Utah!

[pawtraitart]

Anybody driving to Idaho anytime soon? I have two started pullets available out of one of my project pens.

 

[Cynthia12]

Just had a scare about a half an hr. ago. Been on the computer trying to figure out what in the heck was in my run! My DH says, why is Reba..my red sex link.. standing there making noises and have her neck all scruffed up? I said, she better not be going broody, they don't usually. Then he says, no, I think she's cussing out that bigger bird in the end run. What? I run out, and sure enough, as soon as I see the bottom of this birds belly and wings, I am saying, that's a cooper's hawk! Then I get in the run..too small. Not sure if it a juvenile or if it's a falcon, or what it was. Had the beak of a hawk or falcon. Was very small. I tried to get it, but it slipped right out of corner of the run, just big enough for it to fit through. ( I had the broom..I wasn't going to pick it up..I had already asked DH to get some gloves, I was going to try and pin it down.) Anyway, it got away. It didn't look like a sparrow hawk, but the right size for it. But this one had the prettiest red under it's chin. I don't care how pretty it was, I don't like it in my chicken runs..and we thought we had it hawk proof! There are a couple of places that they can get into the top part, but small. Getting out the chicken wire tomorrow. Getting late enough, and thinking it won't be back too soon anyway.
We saw a hawk up in the tree after wards, and got our binocs out..couldn't tell if it was the same bird..it looked bigger though. The sound of the chickens making noise probably brought it by.
Way to go Reba! She was just a cussin that bird out and warning the other chickens. She's the top of the flock in order now. Funny, when I put her out with the others when she was young, she was a loner. Followed me around. She still follows me around.. a sweet bird. But she hangs with the other layers now. Chases off the older pullets.

I think I'm in trouble this year with hawks. We seem to be getting more and more. I am thinking this little hawk, or falcon, or what ever it was, was probably looking at the mice that ran into that run. There are a few. The chicks/pullets I have in there are, the Favorelle bantam..she jumped up on my knee when I bent down to see if they were ok, they were hovered all together in the corner. Also a Welsummer pullet. And, my 5th generation blue girl.
All very sweet birds..the blue came over and hid underneath me.

Expecting an egg from my Faverolle bantam anytime..she's been squating for me the last couple of days.

Not eating eggs right now. I am de woming my birds. Have to do a hold off period. That's ok, this is a good time of year to do this. Started with Wazine, and will go to a stronger one that gets them all in 10 days. Yep, saw a worm and freaked out. Been studying up on it all. It grossed me out. I know, I know, they have them. But after all I've read, I am not doing the deep litter method again. Clean ~ all clean, shavings for them again. Especially now that it's not always freezing out there. It if freezing, the eggs of the worms passed, will freeze. But not in a heated coop either. Another good reason for you Brad, to not have a heat lamp. My chickens are acting fine, but I can't have that! Nope. I will always worm them at least once a year now. I know they always have them, but at least once a year is a good thing from what I've been reading. Especially if you have them in a coop for the winter. And, if they free ranged before the winter. Yep.
I'll end this book with that nice note.

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

I was talking to the guy that took my baby roosters---he has button quail so we started talking about quail. I am thinking I might get jumbo coturnix quail to put in with my chickens. Anybody have fertile eggs? Sounds kind of fun He is also very interested in a decrowed rooster, Sundancen, if your vet friend gets another one she needs a home for.

 

[sundancenbare]

I was talking to the guy that took my baby roosters---he has button quail so we started talking about quail. I am thinking I might get jumbo coturnix quail to put in with my chickens. Anybody have fertile eggs? Sounds kind of fun

He is also very interested in a decrowed rooster, Sundancen, if your vet friend gets another one she needs a home for.

I have the button quail in my living room. They are fun to watch, like and aquarium but better. I have 3 chuckers and a bobwhite quail with my chickens. I raised them with the chicks so they think they are chickens. We really enjoy them. There are many people who raise quail in Utah. Pawtrait is one. I don't think the quail in Utah start laying for a couple of months but they are all over ebay. I will keep everyone updated about the decrow

 

[sundancenbare]

Just had a scare about a half an hr. ago. Been on the computer trying to figure out what in the heck was in my run! My DH says, why is Reba..my red sex link.. standing there making noises and have her neck all scruffed up? I said, she better not be going broody, they don't usually. Then he says, no, I think she's cussing out that bigger bird in the end run. What? I run out, and sure enough, as soon as I see the bottom of this birds belly and wings, I am saying, that's a cooper's hawk! Then I get in the run..too small. Not sure if it a juvenile or if it's a falcon, or what it was. Had the beak of a hawk or falcon. Was very small. I tried to get it, but it slipped right out of corner of the run, just big enough for it to fit through. ( I had the broom..I wasn't going to pick it up..I had already asked DH to get some gloves, I was going to try and pin it down.) Anyway, it got away. It didn't look like a sparrow hawk, but the right size for it. But this one had the prettiest red under it's chin. I don't care how pretty it was, I don't like it in my chicken runs..and we thought we had it hawk proof! There are a couple of places that they can get into the top part, but small. Getting out the chicken wire tomorrow. Getting late enough, and thinking it won't be back too soon anyway.
We saw a hawk up in the tree after wards, and got our binocs out..couldn't tell if it was the same bird..it looked bigger though. The sound of the chickens making noise probably brought it by.
Way to go Reba! She was just a cussin that bird out and warning the other chickens. She's the top of the flock in order now. Funny, when I put her out with the others when she was young, she was a loner. Followed me around. She still follows me around.. a sweet bird. But she hangs with the other layers now. Chases off the older pullets.

I think I'm in trouble this year with hawks. We seem to be getting more and more. I am thinking this little hawk, or falcon, or what ever it was, was probably looking at the mice that ran into that run. There are a few. The chicks/pullets I have in there are, the Favorelle bantam..she jumped up on my knee when I bent down to see if they were ok, they were hovered all together in the corner. Also a Welsummer pullet. And, my 5th generation blue girl.
All very sweet birds..the blue came over and hid underneath me.

Expecting an egg from my Faverolle bantam anytime..she's been squating for me the last couple of days.

Not eating eggs right now. I am de woming my birds. Have to do a hold off period. That's ok, this is a good time of year to do this. Started with Wazine, and will go to a stronger one that gets them all in 10 days. Yep, saw a worm and freaked out. Been studying up on it all. It grossed me out. I know, I know, they have them. But after all I've read, I am not doing the deep litter method again. Clean ~ all clean, shavings for them again. Especially now that it's not always freezing out there. It if freezing, the eggs of the worms passed, will freeze. But not in a heated coop either. Another good reason for you Brad, to not have a heat lamp. My chickens are acting fine, but I can't have that! Nope. I will always worm them at least once a year now. I know they always have them, but at least once a year is a good thing from what I've been reading. Especially if you have them in a coop for the winter. And, if they free ranged before the winter. Yep.
I'll end this book with that nice note.

Just had a scare about a half an hr. ago. Been on the computer trying to figure out what in the heck was in my run! My DH says, why is Reba..my red sex link.. standing there making noises and have her neck all scruffed up? I said, she better not be going broody, they don't usually. Then he says, no, I think she's cussing out that bigger bird in the end run. What? I run out, and sure enough, as soon as I see the bottom of this birds belly and wings, I am saying, that's a cooper's hawk! Then I get in the run..too small. Not sure if it a juvenile or if it's a falcon, or what it was. Had the beak of a hawk or falcon. Was very small. I tried to get it, but it slipped right out of corner of the run, just big enough for it to fit through. ( I had the broom..I wasn't going to pick it up..I had already asked DH to get some gloves, I was going to try and pin it down.) Anyway, it got away. It didn't look like a sparrow hawk, but the right size for it. But this one had the prettiest red under it's chin. I don't care how pretty it was, I don't like it in my chicken runs..and we thought we had it hawk proof! There are a couple of places that they can get into the top part, but small. Getting out the chicken wire tomorrow. Getting late enough, and thinking it won't be back too soon anyway.
We saw a hawk up in the tree after wards, and got our binocs out..couldn't tell if it was the same bird..it looked bigger though. The sound of the chickens making noise probably brought it by.
Way to go Reba! She was just a cussin that bird out and warning the other chickens. She's the top of the flock in order now. Funny, when I put her out with the others when she was young, she was a loner. Followed me around. She still follows me around.. a sweet bird. But she hangs with the other layers now. Chases off the older pullets.

I think I'm in trouble this year with hawks. We seem to be getting more and more. I am thinking this little hawk, or falcon, or what ever it was, was probably looking at the mice that ran into that run. There are a few. The chicks/pullets I have in there are, the Favorelle bantam..she jumped up on my knee when I bent down to see if they were ok, they were hovered all together in the corner. Also a Welsummer pullet. And, my 5th generation blue girl.
All very sweet birds..the blue came over and hid underneath me.

Expecting an egg from my Faverolle bantam anytime..she's been squating for me the last couple of days.

Not eating eggs right now. I am de woming my birds. Have to do a hold off period. That's ok, this is a good time of year to do this. Started with Wazine, and will go to a stronger one that gets them all in 10 days. Yep, saw a worm and freaked out. Been studying up on it all. It grossed me out. I know, I know, they have them. But after all I've read, I am not doing the deep litter method again. Clean ~ all clean, shavings for them again. Especially now that it's not always freezing out there. It if freezing, the eggs of the worms passed, will freeze. But not in a heated coop either. Another good reason for you Brad, to not have a heat lamp. My chickens are acting fine, but I can't have that! Nope. I will always worm them at least once a year now. I know they always have them, but at least once a year is a good thing from what I've been reading. Especially if you have them in a coop for the winter. And, if they free ranged before the winter. Yep.
I'll end this book with that nice note.

I have had a couple of Hawks hanging out on my light pole. They haven;t bothered the chickens so far but the chickens are locked up with a covered run mostly. With the heavy snow the predators are looking for prey unfortunatly chickens look like prey to them.

 

[RedIII]

Wow, that's scary, Cynthia! It kind of sounds like a Cooper's hawk, from what very little I know about BOP. Sounds like Reba is on the ball.

So, I think it's time to separate my three Icee pullets into their own cage for a month. I saw my mom's deformed little cockerel breeding one of them tonight

Guess I won't be collecting eggs any time soon. And wouldn't you know it, but the little guy was more of an ace at it than my alpha cockerel! The Icee, Gunther, will go for the big girls and then struggle to hold on and balance while he does his thing, which results in him being up for 10+ seconds and the girls complaining (probably telling him what a dope he's being) But the BR? 3 seconds, he's done. I think Gunther is a bit of a moron. My other Icee cockerel, Sven, is even faster than Lenny the BR. I kid you not, he's up, on, and done in two seconds. Sigh...............

And, I gave the girls some more oyster shell tonight. Some of them about took my fingers off trying to get it. Well naturally, the turkeys came over to see what was so good. The white hen started sampling some of the oyster shell out of my hand, but the jake didn't quite know what to think of it. When he finally took a taste, he coughed and shook his head as if to say, "What the heck are you all eating?!"

 

[RedIII]

I have had a couple of Hawks hanging out on my light pole. They haven;t bothered the chickens so far but the chickens are locked up with a covered run mostly. With the heavy snow the predators are looking for prey unfortunatly chickens look like prey to them.

Yeah. While I was out back tonight, I saw our resident hawk go cruising by. Man, that's a big bird. I'm glad he/she didn't seem interested in our yard today. I guess that's one good thing about having to keep the chickens penned.

 

[Cynthia12]

Yeah. While I was out back tonight, I saw our resident hawk go cruising by. Man, that's a big bird. I'm glad he/she didn't seem interested in our yard today. I guess that's one good thing about having to keep the chickens penned.

Yes, and mine are penned! I thought coopers hawk at first, but this one was so small. And, I really think it might have been after the mice. They come out in the day too..little stinks. I found a great mouse trap. It's big, it was 12 bucks, but I am tired of feeding the wildlife.

I wonder if your big hawk is a red tail? They fly around here too, only they stay pretty high. I see a hawk in the neighbors tree quite often..pretty sure that one is a coopers. I have had large ones in the summer come close to landing in my yard, at a chicken, right in front of me. I just lucked out being out there, and coming out of the run without them seeing me. Then they swoop up and over the neighbors house. Too many! I have said I would love living out near the wilderness, but now I'm not sure. I would have to have a giant run for my chickens, to make sure nothing could get them, because I wouldn't let them free range.

Oh yeah, that's my Reba in my Avatar. Good girl.

 

[thebirdguy]

Just had a scare about a half an hr. ago. Been on the computer trying to figure out what in the heck was in my run! My DH says, why is Reba..my red sex link.. standing there making noises and have her neck all scruffed up? I said, she better not be going broody, they don't usually. Then he says, no, I think she's cussing out that bigger bird in the end run. What? I run out, and sure enough, as soon as I see the bottom of this birds belly and wings, I am saying, that's a cooper's hawk! Then I get in the run..too small. Not sure if it a juvenile or if it's a falcon, or what it was. Had the beak of a hawk or falcon. Was very small. I tried to get it, but it slipped right out of corner of the run, just big enough for it to fit through. ( I had the broom..I wasn't going to pick it up..I had already asked DH to get some gloves, I was going to try and pin it down.) Anyway, it got away. It didn't look like a sparrow hawk, but the right size for it. But this one had the prettiest red under it's chin. I don't care how pretty it was, I don't like it in my chicken runs..and we thought we had it hawk proof! There are a couple of places that they can get into the top part, but small. Getting out the chicken wire tomorrow. Getting late enough, and thinking it won't be back too soon anyway.

Did it look like this one on the left?



The American Kestrel aka Sparrow Hawk.... Males have the red while the females do not..

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

I have the button quail in my living room.  They are fun to watch,  like and aquarium but better.  I have 3 chuckers and a bobwhite quail with my chickens.  I raised them with the chicks so they think they are chickens.  We really enjoy them.  There are many people who raise quail in Utah.  Pawtrait is one.  I don't think the quail in Utah start laying for a couple of months but they are all over ebay.  I will keep everyone updated about the decrow

He was saying they lay at about 8 weeks old, and lay an egg a day, really well...that sounds good to me! He said the bobwhite were nice too, not as messy poop, but the coturnix lay a little bigger eggs? Seems like something fun to try. I LOVE the button quail, they are so cute, but only want ones I can keep outside in the run for now.

Do you have a preference bob white or coturnix? I am information-gathering before I decide