Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[okallthis4eggs]

Had a funny thing happen yesterday involving a cockatiel (Rodney) that my older son adopted from some friends this summer. Rodney has totally bonded with #1son and will screech for awhile when he leaves the house, and not much will calm him down. Yesterday Rodney was fairly quiet and content on his table with a view out the window overlooking the chicken yard, when suddenly he started making a huge racket, a type of screeching/squawking that I haven't heard before, and smashing around in the cage. He stopped before I could get to the other room, so I figured he was alright. But then it happened again and I thought he might have caught his foot or something like that. Got to the bedroom and couldn't see anything wrong, but his crest was extended out all the way and he was focused out the window. I looked and saw all the chickens gathered at the front fence and the Leghorn had all her hackles up (you could see through to her neck!). What the heck? Are they fighting? Then I saw what they were all looking at, a hawk was perched on the fence above them!! I ran out of the house yelling and flapping and it took off. Happy to see that it was not a very big one, and it was probably trying to decide if it was worth the risk to go after prey that was bigger than it. I wonder if the Leghorn would have tried to fight it off. She has chased scrub jays out of the yard before. Much to their dismay, the mob got locked up earlier than usual. Didn't want the hawk to change its mind.

So anyway, my first experience with a predator, but really Rodney saved the day!!!

One pie should be awarded to Rodney.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Not to be a freaky audabon no it all, but likely the little hawk was after something small, like a mouse after your chickens food. (Or he could have seen your little bird in the window) The bigger hawks would have dove down and nailed the chicken. They rely on momentum to stun as well as break necks. Owls are good for mice too ( I'm talking little guys, not thc big ones!) But it sounds likely your chickens would kick that hawk no problem, so, no worries. Funny the little guy called the threat too! Its surprizing how the hens can fight as well as roosters when they want, I've had a few broodies that would.

I've seen this little hawk in the neighborhood lately, zooming around just above the trees. Pretty sure it's a Sharp-shinned, which are only about 12-14 inches long (and most of that's tail), but they hunt primarily birds, and will hunt from a perch. So many folks around here are dealing with hawk attacks lately. Maybe hungry juveniles that don't know any better, just injuring but not killing. One poor guy up in the Sierra foothills lost over 5 LF chickens (including 2 roosters) to some huge hawk that can actually carry them off. He didn't have any hawk troubles until this winter, so I'm being cautious.

Funny that the mob was not very afraid, only alert. Maybe they aren't very smart!? Maybe they thought it was another chicken and they were defending their territory! They were out all day today and no problems. 7 eggs too!

17 degrees tonight

Windows on coop closed......check
Pop door closed....................check
Water heater plugged in........check
Locust logs stacked by woodstove........check
Snow blade on four wheeler..................check

And Roger prepared for this by eating snow all day. Nobody else eats snow........just Roger

Ha! We did some whining because it's supposed to get into upper 20s tonight. Brrrrr.... Lovely fire in woodstove tonight. Ahhh... Roger is just trying to make feel sorry for her so she'll get some treats. Look at that poor chicken. So hungry she's eatin' snow. Why doesn't somebody feed that poor snow-eatin' chicken?! She has been studying Machiavelli.

Free snow cones for roger...hope they weren't yellow! Have to turn the ceiling fans off, brrrr!

Hey, you stole my line! Yellow snow!

And yeah, those ceiling fans can sure cause a chill! When do you leave paradise?

One pie should be awarded to Rodney.

I would definitely give Rodney a pie, but he won't like it. He's very, well.... chicken. Afraid of everything. I'd call him a scaredy-cat but it would just freak him out. #1son has been working with him, but progress is slow. Nickname is now Chicken Alarm.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Had a funny thing happen yesterday involving a cockatiel (Rodney) that my older son adopted from some friends this summer. Rodney has totally bonded with #1son and will screech for awhile when he leaves the house, and not much will calm him down. Yesterday Rodney was fairly quiet and content on his table with a view out the window overlooking the chicken yard, when suddenly he started making a huge racket, a type of screeching/squawking that I haven't heard before, and smashing around in the cage. He stopped before I could get to the other room, so I figured he was alright. But then it happened again and I thought he might have caught his foot or something like that. Got to the bedroom and couldn't see anything wrong, but his crest was extended out all the way and he was focused out the window. I looked and saw all the chickens gathered at the front fence and the Leghorn had all her hackles up (you could see through to her neck!). What the heck? Are they fighting? Then I saw what they were all looking at, a hawk was perched on the fence above them!! I ran out of the house yelling and flapping and it took off. Happy to see that it was not a very big one, and it was probably trying to decide if it was worth the risk to go after prey that was bigger than it. I wonder if the Leghorn would have tried to fight it off. She has chased scrub jays out of the yard before. Much to their dismay, the mob got locked up earlier than usual. Didn't want the hawk to change its mind.

So anyway, my first experience with a predator, but really Rodney saved the day!!!

hawks make me a lil nervous too YAAAAY goooo Rodney

The redtails are thick here. My worst fear here is stray dogs. Lost a baby goat to someones ignorance and inconsiderate nature. pulled my lil bottle baby Sable right thru the gateposts and then just walked away, went after my Dad

He had nothin but shorts on, barefoot, sunday paper in hand. he pelted that dog with rocks!! We never saw it again, but i have a rifle on me anytime my critters are out and bought Dad one too. I know, someday, the owner will pay for the sin and suffering. That's the first time, ever saw my Dad cry.

ONE

ONE....Roger Laid A Snowball. Others are still working. Update later

hope it ain't yellow!!!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Man, I know how your dad felt, I can and will kill any stray dogs I see, with bare hands on their throats and knee crushing ribs to their chest, that's how much I hate strays that should their owners had the common decency to end their lives quickly and relatively painlessly, rather than turn them loose. I know a sheep farmer that feels the same as me. Some people just can't man up and do what needs to be done! Darn it!
Hey, I was only kidding about the ceiling fans y'all, I'm in my bunk with the window wide open, bout 50° out there. I'm loosing my acclimation and I don't like it....but! getting alot accomplished and hope to tell later!
I gotta admit I love hawks and birds of prey, including the little stupid surprised owl in my avatar, free range they pose a threat, but if I want a good strong smart flock, they help me .....cull the weak and not so sharp. Real bop avoid human clutter and dogs etc, in reality, if they become a problem, your eco system is out of balance. Then you should read about how to protect your flock with toppers. I don't. Except ! Broodies and week old chicks.
Out of 100 chickens I ended with 45 due to predators. I think the worst was the bear and I still want his hide. Lets see how many go through the winter. Oh, I put two in the freezer...runners both...no account. Now....I still need to eliminate four more....
I have a really nice stag born in June...wish I could pic him..he's gorgeous...and wild...need an adapter for my camera. As for the fighting...yes chickens will lift their hackles- the neck feathers to show they want to fight. From the back you can see under. Its one aggressive front so you know its defensive. Hens do it as well as roosters.I guess it makes them look bigger to their opponent.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Here's a pic called, asking for trouble. The black stag walking up is challenging, he lost, again, but I was there to scoop him up and put him back in his pen.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Makes a lotta sense to me. Hawks don't kill their prey from face to face confrontation. My birds get alarmed from woodpeckers and blue jays but neither pose a threat. Better safe than sorry/dead I suppose.

That fine, mine freak out when a plane flys over.....hahaha...silly birds.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

"Ha! We did some whining because it's supposed to get into upper 20s tonight. Brrrrr.... Lovely fire in woodstove tonight. Ahhh... Roger is just trying to make feel sorry for her so she'll get some treats. Look at that poor chicken. So hungry she's eatin' snow. Why doesn't somebody feed that poor snow-eatin' chicken?! She has been studying Machiavelli."

I saved a big bag of venison bones including leg bones, rib cage ect in my freezer. I just couldn't throw it away knowing the chickens would love picking those bones clean. It really takes up a lot of room in the freezer so I been taking bones out pretty regular, browning them in the oven and giving them a bone every day or two. So the run is littered with all these leg bones and rib bones and it looks like somebody unearthed a dinosaur in there. They never give up on a bone if there is anything that looks like it might come off of it. And having lots of bones nobody has to fight over one. So anybody who didn't know better would think they killed a cow and ate it. And the chickens would be mistaken for vultures in that setting. Really a gruesome scene but a bunch of very happy birds/knuckleheads

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Quote: Nothing freaks mine out like a empty "scratch" bag blowing across the yard. They get hysterical

 

[BullChick]

I will read posts later (I have a migraine) but I had to tell SOMEONE! I had four eggs already by 8! 2 were in the nest. Now I need to get one more by this afternoon, and I will know if I have another new layer!

 

[cheeka]

the 2-4" predicted for yesterday turned into 8", and knocked out my internet for a time. once the sky cleared, I had a signal, but no connection because the satellite dish was covered. it's up on the roof of the dining room, which is an addition, so it's just one story high, but sitting on it's stand puts the dish about 14 feet up in the air. I don't have anything long enough that is also sturdy to knock the snow off, and I wasn't about to try to set up a ladder, there is still 2 feet of unshoveled snow back there! so I suffered without my byc all day yesterday.
it's a whopping 18*, and feels like 2* with the wind chill. bringing the gang out food this morning was painful, I should have worn gloves. but that is the only part that was bothering me... my fingertips... yesterdays leftover food was frozen... and a few of the gals were nesting, so I should have some eggs later on.