The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

[zyzzyx]

Howdy all-- To make a comment on how a dog will react to a pack of coyotes.

I have a an Equadorian wolf cross with something for a guard animal. He looks kinda like a white German Shepherd. Here in Panama we have a small herd of cows. One day, one of the cows dropped a calf (we were expecting it). Everything was fine until the evening time--you know just before dark. My wife and I heard a great commotion out in the corral where the cows were. We heard a real battle going on. When we got to the corral five cows were in a circle around a 4 hour old calf; 5 or 6 coyotes were trying to take the calf; Out of nowhere Chewwie (the wolf) ran into the battle zone and was darting between the cow's feet and in the process was deterring the coyotes; finally he got one of the coyotes down and almost killed him-------the pack decided that between the mama cows and the wolf they would not win and ran off very quickly. Now several months later that calf and the wolf play with each other out in the field----------we have never again had a problem with coyotes. Other neighbors have lost livestock to them --but not us. Nice doggy---I just hope he is as protective of chickens as he is of cows.

 

[Bulldogma]

Everyone go check out Bee's Blog of the Day! Be sure to comment, too - we love to hear from you all!!!

 

[Beekissed]

I know many people report their dogs being killed by coyote packs but we live in the middle of coyote pack territory and Jake and I howl back to them sometimes at night.

When I had Lucy there was no doubt in my mind that coyotes wouldn't stand a chance if coming in closer and Jake is a tough dog as well...not afraid of the 'yotes at all. But, I think the coyotes out here in rural areas are a little more spooked and we never see them...I've never seen a coyote in my whole life, though we hear them. Too many guys with guns here that would love nothing more than shooting one for the sheer pleasure of showing it off to their buddies...

Coyotes are the prey around these parts and it makes them much more reserved and elusive.

In the more urban areas I think coyotes have become more bold towards humans, their pet dogs, and livestock. I've never met one person in real life who has had dogs killed by coyotes. Not around here. In other parts of the country where folks don't keep a gun handy for shooting any wildlife that appears...be it coyote, fox, hawk, or eagle(no one cares about hunting laws out in the hills, truly)...the coyotes may take it upon themselves to attack pets and livestock but it just doesn't happen here.

Sheep way out in pasture at night with no good dog on patrol...yes. Cows and calves unattended and on summer pasture...yes. Close to the homestead? Nope.

I have one lonely dog here~and he ain't big~ and a coop that is most definitely not predator proof...there is very little small game left in the woods around here to provide food for a coyote pack to live on, but they don't come here. Jake barks each night but not for long...a few warning barks to whatever is on the prowl, but nothing comes in to challenge him. He's killed 2 possum since he's been here but nothing more fierce than that.

To give you an example about the rapid and frequent use of guns in the backwoods..... When I awakened this morning I saw a very large yellow Lab out there playing with Jake. Had a collar on so I knew it was someone's dog and not a drop off this early in the morning. The second that I opened the back door that dog had RAN to the top of the hill, faster than any dog I'd ever seen scoot and git! It stopped briefly there and when I spoke to Jake it took off at a mad dash and didn't come back.

This tells me three things:

1. The dog is a habitual stray...some citiot has moved out in the country and thinks it's okay to let their dogs "run" and that's probably the main reason they moved to the country, so their dogs have "room to run". No country folks who cared about their dog would allow it to run freely through the woods this close to hunting season...or ever, for that matter.

2. This dog has been shot at before. No friendly, family dog runs that quickly at the sound of a screen door opening unless he has been the recipient of buckshot in his backside on more than one occasion. This tells me that he has done this before...many times and is a habitual rogue across the country side.

3. He came this early because he heard the rooster crowing and for no other reason. This tells me he's a chicken killer and probably a deer chaser. We have no near neighbors and the ones we have do not have a yellow Lab, so this dog has traveled a good ways this morning. We have no other source of food out there that would attract him, Jake is not a female last I checked, and dogs who are not hunting do not travel all that distance because they just want to take a stroll early one morning. He's been out chasing deer in the night and got close enough during that pursuit to hear Toby...Toby is not a loud rooster and you can barely hear him when he is in the coop, even right here in our house.

This is a dog that will be shot on sight if he should reappear, with no mercy. We will have to sneak a window up to avoid scaring him off in the attempt, but he will be a dead dog before the day is out if I ever see him here again. We will also tell the neighbor to keep an eye out for him while he is hunting deer and to put him out of our misery if he should spot this dog in the woods.

Warning for all city folks and suburbanites who think the country is a fine place to come out and taste the "freedom" of the country life...freedom isn't free. We fight for our rights to raise food on our land here and that means your "best friend" is a trespasser and a danger to our "freedom" to do so. Keep him close or kiss him good-bye each morning...sooner or later he will join the pile of bones out on the back forty.

 

[off-grid hen]

I'm loving the blog! Sorry to hear about all the predator losses though. . My thoughts and sympathies are with everyone. I haven't lost a bird since June or so. We had tons of hawks around in September with migration, but they seem to have moved on with the colder nights. I'm crossing my fingers that the local coyote populatin stays away for the most part.

So... Due to recent employment loss, I now have time to try the FF! Still trying to make a quart of ACV into a gallon of ACV so I can stretch it out and save money. They only have the Heinz unfiltered in quarts in my local Walmart, and the bragg's is expensive in my "local" grocery store. Gotta drive 15 miles to get raw ACV... I might start making my own after the holidays...

I was wondering about the health of my birds. If people could please comment on the photos, I would be so appreciative. I know that with molt, faces and combs bleach out a bit. I'm wondering if these girls' faded dry combs are due to not laying, or something else. To me, their feathers look good otherwise, and they don't have any other symptoms. I just wanted to post photos for the more experienced eyes here. If nothing else, these can be my "before FF" photos.

PR 1 just grew neck feathers back recently. Face is bleached out. Comb appears more red than actually it is in the photo. It looks dry like the bird below.

PR 2 mostly finished molt, body is nice and poofy again, but here is her comb.

Welsummer not laying, hatched in April. Laid for a while then went on vacation.

Dominique mostly finished molt.

Gratuitous photo. you can also see general feathers and other birds. Welsummer is here in this photo too. My chickens love the rickety old ladder in the run. You can see their pallet "coffee table" and their 2x4 swing too.

 

[off-grid hen]

I was generating my post just as bee was posting hers. I didn't mean to interrupt the conversation.

 

[aoxa]

I was generating my post just as bee was posting hers. I didn't mean to interrupt the conversation.

I'm thinking that the dry combs happen more during this time of year. I know my legs and skin gets really dry and feels weird.. I don't see anything that worries me. Maybe the Welsummer.. Her's seems especially dry. How's the weather there?

Here is one of my laying BRs. Her comb has a bumpy texture. I don't think that's preferred in the breed, but nothing is wrong with her. She seems a little pale in this picture. She went in and laid her egg in the trash can after I took this.

 

[Beekissed]

I think it's the time of year that is causing the dry and more pale combs on your birds...they look extremely healthy! I'd say you will see a change when they return to normal laying behavior..the hormones will turn those combs back to cherry red once again, though I don't think PRs get as red as some breeds in that area.

Good looking deep litter in that run ya got there!

 

[off-grid hen]

Thats what i thought, that it was just not laying and the weather, but i figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. The weather... 35-40 degrees during the day and low to mid 20's at night. Very thick frost on the grass in the shade still this a.m. Thanks for the replies.

I'm off to rake up and bag lots of leaves to cover the ice and snow in the run thought the winter. Where I'm storing them, I have no idea yet. And I will have bags and bags of 'em...

 

[aoxa]

I think it's the time of year that is causing the dry and more pale combs on your birds...they look extremely healthy!  I'd say you will see a change when they return to normal laying behavior..the hormones will turn those combs back to cherry red once again, though I don't think PRs get as red as some breeds in that area. 

Good looking deep litter in that run ya got there! 

 

Good to know

My legs are already itching from the dryness.

Any tips on preventing hawk attacks Bee? Does my plan on pop holes seem better than having those doors wide open?

Also, I think I may just pen my silkies for now. Unless they have good sight. Right now they are just too easy to pick off, and they are too valuable to risk it. I always bring in fresh sod for my penned birds. It's sad, but they don't go that far from the barn, and are easy to spot.

This is the boy the hawk almost got.

 

[off-grid hen]

Aoxa, nice barn. Is that a "Frilkie"? *snicker*