Utah!

[DixieLW]

Well...I think who ever is driving the mice SOMEWHERE is dropping them off at my place!! I'm just over the hill from Cache, in Box Elder County. The mice are driving me INSANE! We have sticky traps all over the place, under the house, in the motorhome, around the outside. I live in the country, in big open fields, so I'm assuming it's inevitable? I have 8 hens ( 2 rir, 2 BA 3 EE and a still unidentified bantam, plus a birchen cochin Roo who is also a bantam. Either they don't want to bother, or there are just too many mice/voles. Now I have to worry about a mountain lion coming in...one just got a calf up thru the field from us! AND the unidentified bantam has been hiding under our shed for about three or 4 days...nesting? She only comes out long enough to eat with her friends...about half an hour. Wish she'd eat some mice...

 

[RJSorensen]

Dixie, there are enough mice to go around for everyone, I am sure. Regarding that cat, he/she works our side of the mountain as well, especially just north of me in Petersboro. Animal control took a cat from a tree in the back yard of the Yonk's a few years ago. Sounds like your Banty has a nest and is sitting for you… rather you wish her to or not. They seem to make good mothers, at least the four or so we have had were good.

A nice day out there, a good one in the books,

RJ

 

[RedIII]

Well...I think who ever is driving the mice SOMEWHERE is dropping them off at my place!!  I'm just over the hill from Cache, in Box Elder County.  The mice are driving me INSANE!  We have sticky traps all over the place, under the house, in the motorhome, around the outside.  I live in the country, in big open fields, so I'm assuming it's inevitable?  I have 8 hens ( 2 rir, 2 BA 3 EE and a still unidentified bantam, plus a birchen cochin Roo who is also a bantam.  Either they don't want to bother, or there are just too many mice/voles.  Now I have to worry about a mountain lion coming in...one just got a calf up thru the field from us!  AND the unidentified bantam has been hiding under our shed for about three or 4 days...nesting?  She only comes out long enough to eat with her friends...about half an hour.  Wish she'd eat some mice...

Oh dear Cats are one of the animals that I am always for relocating when AC catches them. Unless they have started hunting people. I hope you and yours are careful when out of doors!

Who knows? Maybe your cougar will take up the role of mouser for you? Hahaha, I know, it's unlikely. But you can dream, right?

 

[Kristenaty]

I don't know what's going on. I was given four Rhode Island Red hens one year ago in November when they were about a year and a half. They were pretty decent layers up until a few months ago. On Saturday morning, I went out to check on the new chicks and give the older hens some table scraps and one was legs up dead under the coop. I don't know if she died Friday night or Saturday morning. Then, this morning, my son went out to look at them and one was dead right under their food. I know she was alive Sunday night. I haven't noticed anything that seemed off about them. No sneezing, no trauma, no hard abdomen. Are they just dying of old age?

 

[sideWing]

I don't know what's going on. I was given four Rhode Island Red hens one year ago in November when they were about a year and a half. They were pretty decent layers up until a few months ago. On Saturday morning, I went out to check on the new chicks and give the older hens some table scraps and one was legs up dead under the coop. I don't know if she died Friday night or Saturday morning. Then, this morning, my son went out to look at them and one was dead right under their food. I know she was alive Sunday night. I haven't noticed anything that seemed off about them. No sneezing, no trauma, no hard abdomen. Are they just dying of old age?

They may stop or slow down laying, but they should live for over 5 years. 7-8 is the average I have read.

I would post the question in the sick/injured thread and see if you can get more feedback on there with so many more people reading it. Sorry about your losses.

 

[RedIII]

Agree with sideWing. It seems like I've read something before on sudden deaths with otherwise healthy, relatively young hens. The folks over in the sick/emergency section may be able to put their fingers on it.

Sorry for the loss of your girls

 

[Cynthia12]

Agree with sideWing. It seems like I've read something before on sudden deaths with otherwise healthy, relatively young hens. The folks over in the sick/emergency section may be able to put their fingers on it.

Sorry for the loss of your girls

X's 3! Best try and get some answers!

 

[rcstanley]

@La Casa de Pollo Here's those chicks I hatched from your eggs:

 

[sideWing]

Dang those are cute!

 

[iPickYupik]

Eggs from Lisa always hatch the cutest chicks! <3