Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[BlueBaby]

It’s only about 46 Fahrenheit here now, but very wet. And Sammy’s girls miss their barn. No owl sightings today so far, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to be letting them back out anytime soon. I’ll take the rain over snow or ice storms anyday!

We are supposed to have a storm come through for Christmas, but where I'm at it will be rain not snow.

 

[Kris5902]

The wind storms are generally the worst for me here, though last year’s freak s**w storm in February had me quite concerned for the chickens. I need plenty of ventilation because of the constant humidity, but that means when the wind really whips up it can get drafty in the tractors. Add in some horizontally blowing rain in the run area, and it’s enough to keep everyone in. This morning it was a medium rainfall, and enough to keep everyone pretty quiet and content to stay in the tractors a bit later than usual. No crowing, clucking, or complaints from them even though I was over an hour behind our usual schedule.

Although, I have to admit, watching Chickie Hawk get nearly blown over by a strong gust, then herd all his ladies back inside their roosting box as soon as they have filled their crops is adorable. Today his ladies actually ventured out the people door when I went in to replace their water and drop their feeder and ramp after moving them to new grass. He carefully herded everyone back in and to the feeder. I even helped him with one directionally challenged girl who wanted to go straight through the hardware cloth and not back through the door. We are developing a decent relationship between us, I think, though I still don’t trust him with other people or enough to stop watching him very closely when I’m in his tractor.

 

[BlueBaby]

The wind storms are generally the worst for me here, though last year’s freak s**w storm in February had me quite concerned for the chickens. I need plenty of ventilation because of the constant humidity, but that means when the wind really whips up it can get drafty in the tractors. Add in some horizontally blowing rain in the run area, and it’s enough to keep everyone in. This morning it was a medium rainfall, and enough to keep everyone pretty quiet and content to stay in the tractors a bit later than usual. No crowing, clucking, or complaints from them even though I was over an hour behind our usual schedule.

Although, I have to admit, watching Chickie Hawk get nearly blown over by a strong gust, then herd all his ladies back inside their roosting box as soon as they have filled their crops is adorable. Today his ladies actually ventured out the people door when I went in to replace their water and drop their feeder and ramp after moving them to new grass. He carefully herded everyone back in and to the feeder. I even helped him with one directionally challenged girl who wanted to go straight through the hardware cloth and not back through the door. We are developing a decent relationship between us, I think, though I still don’t trust him with other people or enough to stop watching him very closely when I’m in his tractor.

I'm glad that the last 2 rooster's that I have had have been so good. Both of them were the Naked Neck's. I had a white one named Charley before. The one that I have now is named Roger. I re-homed the white one to another lady here in AZ., so that she could use him for breeding to some Naked Neck pullet's that she got a hold of. She has already hatched chick's from them after those girl's started laying egg's. She's happy with Charley, and he has been nice for her also.

 

[Kris5902]

Good roosters are important to me. With my boys I’m not so horribly concerned with their behavior towards me, it’s how they treat their hens I find most important. I can live with a little attitude from them now and then, and Chickie Hawk went through a really rough patch when his hormones kicked in. We will see what spring brings with him.

I think a lot of the Rooster issues people see are basically like cultural misunderstandings and an awkward adolescence. Or not enough hens. And they all have different personalities. Sammy doesn’t like seeing other guys, at all. Bob, Barney, and mr Eyebrows got along just fine for a full year together. Mr Marans and Chickie Hawk both needed ladies, badly... and take great care of them, Chickie Hawk even more so now than Mr Marans.

Having so many guys at once has really helped me some in understanding them.

It’s an intact male thing that needs to be handled with care, but I think is often neglected in chickens due to their size. With most larger animals handlers are careful that there’s a clear distinction between human and cow etc. You don’t want your bull or ram thinking you’re part of his herd. With a little cockerel it’s easy to overlook some of those indicators, until it’s too late. Especially if you don’t know what you’re doing exactly. I know that’s how I’ve been learning!

 

[rjohns39]

Good morning Kris

 

[BY Bob]

I can see it already in the link Red Green... classic! I was raised watching these gems. They also have a movie “Duct tape forever”

My children and I used to watch Red Green every week together when they were growing up. Seeing this is a nice memory right before I see them again.

Thanks for that.

 

[aart]

s**w

 

[Kris5902]

Well the Owl has been back basically every night... last night I chased it off pursuing it right into the woods. Tonight we arrived home a bit little late, 5 pm, to put up the chickens, mostly due to holiday nonsense, community stuff, and concern about the WWOOFer actually getting fed dinner. Tonight I chased it from the not-so-Littles-anymore meat tractor it was pacing in front of on our arrival to the meat tractor Sammy’s in with the rehab girls and 10 week olds, then to Mr Marans tractor, and on to a fence post. It finally flew off towards the barn.

I was putting the rest of the girls up when it returned not 10 minutes later. We had a little scare with Hoppy, as she was laying down oddly, But seems fine. I almost walked into Andrew’s line of fire. Communication is very important when dealing with fire arms. We gave the Owl a warning shot tonight. Through a lot of hollering at each other and by the glow of both cell phones and head lamps, we managed to herd the owl further away and make sure we were all (chickens included) safely behind the gun.

If it persists in terrorizing my chickens we may have to use more forceful deterrents. I like owls, but it was an unpleasant situation, and I get quite upset when my chickens feel threatened. Seeing my Hoppy laying down with her legs stuck out much like poor Missy after the attack, it was almost too much for me. I have become very attatched to my feathered friends.

 

[BlueBaby]

Well the Owl has been back basically every night... last night I chased it off pursuing it right into the woods. Tonight we arrived home a bit little late, 5 pm, to put up the chickens, mostly due to holiday nonsense, community stuff, and concern about the WWOOFer actually getting fed dinner. Tonight I chased it from the not-so-Littles-anymore meat tractor it was pacing in front of on our arrival to the meat tractor Sammy’s in with the rehab girls and 10 week olds, then to Mr Marans tractor, and on to a fence post. It finally flew off towards the barn.

I was putting the rest of the girls up when it returned not 10 minutes later. We had a little scare with Hoppy, as she was laying down oddly, But seems fine. I almost walked into Andrew’s line of fire. Communication is very important when dealing with fire arms. We gave the Owl a warning shot tonight. Through a lot of hollering at each other and by the glow of both cell phones and head lamps, we managed to herd the owl further away and make sure we were all (chickens included) safely behind the gun.

If it persists in terrorizing my chickens we may have to use more forceful deterrents. I like owls, but it was an unpleasant situation, and I get quite upset when my chickens feel threatened. Seeing my Hoppy laying down with her legs stuck out much like poor Missy after the attack, it was almost too much for me. I have become very attatched to my feathered friends.

It will be back. It's hungry, and chicken's are food. It will grab one as soon as you aren't paying attention.

 

[BY Bob]

Well the Owl has been back basically every night... last night I chased it off pursuing it right into the woods. Tonight we arrived home a bit little late, 5 pm, to put up the chickens, mostly due to holiday nonsense, community stuff, and concern about the WWOOFer actually getting fed dinner. Tonight I chased it from the not-so-Littles-anymore meat tractor it was pacing in front of on our arrival to the meat tractor Sammy’s in with the rehab girls and 10 week olds, then to Mr Marans tractor, and on to a fence post. It finally flew off towards the barn.

I was putting the rest of the girls up when it returned not 10 minutes later. We had a little scare with Hoppy, as she was laying down oddly, But seems fine. I almost walked into Andrew’s line of fire. Communication is very important when dealing with fire arms. We gave the Owl a warning shot tonight. Through a lot of hollering at each other and by the glow of both cell phones and head lamps, we managed to herd the owl further away and make sure we were all (chickens included) safely behind the gun.

If it persists in terrorizing my chickens we may have to use more forceful deterrents. I like owls, but it was an unpleasant situation, and I get quite upset when my chickens feel threatened. Seeing my Hoppy laying down with her legs stuck out much like poor Missy after the attack, it was almost too much for me. I have become very attatched to my feathered friends.

These large predator birds are simply not afraid of humans. I have no idea how to dissuade it from coming back. It has hunted your property successfully. I believe @BlueBaby is right. It will likely keep coming back.