Possum attack

[cmom]

I have an very old hen. Awhile back I though she wasn't going to make it. I left her in her coop but gave her some TLC. I gave her some scratch with some worms. I also put a little grit in with the scratch. She would peck at it but really didn't want any of the feed but I put both out for her. I just wanted her to eat something. She preferred to stay in a nest box so I left her in there and put some cage cups attached to the edge next to the door where I collect the eggs along with a cage cup of water with some Nutri-Drench. She was pretty out of it for a few days but did drink a little and eat a little. In the beginning I would dip her beak quite often in the water to try to get her to drink some and she did. Slowly she would eat more and more and drink all of her water, she got better and now she is good. When I give the birds treats she has her special place where I give her her treats. She actually waits for me. I give the others birds their treats out in their pens but she gets hers in the coop. I know there will be a day when I will loose her as she is quite old. I don't usually name my birds but she is Lady. Again good luck...

 

[Ladyxan]

Yay! I caught her on video eating and drinking on her own!! Happy chicken mama!!

This is her this morning

Camera view of her eating. She was drinking (ACV -red container on step) and eating her over easy egg (white container beside it.) Then she turned to get scratch and layer feed. Yay!!

 

[cmom]

So glad...

 

[Ladyxan]

Haha! Someone else likes her food, too!

The squirrel is back and she chased him one way and he went the other and she chased him back.

He’s afraid of her to a degree, but it doesn’t deter him from eating her food though.

And neither does red pepper flakes How do I keep him out of her food??

 

[Folly's place]

Live trap and shoot?! Squirrels, cute as they are, can be a royal pain.
For the coop, keeping it closed up will keep them out. Maybe an ambitious cat?
Mary

 

[Ladyxan]

Pennie’s food is outside at the bottom of my front steps, so I can fill things during the day. I pick it up every night and bring it inside, but he was out there eating it in the middle of the day.

I’m going to shoot him alright.. BB gun or pellet gun anyone? He turned on her the last time she chased him. I can handle the nuisance up to that point. Turning around and attacking her back is a no no!!

 

[Ladyxan]

So glad...

Me too cmom!! I’m still worried though. It isn’t enough. I guess like any animal or even child, when they get hungry enough, they will eat more.

 

[cmom]

Just give her some TLC. I should take a picture of Lady. She is all bent up but still gets around and even up on the roosts. She has had several issues over the years like an eye infection. She has overcome a lot and still keeps going. She was hatched out here and will live out her life here. I am going to sell most of the birds in her coop but her and one other old hen (Muffin) who is a couple of years younger than Lady. I'm going to keep. Both have issues so they will live their lives out here but I have to make room for the younger birds. I will leave them in their coop and move other birds in. Less of an issue with the pecking order that way. The only reason they have names is they have been here from the day they were hatched. Evey now and then I still get an egg from them.

 

[cmom]

Pennie’s food is outside at the bottom of my front steps, so I can fill things during the day. I pick it up every night and bring it inside, but he was out there eating it in the middle of the day.

I’m going to shoot him alright.. BB gun or pellet gun anyone? He turned on her the last time she chased him. I can handle the nuisance up to that point. Turning around and attacking her back is a no no!!

How is your pennie doing? We have both gray squirrels and fox squirrels. The fox squirrels don't bother anything but the gray's are into everything. I have been shooting the grays because they are everywhere. I don't care. When they come onto my property they are going to be history. They aren't endangered and are everywhere. I recently took out 13 grays that recently tried to move in. I have seen others in other parts of the neighborhood and they can stay there. I saw another gray a couple of days ago but haven't seen it since so maybe it decided to go away since there were no other grays around here.

 

[Ladyxan]

How is your pennie doing? We have both gray squirrels and fox squirrels. The fox squirrels don't bother anything but the gray's are into everything. I have been shooting the grays because they are everywhere. I don't care. When they come onto my property they are going to be history. They aren't endangered and are everywhere. I recently took out 13 grays that recently tried to move in. I have seen others in other parts of the neighborhood and they can stay there. I saw another gray a couple of days ago but haven't seen it since so maybe it decided to go away since there were no other grays around here.

She is doing well, thank you. I updated my photos here.

I’m trying to keep the squirrels in the trees. I have food up there. Might look at building something later for them.