Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[OverEggstended]

Kitties don't bother chickens?

IME (YMMV) - few cats will tangle with a full grown large fowl. Or even most banties. Chicks are often a different matter.

 

[Lil Go Peep]

IME (YMMV) - few cats will tangle with a full grown large fowl. Or even most banties. Chicks are often a different matter.

Our adult cat leaves them alone - the youngster thought it was fun to chase them for a bit- but I guess it's not fun no more because he really hasn't in a while unless one of the roosters chased him back

 

[Hinotori]

When my cats were 6-7 months old, I had a broody hatch chicks. The male decided that he was going to catch him a chick to eat. He pounced the chick and got a face full of mad broody hen, shortly followed by the rest of the flock rushing over to help. After that for a few months, as soon as the birds would see either cat they would attack even though the female never has shown any interest in chicks. Now the cats mostly ignore the chickens. The male keeps a very big distance between him and broodies. The female likes to hang out in the pens sometimes but she and the birds have some understanding and they ignore each other.

 

[OverEggstended]

Btw... all six remaining chicks are fine. They do NOT like heat. Although it is available, they seem to like the cool (75 degree) side of the brooder and to avoid it altogether and play outside for HOURS during 60 degree sunny (but brisk breeze) days. These are some weird arse chicks! Basically a week old tomorrow. Weird I tell yaa

 

[Lil Go Peep]

Btw... all six remaining chicks are fine. They do NOT like heat. Although it is available, they seem to like the cool (75 degree) side of the brooder and to avoid it altogether and play outside for HOURS during 60 degree sunny (but brisk breeze) days. These are some weird arse chicks! Basically a week old tomorrow. Weird I tell yaa

Great! They looked pretty feathered for a week old- Maybe why they dislike the normal heat - you giving those birds steroids? Lol

 

[OverEggstended]

Great! They looked pretty feathered for a week old- Maybe why they dislike the normal heat - you giving those birds steroids? Lol

TOLD YOU! They have full wings and tiny REAL tails. And all they do is blasted eat! I really need to bump heads with another Hammie owner. These are alien chickens!

And I know where they get their bad rap from. Confined, these guys are schizoid! I walk up to brooder and have to worry that they are all gonna have immediate heart attacks. But, take them out (catching them is fun... not!) and they will follow me all over the yard or happily snuggle up to my neck and watch tv.

They are weird. Just freaking weird.

And I did find the following post. No clue what other breeds she had, but maybe Hammies just don't do heat? This could very well be the reason the chicks are considered "delicate" in all the poultry magazines. Perhaps they just have different requirements? They are gonna do GREAT here on the coast, if THAT is the case!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/374145/overheated-chicken

 

[sphinxface]

Btw... all six remaining chicks are fine. They do NOT like heat. Although it is available, they seem to like the cool (75 degree) side of the brooder and to avoid it altogether and play outside for HOURS during 60 degree sunny (but brisk breeze) days. These are some weird arse chicks! Basically a week old tomorrow. Weird I tell yaa

Maybe you should breed them for cold weather birds? Maybe they have some genetic thing that makes them more tolerant? (Listen to me at your discretion, I know nothing about breeding anything!)

 

[Fogg]

Would it be really hard to inject vines with like a diabetics needle worth of poison to kill it? Has this ever been attempted? I'm getting tired of the impossible weeds ;(

Paint full strength roundup on the leaves.

 

[CowboysAngel]

Maybe you should breed them for cold weather birds? Maybe they have some genetic thing that makes them more tolerant? (Listen to me at your discretion, I know nothing about breeding anything!)

So I just had to Google the breed, its interesting that they originally thought they were a cross between a common chicken and a pheasant...that they were even called pheasants for awhile, that explains their flighty behavior and their claustrophobic aversion to being confined...the origins being the Netherlands and Germany explain their preference for cooler climates...what I couldn't find was why they are so "delicate" until they reach laying age...because once They start laying they do so for "many" years... Ok also couldn't find whether they are prone to broodiness...

If they are so "delicate" as hatchlings, that the hens lay for so much longer, presumably to restock the flock, you would think they would go broody more as well...but that may be what got them on the "watch list"...because their "dark bones" make them undesirable as a "market" Bird...so they haven't been overly eaten, the problem is in the brooding period..leading to the lowering numbers...and not necessarily in the brooding by the parents, but the humans as well...

@OverEggstended you just may have come upon some vital information in regards to brooding the lil burgers successfully!

Just my thoughts...

 

[ochochicas]

When my chicks were about 6 or 8 weeks old, the cat was curious and went in the stall to sniff them. The white Plymouth rock walked right up and pecked the cat in the eye. We live on a farm and have several cats that are fierce hunters. However, no one will mess with the chickens or the chicks. Even the feral cats that show up don't bother the flock.

Now the cats and chickens all live peacefully together. Sometimes the cats actually guard the younger chickens from predator such as hawks or dogs.