that I can not fire a shotgun in the air as they fly over. I've also went out and found some firecrackers today to shoot off when I see them. One way or another I'm not loosing another chicken to them.

 

[featherhead007]

This is going to require a lot of tax photos if we go down that road again.

“Again”? Glad I missed it the first time! (Reminds me too much of the old college days) !

 

[featherhead007]

Ok, I now officially know what got Drumstick. 2 days ago I also had Spooky one of my growouts from Henrietta vanish. I started then to suspect a hawk as these attacks are happening in the morning before noon. Today I had a dr appointment for Rosie to get tested for covid and was gone for 2 hours. I came home to hear from my brother that a pair of Hawks got another of my hens before he could run them off. This time the victim was one of my Marans hens Clover. I've now declared war on the beasts. My options are limited as I can not kill them, but there is no law saying that I can not fire a shotgun in the air as they fly over. I've also went out and found some firecrackers today to shoot off when I see them. One way or another I'm not loosing another chicken to them.

Sad to hear this! But please don’t shoot a shotgun in the air, “what goes up, must come down “ and at the same velocity, may hurt you or others. (Shoot towards the grass, or dirt. The noise produced by firecrackers may be enough.

 

[BY Bob]

Ok, I now officially know what got Drumstick. 2 days ago I also had Spooky one of my growouts from Henrietta vanish. I started then to suspect a hawk as these attacks are happening in the morning before noon. Today I had a dr appointment for Rosie to get tested for covid and was gone for 2 hours. I came home to hear from my brother that a pair of Hawks got another of my hens before he could run them off. This time the victim was one of my Marans hens Clover. I've now declared war on the beasts. My options are limited as I can not kill them, but there is no law saying that I can not fire a shotgun in the air as they fly over. I've also went out and found some firecrackers today to shoot off when I see them. One way or another I'm not loosing another chicken to them.

Are they flying off with your chickens! How big are these hawks? Our red tails are very large but they don't fly off with chickens, they eat them where they kill them.

 

[rural mouse]

Came home from work today, having had a good day. found pullets (and cockerel) up near the house. Closer than normal, but they've been working their way closer. Got pasta treat. They came back up in a hurry. then saw 1 off in the yard, not moving. Go check it out.....Dead Nika, my Dominique. no obvious signs of cause, but cold. Looking around, see Sheba, my RIR, also a corpse. See little Storm, running around (NOT a corpse), where's mama? Keep looking. Find corpse of the double laced golden wyandotte, followed by Dora (the pic posted earlier). Have seen Silver and a partridge rock....not sure if Mama or not, but not near Storm. Find Mama on other side of Russian olives, also a corpse (definitely mama as her comb is smaller than the 2IC's comb. Then spot Rusty on the track down below. Feathers everywhere thigh plucked. Finally (after talking with nearest neighbors (1 of whom also has chickens)), find Thing 1, the smart Houdan, torn open. Never did find Helen, my silver Phoenix. Based upon all the senseless killing and the size difference between Rusty and Helen, the smallest, I'm thinking a dog. I need a fence. RIP feathered friends.

Of the birds in pictures, I still have little Storm in #4, and the barred bird in the pic around the feeder. I also have the 2 with just tails showing. I took the pic of Rusty on Sunday.

No one saw/heard anything so don't know if it was someone's pet or a stray. One of the neighbors did see a stray the other day. The foxes back in May I understand. feeding family. This is senseless.

 

[rural mouse]

Oh a Dorking! We don't see many of those. Very pretty colouring.

Yes, she was....she was also funny to watch run. She moved more like a duck.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I did not witness it today, but my brother said they were big hawks. What I'm wondering though is if in the chaos he's mistaken the hawks for juvenile eagles. I do know there is a pair of bald eagles that nest along the river about 7 miles away. If that is the case I'm in a even worse position then I am with dealing with hawks. And to clarify, didn't mean shoot straight in the air, will shoot toward the hillside if it comes to that for scaring them away.

 

[featherhead007]

You are so nice to say it. You are a wonderful participant here.

Some days I’m an aviator, sometimes a driver, other times, a pedestrian, even a chicken sitter, and now a participant. Wow, I do feel privileged!