NY chicken lover!!!!

[featherz]

ugh. Hate hawks. I had to laugh when some of the OT's were saying hawks don't take out full grown chickens as I lose several each year and mine are FAT -- and I know it was a hawk today.

I have either one or two chickens missing, but no signs of any kills or feathers. They could just be hiding but.. I stood out there until I saw the hawk leave and until my roo called the all clear, but maybe the chicken had already been taken by then. Once they are out, no getting them back in, so I guess they go on lockdown tomorrow.

Good news was it doesn't appear to have been any of my favorites - the NN and the 'named'.

All the babies are safe too (they are under netting, not free ranging).

 

[jakesbigpapa]

ugh. Hate hawks. I had to laugh when some of the OT's were saying hawks don't take out full grown chickens as I lose several each year and mine are FAT -- and I know it was a hawk today.

I have either one or two chickens missing, but no signs of any kills or feathers. They could just be hiding but.. I stood out there until I saw the hawk leave and until my roo called the all clear, but maybe the chicken had already been taken by then. Once they are out, no getting them back in, so I guess they go on lockdown tomorrow.

Good news was it doesn't appear to have been any of my favorites - the NN and the 'named'.

All the babies are safe too (they are under netting, not free ranging).

My neighbors found one of their FULL GROWN golden comets being attacked by a red tailed hawk on my front lawn about a month ago. Last year, they lost 3 to a red tailed hawk INSIDE their barn. So, whoever says hawks don't take out full grown chickens is sadly mistaken.

 

[Lynzi777]

Mine aren't bearded, but I don't know if she had any that were.

She just got back to me saying they WERE bearded. Hmmm...now I'm wondering. LOL

Man, all this frustration over the silkies, maybe I should just to go tractor supply this weekend and start with Buff Orpingtons! Ask my neighbor if she wants the 2-3 extra if I have to buy 6 from them.

 

[jakesbigpapa]

She just got back to me saying they WERE bearded. Hmmm...now I'm wondering. LOL

Man, all this frustration over the silkies, maybe I should just to go tractor supply this weekend and start with Buff Orpingtons! Ask my neighbor if she wants the 2-3 extra if I have to buy 6 from them.

Well...don't go by me....I'm new to the chicken world. I know they are silkies and that they have 5 toes like they're supposed to.

 

[Cass]

ugh. Hate hawks. I had to laugh when some of the OT's were saying hawks don't take out full grown chickens as I lose several each year and mine are FAT -- and I know it was a hawk today.

I have either one or two chickens missing, but no signs of any kills or feathers. They could just be hiding but.. I stood out there until I saw the hawk leave and until my roo called the all clear, but maybe the chicken had already been taken by then. Once they are out, no getting them back in, so I guess they go on lockdown tomorrow.

Good news was it doesn't appear to have been any of my favorites - the NN and the 'named'.

All the babies are safe too (they are under netting, not free ranging).

Whoever told you that hawks don't take full size chickens hasn't been paying attention to hawks. I saw one take a DUCK out of the water/shoreline. Now most wild ducks weigh less than Featherz chickens...well, most chickens weigh less than hers do LOL....But my neighbor has lost half her flock of 12 to hawks....our yards ajoin, and I haven't lost a single one (knock on wood)...BUT I have a LOT more cover for them to run under and I don't let mine out until almost 4 pm, so they are not out long or far from the coop.

So hawk proof your area....lots of cover, even if you pick up bins from the free piles along the road and cut holes in them for access and put them down around the yard....they need a place to run to when they hear that screech.

 

[Cass]

Second egg in the 'bator was not fertile. I cracked it open and it was just a yolk, no growth at all. (I did this outside, just in case, cuz they really stink if they are early quitters and you leave them full term) SO really I had 100% hatch of fertile eggs set. BUT the chick isn't going to survive. It is too weak to get up and eat and drink, poor thing. I am trying to hand feed it, but I am not home enough to make a difference in it's survival.

Oh well....I have three who think they want to go broody and I am saving eggs for them to sit on. I'll have to see how that goes.

 

[featherz]

Second egg in the 'bator was not fertile. I cracked it open and it was just a yolk, no growth at all. (I did this outside, just in case, cuz they really stink if they are early quitters and you leave them full term) SO really I had 100% hatch of fertile eggs set. BUT the chick isn't going to survive. It is too weak to get up and eat and drink, poor thing. I am trying to hand feed it, but I am not home enough to make a difference in it's survival.

Oh well....I have three who think they want to go broody and I am saving eggs for them to sit on. I'll have to see how that goes.

I have two broodies right now, a NN and a whoknowswhat orange chicken. My NN is MUCH nicer to me when I pull the eggs out LOL.

I have waited to give them eggs until after the easter hatch. If it goes well, I can try giving them a few chicks OR (my preference) I'd like to find some feed store/hatchery pullet chicks for them in about a week or two. Then I'll have a nice integrated group of pullets with no work on my part.

Whoever told you that hawks don't take full size chickens hasn't been paying attention to hawks.
So hawk proof your area....lots of cover, even if you pick up bins from the free piles along the road and cut holes in them for access and put them down around the yard....they need a place to run to when they hear that screech.

Was in that 'old timer's thread'. I even responded back with my experiences! (I think in the same thread was the idea that hens won't go broody without eggs to sit on.. I have two hens proving them wrong right now!!)..

I have plenty of cover - a whole forest. I am pretty sure the hawk didn't get any chickens today. They are scurrying around now, and I am reasonably sure my count is correct and no one was injured or taken. I'll know for sure when they come in to roost, but so far it looks good. I guess they were just hiding earlier. My roo is good - he hollered like heck and even the babies scurried in the coop.

Oh, and cass - you think the BLRW are big, you should see my two langshans. They are bigger than my big roo and bossy too. My DH always comes out and always has to say 'those sure are huge chickens'...

 

[rancher hicks]

Now I'd like to put this out there. How much feed do you think a bird eats to age 5-6 mos.? I have a person contact me to buy two hens a year or less old. How much do you think it takes for feed a hen for one day?

Does anyone here measure their daily amount of feed per bird? The most expensive here is 30 cents a pound for feed. (approx).

 

[featherz]

My chickens love this warm weather..

 

[highpointfarm]

They are so cute =]