Spoiled little velociraptors

[TheChickenGirl16]

I saw her resting in the shade this afternoon and she was rolled over on her side. I think she's hurting more than I can see. I’m going to pull her and the other Ranger tonight (so she has company) and isolate her.

I’m so sorry. Please let us know what happens.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I looked her over more carefully. She has bare spots on her butt (which I knew) but under the apparently untouched hackle feathers she's missing a lot of skin on her neck.

I couldn't see anything specific on her wings, body and feet, other than missing and broken feathers, but there's obviously something.

I think the dog must have gotten hold of her neck first, she got free and ran, then he grabbed her tail feathers.

One of my sister's girls survived with no skin on her chest and neck after a dog attack. They're strong birds.

No dogs visible since Monday, so that's progress.

 

[LaurenRitz]

Dog today, but ran off without attacking any birds. All my roosters were silent except the Dorking-Sussex cockerel in the bachelor pad.

Not within sight, the dog wasn't making any noise, I believe even the wind was against him, but that bird somehow realized the dog was there and alerted me.

I think he's a keeper. I hope his behavior works out.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I have one broody that is amazing. She'll accept orphaned chicks, I can introduce chicks any time after 8 days sitting (I've never tried less) and even if she doesn't bond with a chick she'll still allow it to sleep with her babies. It bonds to her and its siblings and she lets it tag along.

 

[LaurenRitz]

And...looks like one of the RangerX may be going broody. Not settled yet, but she's screeching at anyone who approaches her nest. Just about 6 months old. We'll see how she does.

If she settles I'll move her into the broody box and give her a few eggs. As a first time broody, probably not more than 4.

The hard decision is which eggs to give her, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

If she settles. If she settles...

 

[LaurenRitz]

I gave her two golf balls and she started talking to them and tucked them under her.

 

[LaurenRitz]

So she's missing tonight. Did something get her? Did she pick a new spot fot her nest?

Story time.

I mentioned my broody earlier. Well, about 7 weeks ago she hatched 6 babies, but she was collecting eggs because when she brought them off the nest there were 14 left.

We candled the eggs and found five that had started developing. Three rotted, two hatched, the last a week younger than her siblings.

I was uncertain about putting them with the broody at that point, with their siblings a full week older, so I brooder raised them.

Now six weeks old, I introduced them to their new flock today...

The broody nose-bumped both of them and proceeded to ignore the fact that she had two extra babies!

Good Mama!

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

So….
Where is she?
Who is she?

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

So she's missing tonight. Did something get her? Did she pick a new spot fot her nest?

Story time.

I mentioned my broody earlier. Well, about 7 weeks ago she hatched 6 babies, but she was collecting eggs because when she brought them off the nest there were 14 left.

We candled the eggs and found five that had started developing. Three rotted, two hatched, the last a week younger than her siblings.

I was uncertain about putting them with the broody at that point, with their siblings a full week older, so I brooder raised them.

Now six weeks old, I introduced them to their new flock today...

The broody nose-bumped both of them and proceeded to ignore the fact that she had two extra babies!

Good Mama!

She wouldn’t be “nesting” if her chicks are 6 weeks old.
…. Unless she went broody AGAIN!!

 

[LaurenRitz]

So….
Where is she?
Who is she?

In this case "she" is the RangerX who adopted the golf balls. Two posts up, with a picture.

My only experienced broody is currently raising chicks.