Shark snipers Wine dots NEW HATCHES and puppies 1/24/2011 update

[wthchristi]

Honestly, I think we are pretty lucky to live here in the Pacific Northwest. It makes chicken keeping much easier. We had only a couple of 90 degree days this summer, we pretty much stay in the 70's. Our winters are very mild, only a couple of days of snow usually. The only time it sucks is when it rains for too many days in a row. Last year I threatened to build arks for my chickies as the rain did not seem to want to stop. I have great sympathy and admiration for those who keep chickens in 100+ temps or 5 feet of snow.

 

[sonew123]

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you went to watertown! Good greif woman thats 3 hours away from me-tell us all about it!

 

[klf73]

I am completely devastated....had another attack last night. it has been 8 days so I figured I could go visit my friend, wrong!!! Last time was bad, but all my favorites(for the most part) survived. I am down to 13 hens and not sure if one will make it, my son found her hiding and she has a hole in her back and something wrong with her leg. I sprayed her with blu-kote and set her someplace quiet and will re-evaulate her today if she didn't die from shock. My original blue hen is missing, my black rumpless araucana and my mottled ameraucana are no where to be found...found lots of black feathers so I don't have hope for the araucana. Out of 5 unaccounted for this attack only 1 came back this morning. I heard something in the woods so I thought I could find what was taking my hens. It was my poor blue (mottle split) ameraucana girl flopping around. I picked her up and she died a minute later in my arms. I am starting to think bird of prey but they would have to be big, my girls are pretty heavy. Do eagles or osprey take 4 birds? My father says fox but nothing was eaten here and I don't see pawprints in the sandy areas where they were attacked. It's kind of hard since they are attacked on the dirt road mostly. The only other thing I can think of that I have seen around is a family of minks, but wouldn't there be drag marks since they are so low to the ground? I just didn't think birds of prey would take that many. This makes it so difficult without dh here, my poor girl couldn't even get tended to properly cuz I still needed to take care of the 7 kids....
what waits a week to come back??? we haven't even been outside this time of day to scare whatever it was away, how did it know? was it just coincidence? I haven't even seen any birds of prey flying around in the last week. I am just at a loss.......

 

[sonew123]

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are the birds in lockdown at night??? Im sos sorry

 

[Brindlebtch]

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welcome home

Thank you.

I did get to see the chicks that hatched while I was gone. One has crooked toes. Is this usually hereditary or due to incubator issues??? A GLC roo I think. I don't have the heart to just cull him, but hubby decreased the roo population around here while I was gone, and I'm expecting a show quality GLC roo to be shipped in in Sept.

Glad you are back!

Sorry about the roo. I have read 3 things about crooked toes - heredity, incubator issues, and brooder surface issues.

 

[Brindlebtch]

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I was looking at the calender today! We will need to leave Sept. 28-29 and leave Oct 4 (Monday!

)

Do ya'll want us to bring a pinata? Something for the kids to do if the grown-ups don't care to. Or something for every one to take a swing at! Ya'll would have to supply the baseball bat - I don't have one. If the grownups decided it was theirs, I was thinking of getting a buch of those little bottles of booz to stuff it with.

I'm not sure how much breakage would occur!

Spet 29th I will be 39!!!!! what a good bday present for me with you coming!! It just keeps getting better!! I have all the bats you need-Im on a softball league ( in playoffs now too-#1 baby!!) been #1 for 5 years running-woo-hoo- ok nough bragging. next....the little bottles of booze would be funny but I think once Gretchen or Bob get to bat they'll be toast-or shoot Lovins will kill it!!! Not sure how many people are bringing kids??? havent heard much about the kids

That is very nice of you to write, but, believe me, I'm not a good bday present for anyone!

Congrats on the athletic prowess! I'm impressed! (ooooooh aaaaaah!)

OK, we'll go with the standard candy and snacks pinata stuffing.

I'm really looking forward to it. I have never been to northern NY state and have always heard it is very pretty. I'm going to ask John if he would like to camp to save $ or stay in one of the motels/hotels. Would you mind finding out which motel/hotel has the most 'atmosphere' and/or will accept animals of 50 lbs? If they say only 35 lbs we usually get away with it and just bald faced lie.
If none of them take pets then we camp and use Nava's shower!

 

[Brindlebtch]

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Please believe me - nothing to admire! You just try to do your best for them and feel sorry for them. My poor biddies are panting all the time, even in their hen house at night. I think they sleep panting. We were acutally discussing getting a really small window a/c unit for the coop! Right now I'm looking at miniature exhaust fan units.

Once Henrietta's chicks dried off, I don't think they have been under her since. Good brooder weather outside! Last I looked they were all piled on top of her!

I told my hubby I wanted heritage breeds for a laying flock (all 12). So he doesn't really know that much about chickens and as long as they are pretty, don't cause trouble and give us enough eggs to share, he is fine with it.

 

[hoppy]

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I so sorry for your loss. I think it's a hawk. i lost 4 buff orp in 1 day, usually you find a puff of feathers if it's a bird attack. weasels kill and just rip off the heads. check the predator thread for help.

 

[sonew123]

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Spet 29th I will be 39!!!!! what a good bday present for me with you coming!! It just keeps getting better!! I have all the bats you need-Im on a softball league ( in playoffs now too-#1 baby!!) been #1 for 5 years running-woo-hoo- ok nough bragging. next....the little bottles of booze would be funny but I think once Gretchen or Bob get to bat they'll be toast-or shoot Lovins will kill it!!! Not sure how many people are bringing kids??? havent heard much about the kids

That is very nice of you to write, but, believe me, I'm not a good bday present for anyone!

Congrats on the athletic prowess! I'm impressed! (ooooooh aaaaaah!)

OK, we'll go with the standard candy and snacks pinata stuffing.

I'm really looking forward to it. I have never been to northern NY state and have always heard it is very pretty. I'm going to ask John if he would like to camp to save $ or stay in one of the motels/hotels. Would you mind finding out which motel/hotel has the most 'atmosphere' and/or will accept animals of 50 lbs? If they say only 35 lbs we usually get away with it and just bald faced lie.
If none of them take pets then we camp and use Nava's shower!

of course! let me hunt around! the camping at my house is free - shower at my house or the cabin nava has next door...Id hate for you to spend any extra $ than you have too

 

[Brindlebtch]

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I am SO sorry! How terrible!

Is this happening during the DAY when the birds are out? Do your birds get locked in a hen house at night?

A bird of prey would leave a distinctive circular pattern of feathers at the impact site. A fox would take multiples to store and eat later. I don't know if a fischer cat would take multiples or not. Weasels might kill and maim multiples for fun. Racoons would kill multiples but most likely eat the heads and usually only attack at night. Dogs and coyotes would just create murder and mayhem. All of these predators are smart enough to observe and to attack when you are not around or there isn't a lot of activity nearby.

Now that your chickens are discovered as a food source by something, you can take it for granted that whatever it is will come back when the fancy strikes it. All your birds have big targets on them from now on. I would keep them in a coop and lock them in a secure place at night.