Minnesota!

[NathanZee]

Oh - Sit rep... The good news is that it was only 1 chicken. one of my older leghorns. poor girl she was one of my first chickens on the new farm.

I found the remains of the hen under the edge of a pine tree. The neck is mostly eaten away with the head dangling from just a little skin. I have a photo to share if that will help but its gruesome so i wont unless I must.

My wife said when she pulled into the driveway this afternoon a large dark colored bird flew away from that area and that is when she noticed the feathers. She was thinking a hawk because of the coloring. She said no white head or tail, that she noticed aka not a bald eagle. The only thing she said was unique was it seemed really big for a hawk.

She said I "Need to get online and talk to my chicken friends" to see if you guys know what we are dealing with and if we need to keep the girls locked up for a day or two to keep them safe. I have heard someone on here talk about a kind of hawk setting up shop for the winter and i want to make sure that isnt a problem we have.

Can you help me??? this is our first predator kill so we are pretty bummed.

It could be a golden eagle. I have had one soar only 30 feet or so above the ground over the barn twice in the last month, which is really scary! I think it might be best to keep them inside, sometimes eagles will stop for a few days on migration from what I've heard.

 

[Coffee 1st]

Oh - Sit rep... The good news is that it was only 1 chicken. one of my older leghorns. poor girl she was one of my first chickens on the new farm.

I found the remains of the hen under the edge of a pine tree. The neck is mostly eaten away with the head dangling from just a little skin. I have a photo to share if that will help but its gruesome so i wont unless I must.

My wife said when she pulled into the driveway this afternoon a large dark colored bird flew away from that area and that is when she noticed the feathers. She was thinking a hawk because of the coloring. She said no white head or tail, that she noticed aka not a bald eagle. The only thing she said was unique was it seemed really big for a hawk.

She said I "Need to get online and talk to my chicken friends" to see if you guys know what we are dealing with and if we need to keep the girls locked up for a day or two to keep them safe. I have heard someone on here talk about a kind of hawk setting up shop for the winter and i want to make sure that isnt a problem we have.

Can you help me??? this is our first predator kill so we are pretty bummed.

Very sorry to hear about your girl.. im ok with you posting the pic if everyone else is..

 

[Coffee 1st]

I made flock blocks today found more than I thought I would to add to it!

layer feed
wheat berries
boss
corn meal
wheat flour
oatmeal
coconut flour
quinoa
alfalfa seed
kelp
raisens
dried comfrey leaves
dehydrated kale
pumpkin puree
apple sauce
4 eggs
crushed dry egg shells
cinnamon
cayenne pepper & red pepper
melted coconut oil

I mushed it all together with my hands and packed it into bread pans 2 regular sized and 4 small ones then baked it until it looked done-over an hour @325

sounds yummy.. sure your flock will love them...

 

[KlopKlop]

Very sorry to hear about your girl.. im ok with you posting the pic if everyone else is..

How about something a little more cheerful for now they are starting to get shaggy and mellow out. I switched them to dry food today and they like it much better than the soaked food.

 

[Coffee 1st]

How about something a little more cheerful for now they are starting to get shaggy and mellow out. I switched them to dry food today and they like it much better than the soaked food.

awwww now that is more cheerful.... you have done a great job...

 

[duluthralphie]

@duluthralphie i think you missed my post. I was hoping for your sage advice

We must have posted at the same time. Sorry..

A Bald Eagle does not have a white head until it is a few years old. It could be a juvenile, they are more daring and less leery of people and buildings than an adult.

 

[duluthralphie]

It could be a golden eagle. I have had one soar only 30 feet or so above the ground over the barn twice in the last month, which is really scary! I think it might be best to keep them inside, sometimes eagles will stop for a few days on migration from what I've heard.

We do not really hae a golden Eagle population in Minnesota as I understand it they are a rare visitor, Possible but unlikely.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Getting it that far south could be quite a feat. I was thinking South East, like Zumbrota. Which is about 1400 miles shy of your place.

Thanks for sending it here! NOT!!!! We had flurries start this afternoon about 4:00. Now the wind is just howling! I know tomorrow is going to stink too. Luckily, the weekend and the next week are supposed to be very nice again.

Now offering classes in Political Correctness and BYC. These classes are available in Rednieckese and Minnesotan.

As an added incentive to new students, we will be allowing them to audit our previous class on proper alcohol consumption and trolling the internet. (this is not the same as being an internet troll) Coffee teaches that class along with basic web stalking.

I am a Certified Internet troll-er and Web Stalker i received my certificate at the Jerry Springer Academy, I did attend the Dr.Phil`s School of Advanced Stalking but was dismissed for ,,,well the reason does not really matter...I tend to like to leave gifts,Photos and Emails for my person of interest.. That is also where Ralphies Camp Day training came in handy... I highly recommend attending that course when its available..

I will also be attending the alcohol consumption class again,I feel like I did not receive enough training in that area i dont remember the 2nd half of that class,, unfortunately Raplhie does NOT offer free repeat courses...

I think you and Ralphie must be two nuts that fell out of the same shell now!

Wait I was in more tornadoes in Minnesota than any where's else in my 30 odd years so I know y'all have the wind for it LOL it blew the truck stop down around me at Austin

The only thing that makes me nervous with the weather. On nights when there is a chance for twisters, I just cannot sleep. I hate our basement, so I always hope I don't have to take the kids and dogs down there to hold out for a storm. You can see blizzards and hurricanes coming, but you just never know about a tornado.

Murdock,mn

Welcome!

Oh - Sit rep... The good news is that it was only 1 chicken. one of my older leghorns. poor girl she was one of my first chickens on the new farm.

I found the remains of the hen under the edge of a pine tree. The neck is mostly eaten away with the head dangling from just a little skin. I have a photo to share if that will help but its gruesome so i wont unless I must.

My wife said when she pulled into the driveway this afternoon a large dark colored bird flew away from that area and that is when she noticed the feathers. She was thinking a hawk because of the coloring. She said no white head or tail, that she noticed aka not a bald eagle. The only thing she said was unique was it seemed really big for a hawk.

She said I "Need to get online and talk to my chicken friends" to see if you guys know what we are dealing with and if we need to keep the girls locked up for a day or two to keep them safe. I have heard someone on here talk about a kind of hawk setting up shop for the winter and i want to make sure that isnt a problem we have.

Can you help me??? this is our first predator kill so we are pretty bummed.

I suspect the bird could have been eating after something else killed it, like a coon. Otherwise, it might well have been a juvie Bald Eagle. I have seen quite a few eagles around since that day all those 4 were here. Some with parents, some not. Like Ralphie said, they don't get the white head and tail until they are mature. I saw a juvie less than a week ago in the hay field kitty corner to our property when I left the driveway. They mostly like to scavenge, but not always, and Leghorns aren't that big for one to carry off. I would look closer to see what kind of damage to the body before I blamed a raptor though. Either way, sorry to hear you lost her, it always sucks to lose valuable birds, and that means any who are earning their keep.

I do suggest keeping then inside for2-3 days. It is going to be nasty and cold again tomorrow, so they will probably like being inside, I know mine were all there today, even my cats were climbing up to stay inside the coop today.

How about something a little more cheerful for now they are starting to get shaggy and mellow out. I switched them to dry food today and they like it much better than the soaked food.

What cute little fur balls!!

 

[Minniechickmama]

So, a little story about my day....

I have to pick up my son from school every day at 1:35. He is a senior and gets out for work study rather than have two study halls at the end of the day. On my way into town, I have to go down the hill (Zumbrota is in a valley of one of the forks of the Zumbro River) to get there. About halfway down, in the rain and sleet and wind, I see a guy riding (or trying to) a bike up the hill. He had some big jackets and a big backpack and decided to get off and push his bike. I picked up son, and headed home again, and here is this guy still trudging up the hill. I asked son, "Should we give him a ride?" Son says, "Yes." So, I stop and ask him. He didn't think long on it and put his bike and pack in the back of the truck and got in. He came from Dallas TEXAS on a bike!!!! His buddy said there is a job in Minneapolis if he could make it up. I guess he took a train part way, but mostly he rode that bike. He was going to get to Red Wing and go to a church there to see if they could help him to get the rest of the way. So, I took him. This weather was not meant for man nor beast and my softer side said it was the thing to do, and I am sure that he was grateful to be out of this lovely, welcoming Minnesota weather.

I am reminded of times when we used to travel to Florida with all of us rug rats in the car or later in the motor home. My dad would pick up hitch hikers and give them rides, and some times I think, "They could have been axe murderers, and he would give them rides with all of us kids (we had a family of 11 children) in the car!" Then when they got out, my dad would rant about how long the guys hair was, or "Did you see his clothes!?" which made us wonder, why he stopped and gave them a ride?
I briefly thought about that whole axe murderer part for a fleeting second, but I knew somehow, this guy just needed a break. I hope he gets the job... so he can buy some long johns and boots! Cuz he is going to need them!

Then....
I got a notice that something went awry using paypal last week. I don't need to go into details with that, but it was obviously a snafu on the pay pal's part. I had to call our credit union in Virginia (the state, not the Iron Range one), and as the woman is helping me, she asked if I was employed, I answered, "Well, sort of, I am a chicken farmer." She says, "Oh, I have four chickens and I just love them!" This is my life, I mention chickens for any reason and then next thing you know......

Well, folks, you all keep warm, be safe on the roads and walking to your coops. Be ready, because Mother Nature is gearing up to freeze our tookuses again.

 

[scandiafowl]

How about something a little more cheerful for now they are starting to get shaggy and mellow out. I switched them to dry food today and they like it much better than the soaked food.

Am so in love