INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[DarthLayer]

Apparently I am just a horrible chicken mother. Zach told me he was having a hard time finding all the chickens, and he thought that they had went into the corn. We went out to look for them, and I find a random bale of straw. I've asked everyone I know, and no one brought it. All but 5 of my chickens are gone. Three silkies, two roosters. I thought maybe they had been stolen (it was 10 chickens) and then I found a ton of feathers from my RIR. And then I found her foot. I have no idea what would eat everything but the foot. Or what could eat 10 chickens. I haven't found any other feathers, and most of my chickens had very distinct feather patterns. I'm thinking I'm going to start a new flock. So if anyone has any chickens to sell, please let me know. Also, any tips on how to NOT kill chickens would be appreciated.

I'm sorry for your loss. I have no idea what would do that.

I am actually thinking about selling some of my chickens. I have 5 standards (2 BR and 3 EE) and 2 bantams (2 BB reds) and I have a white rock rooster and bantam barred rock rooster. If you want any let me know.

 

[julie0477]

That's terrible!!!!! I don't know. When you let them free range its just a gamble. I have had little problem this year, but about two years ago I lost most of my chickens to a coyote that would just come take them in the middle of the day. Once it was while I was outside with them. If you have anyway to keep them in a run or something until you figure out whats taking them that's about all you can do. I'm not great with a gun but I believe my neighbor shot our coyote.

 

[Quinstar]

Apparently I am just a horrible chicken mother. Zach told me he was having a hard time finding all the chickens, and he thought that they had went into the corn. We went out to look for them, and I find a random bale of straw. I've asked everyone I know, and no one brought it. All but 5 of my chickens are gone. Three silkies, two roosters. I thought maybe they had been stolen (it was 10 chickens) and then I found a ton of feathers from my RIR. And then I found her foot. I have no idea what would eat everything but the foot. Or what could eat 10 chickens. I haven't found any other feathers, and most of my chickens had very distinct feather patterns. I'm thinking I'm going to start a new flock. So if anyone has any chickens to sell, please let me know. Also, any tips on how to NOT kill chickens would be appreciated.

I'm so sorry! That's just horrible! I agree with Brad... perhaps some of them were just terribly frightened and will show up before nightfall. I hope that they do! I can't imagine losing that many at one time.

 

[Vigar49]

What is a good easter egg layer?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

About the speckled brown egg. I will get one about once a week from my RIR production hens. It is not frequent enough to be one hen all of the time. So I think it is just a fluke. Sometimes the specks fade as the bloom dries and sometimes not. I'm not sure it is breed specific as I see you don't have RIR on your list.

Apparently I am just a horrible chicken mother. Zach told me he was having a hard time finding all the chickens, and he thought that they had went into the corn. We went out to look for them, and I find a random bale of straw. I've asked everyone I know, and no one brought it. All but 5 of my chickens are gone. Three silkies, two roosters. I thought maybe they had been stolen (it was 10 chickens) and then I found a ton of feathers from my RIR. And then I found her foot. I have no idea what would eat everything but the foot. Or what could eat 10 chickens. I haven't found any other feathers, and most of my chickens had very distinct feather patterns. I'm thinking I'm going to start a new flock. So if anyone has any chickens to sell, please let me know. Also, any tips on how to NOT kill chickens would be appreciated.

I have chicks but we are a drive from you. I also have production RIR hens that were born in October of 2012 that I want to rehome. We free range in a 90% fenced area (our back yard). I have found having a rooster helps. I have some young roosters you could have your pick. I have noticed the rooster helps to keep the hens in a somewhat safe place but will not protect from hawks all of the time. A hawk will leave just feathers. The straw it sounds like some one dumped it, not likely they took time to steal your chickens. Now some dogs will play with the chicken and leave a trail of parts, others eat them whole and might have left a foot behind. As for keeping them alive, I wait until they are either with a larger chicken (some people have guard dogs, lots of training needed) or at least 16 weeks (boys) or 20 weeks girls before I let them out.
I have mentioned to my DH that it would be super easy for someone to just come and steal a chicken from us but we prefer that risk to the pain and trouble of a big lock and chains on everything.

 

[Quinstar]

What is a good easter egg layer?

Are you looking for a purebred chicken?

 

[Old Salt 1945]

Apparently I am just a horrible chicken mother. Zach told me he was having a hard time finding all the chickens, and he thought that they had went into the corn. We went out to look for them, and I find a random bale of straw. I've asked everyone I know, and no one brought it. All but 5 of my chickens are gone. Three silkies, two roosters. I thought maybe they had been stolen (it was 10 chickens) and then I found a ton of feathers from my RIR. And then I found her foot. I have no idea what would eat everything but the foot. Or what could eat 10 chickens. I haven't found any other feathers, and most of my chickens had very distinct feather patterns. I'm thinking I'm going to start a new flock. So if anyone has any chickens to sell, please let me know. Also, any tips on how to NOT kill chickens would be appreciated.

Shawna, it is definitely a coyote. That's how Rooster Cogburn went. I found scattered feathers in the barn. I found a foot and clumps of feathers/skin and blood in the field 200 feet behind the barn. I had been hearing a coyote pack (likely mother and pups) killing rabbits in the neighborhood.

The others could, indeed, be hiding in the cornfield, if it was a lone coyote. They may come back at dusk.

Where you live, you will have to have a fenced chicken yard. If you try to free-range, you will just encourage and feed the coyotes.

You may be opposed to it, but I recommend you get a Ruger 22/10 rifle and scope and learn how to use it. The Thorntown police will direct you to someone who can school you in it's use. A coyote shot with a .22 won't usually drop dead on the spot, it will run off, but it won't come back.

Luck, John

 

[ShawnaScott]

So
sorry to hear this! When did it happen? It is possible that the others were just scared away and will return once they calm down? When I had corn behind me last year, the chickens would go hide, play, scratch, ect in there pretty much all day long. By sunset they were all back in the yard getting ready to roost in the coop.
So if this was just this morning, give them time as some may come back.

Some did come back, so the coyotes only made off with two of my hens. Luckily my favorites came back!

I'm sorry for your loss. I have no idea what would do that.

I am actually thinking about selling some of my chickens. I have 5 standards (2 BR and 3 EE) and 2 bantams (2 BB reds) and I have a white rock rooster and bantam barred rock rooster. If you want any let me know.

I would definitely be interested, where are you located? This summer has just not been kind to my hens! All my roosters pulled through, but the hens are dropping like flies!

About the speckled brown egg. I will get one about once a week from my RIR production hens. It is not frequent enough to be one hen all of the time. So I think it is just a fluke. Sometimes the specks fade as the bloom dries and sometimes not. I'm not sure it is breed specific as I see you don't have RIR on your list.

I have chicks but we are a drive from you. I also have production RIR hens that were born in October of 2012 that I want to rehome. We free range in a 90% fenced area (our back yard). I have found having a rooster helps. I have some young roosters you could have your pick. I have noticed the rooster helps to keep the hens in a somewhat safe place but will not protect from hawks all of the time. A hawk will leave just feathers. The straw it sounds like some one dumped it, not likely they took time to steal your chickens. Now some dogs will play with the chicken and leave a trail of parts, others eat them whole and might have left a foot behind. As for keeping them alive, I wait until they are either with a larger chicken (some people have guard dogs, lots of training needed) or at least 16 weeks (boys) or 20 weeks girls before I let them out.
I have mentioned to my DH that it would be super easy for someone to just come and steal a chicken from us but we prefer that risk to the pain and trouble of a big lock and chains on everything.

The funny thing is, I have three roosters, and they only ate the large chickens! I have three silkies that sit on the ground, in the coop, all day. The coop's left open. But my other chickens are 5 months old and pretty large. I still can't figure out the straw. They had to drive an acre of my grass just to put it right next to the coop. It's very odd.

Shawna, it is definitely a coyote. That's how Rooster Cogburn went. I found scattered feathers in the barn. I found a foot and clumps of feathers/skin and blood in the field 200 feet behind the barn. I had been hearing a coyote pack (likely mother and pups) killing rabbits in the neighborhood.

The others could, indeed, be hiding in the cornfield, if it was a lone coyote. They may come back at dusk.

Where you live, you will have to have a fenced chicken yard. If you try to free-range, you will just encourage and feed the coyotes.

You may be opposed to it, but I recommend you get a Ruger 22/10 rifle and scope and learn how to use it. The Thorntown police will direct you to someone who can school you in it's use. A coyote shot with a .22 won't usually drop dead on the spot, it will run off, but it won't come back.

Luck, John

I know how to shoot, thought I'm not very good yet. One of my coworkers heard me complaining this morning about my loss of chickens, and he offered to come and shoot them for me. Apparently he has nifty coyote luring devices. I wasn't going to have them put down, but I didn't know they got as big (or bigger) than German Shepherds. I thought that they were tiny, like 30 lbs max.

 

[browncow15]

I'm sorry for your loss. I have no idea what would do that.

I am actually thinking about selling some of my chickens. I have 5 standards (2 BR and 3 EE) and 2 bantams (2 BB reds) and I have a white rock rooster and bantam barred rock rooster. If you want any let me know.

I might be interested in your EEs. How old ae they? I was going to wait until spring and order some chicks but the more colored eggs I see the more I want one! Shawna has first dibs ofcourse!! My neighbor just informed me he's seen a hawk in our area, I hope my chickies aren't next on its menu!

 

[browncow15]

my neighbor two doors down just came over to complain about my birds. Guess I'll be clipping some wings tonight.