What did you do with your flock today?

[TropicalBabies]

I know how you feel about all the advice. But really the fact is, not one thing is going to work for every roo out there. They are like kids, all with different personalities and different things that work with them. All 6 of my kids are punished differently for their behavior or actions. Grounding only works on a couple, the corner works for a couple, and sometimes it just takes some one on one talking. Whatever you choose to do will either work or it won’t, but at least your trying.

I too think that space is good for any chicken, especially the roos but the fact is it doesn’t always work that way. I too have problems with hawks, owls, coyotes, raccoons, and opossums. So the reality of them free ranging, yes possible, but is not ideal. Especially because of how open our property is for the sky but also how flat everything is. And yes coyotes do run during the day here too, so if one seen a chicken it wouldn’t take much for it to take off with it. There is a neighbor of ours, whose daughter is friends with ours, had Brahmas and Rhode Island reds. Well we seen on RIR that was hit on the road and then we noticed less and less chickens roaming in their yard. Well we stopped by to talk to them and they were picked off by the predators around here. But this is their first year having them and they didn’t even have a secure coop for them at night. Now they are down to like 2 chickens. At least last I noticed. I don’t think they care about their birds like we do though either. To hear them talk it is more “they are just animals” feel to the conversation. But anyway the point really is, is that predictors act fast when they know a free meal isn’t far.

It all gets easier with time. You figure out, adjust, do better.
We are just trying to help because we like you and have been there done that. Some of the worst advice I followed was holding a rooster down and walking through and showing dominance to a little chicken. Can you imagine...
When I treat them as a prey animal it all makes sense and I get the results that help me to relax and enjoy my flock. It is not all about the eggs for me.

 

[TropicalBabies]

So the cockerel has been favoring his foot more and more since the blisters all popped. But I expect that. There is so black where the blisters popped on the top on his foot. The swelling is still going down slowly. He is getting to the point that he wants to fight me on everything. I put my hand in the kennel to try to get him to move closer to the door and he pecked at my hand and took off to the door anyway. He is fighting me on the epson salt baths. Luckily I know a few tricks so I can at least look at his foot and see how it’s going.

So glad he is doing better. Saw the black comb and featured article on byc about frostbite . Tuff stuff that severely cold weather.
Hope you are using a hand towel to help yourself out. You'll get it done and be so much wiser for the experience. ♡

 

[TropicalBabies]

Yeah yall remember the coons I trapped as well as a opossum. But the hawks know as soon as I let just one chicken out of the secure run and are overhead within less than 3 minutes! I even had that one dive down and do a u-turn as I went to grab the d'uccles while I was just trying to get an updated pic of em!

@TropicalBabies sounds so peaceful!
Flies can be annoying though...let us know what ya end up getting and how it works!

Yeah, I would have a fort Knox if I lived in a high predator place. Or just buy eggs and never know the difference. I'm grateful to not have that expense. Start up is bad enough as it is. And definitely a covered run, I can't imagine a cooped up flock. We have people who raise in small cages here. I have no good thoughts on that.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

It takes 6 months to care for a chick so it can be old enough to lay an egg or be able to fertilize an egg. Takes a good 2 years to get a spectacular rooster. The best wealth of knowledge for the flock are the older seasoned hens... it is the age that guides the young generations and makes the whole thing a show...
Guess those folks are missing out sorry for them.

Right…and I tried telling her that we could help build a coop. But she was very care free on it. Basically shrugged her shoulders and went on to talk about them roosting in the trees. In some areas that may work but not here. We have driven by at night and they have a heat lamp in their make shift chicken house as well. Just setting the little ones up for failure.

My mom has told me that I do more for my animals than a lot of other people do around here. Well they are an addition to the family. I didn’t spend all the money I did for them all and get them to the age they are for them to just die. As a pet owner it is my responsibility to do everything for them that I can. I wish more people were like this. But it is those people that are missing out on an amazing experience.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

It all gets easier with time. You figure out, adjust, do better.
We are just trying to help because we like you and have been there done that. Some of the worst advice I followed was holding a rooster down and walking through and showing dominance to a little chicken. Can you imagine...
When I treat them as a prey animal it all makes sense and I get the results that help me to relax and enjoy my flock. It is not all about the eggs for me.

I got the same advice, basically, as you well know. I changed it because it wasn’t working. He doesn’t get too close to me, except now, but he crows when he sees me, he talks to me or the girls but either way he isn’t as aggressive with me. I don’t wait for them to move out of the way HOWEVER, I don’t push them out of the way either. I just walk around them so can do what I need to. More because they come running to the run door when I come in cause I normally have treats for them or their food or more water.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

So glad he is doing better. Saw the black comb and featured article on byc about frostbite . Tuff stuff that severely cold weather.
Hope you are using a hand towel to help yourself out. You'll get it done and be so much wiser for the experience. ♡

Oh I am. The problem though is I have a 2 year old that has been hands on with the chickens since day one. And he thinks he needs to be right there. I have found that if I wrap him tightly and snuggle his body next to mine he is more relaxed and will let his foot set in the epson salt. But if my son or any of the girls make too many movements it makes him nervous and he squirms and I let him go so neither of us gets hurt. It’s honestly a learning experience for all of us. His comb is black too, which his comb is supposed to be less likely to get frostbite but there it is. I don’t think he will loose his foot or any toes but it can take a while to see the damage. I’m hoping he pulls through. He is still crowing and waking us up at 5am, eating and drinking as well. His poops are normal as well. I wish I could find more specific information about his injuries. Everyone just talks about the loose of toes or comb and wattles.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Yeah, I would have a fort Knox if I lived in a high predator place. Or just buy eggs and never know the difference. I'm grateful to not have that expense. Start up is bad enough as it is. And definitely a covered run, I can't imagine a cooped up flock. We have people who raise in small cages here. I have no good thoughts on that.

I wish I could have mine free range. I’m hoping too one day but I tried to make sure that their run was really large so that they could have plenty of room. I see the prefab coops that just gives them a run under the house and a small area outside of that and it just makes me sad. Like this one…I see this one a lot and there is SOO much property. Like WAY more than we have and unused. I’m sure if they don’t know the difference the chickens wouldn’t care but I know that would be much happier to have more room. I would have a hard time seeing the small cages…

 

[ChicksnMore]

OMGeeze u can't show me these gorgeous babies any more! They are too beautiful for words!!! I absolutely LUV peafowl!!! They are my spirit bird for sure!!!

And I just wanna thank yall for your words of wisdom and feedback on ole Joey!
I went in the run this morning with a different approach. No more pushing past him and making him move outta my way.
He wasn't nearly as attacking. When he did go for my feet I picked him up and talked to him while I scooped and got everything ready to so the feed out.
I sat him down while I scooped the feed, gave him a bite to remind him I'm the good guy and he didn't try to get my feet again!!!
Call me crazy chicken lady and I don't do things as most say ya should.
But I have raised them to be pets...it only makes sense I would handle misbehaving differently - right?
I'm so glad he did so well with such a small change!!!
He didn't even chase me out the run door!!!

I'm so glad and hope it keeps working . I feel I do best with all animals by staying kind and respectful. Especially since I don't cuddle the chicks much. I get my friendly birds because they trust me and expect my presence to never be a bad thing.

Yeah yall remember the coons I trapped as well as a opossum. But the hawks know as soon as I let just one chicken out of the secure run and are overhead within less than 3 minutes! I even had that one dive down and do a u-turn as I went to grab the d'uccles while I was just trying to get an updated pic of em!

@TropicalBabies sounds so peaceful!
Flies can be annoying though...let us know what ya end up getting and how it works!

I live in a high predator area too. Here it's coyotes, bobcats, polecats, hawks and owls. When we moved here I had a big German shepherd that I had raised with chickens. He was a working dog in the sense that he was expected to spend most of his time outside keeping our yard safe. While we had him we never lost a single animal. When he passed I didn't want to replace him... I just wanted him still. We started loosing birds everytime I blinked it felt like. I'd look out in the yard and see coyotes standing there bold as brass.

So I broke down and got another dog, she was a little smaller then my shepard (closer to coyote size) so I got a second dog to help her and raised them both with all the animals. They spend most of their time outside with a little daily indoor time because they're family too. Love them both dearly and we're back to never losing an animal to anything. Hawks and owls will perch and watch my birds...but they've never swooped when I have dogs. Though I'm actually always afraid a hawk will someday. No coyotes or anything else. A bobcat tried coming into the garden one time...dogs jumped the garden fence and got it. Made a mess of some plants in the process...but no pets lost. I can lock my dogs up with chickens, rabbits or anything and they'll never hurt them. Best dogs ever. It just takes thoughtful training as you raise them.

I know dogs aren't for everyone...but if you have predator problems they can be invaluable.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Should say that when I say raised with chickens and animals...as puppies they stayed at my side 24/7. They were never locked up with other animals and expected to become part of the flock, herd or whatever. But they had daily supervised time around free range chickens, rabbits, goats, horses etc. Lots and lots of time because most my life is lived outside. They learned what behavior pleased and displeased me and like most dogs...they like to please is all.

 

[Shetland lover]

OMGeeze u can't show me these gorgeous babies any more! They are too beautiful for words!!! I absolutely LUV peafowl!!! They are my spirit bird for sure!!!

And I just wanna thank yall for your words of wisdom and feedback on ole Joey!
I went in the run this morning with a different approach. No more pushing past him and making him move outta my way.
He wasn't nearly as attacking. When he did go for my feet I picked him up and talked to him while I scooped and got everything ready to so the feed out.
I sat him down while I scooped the feed, gave him a bite to remind him I'm the good guy and he didn't try to get my feet again!!!
Call me crazy chicken lady and I don't do things as most say ya should.
But I have raised them to be pets...it only makes sense I would handle misbehaving differently - right?
I'm so glad he did so well with such a small change!!!
He didn't even chase me out the run door!!!

Brilliant! I'm so glad you're finding a way to deal with him.