| Author | Content |
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 30, 2009
10:45 AM Post #6884563
| I went out to my orchard last night to check on my free range chickens. They have an open coop on slippery aluminum posts about 6 feet in the air so varmits cant get to them. I have had them for 8-9 months with no problems but recently something has been killing them. I think it is an owl or one of those Mexican Eagles that are all over my property. Either way, I showed up yesterday to check on them and to get eggs and two more had been killed. The sad thing was two of the chickens ran up and tried to get into my truck. They really wanted out of there. They hid in the tailgate and one jumped into the cab. I felt so bad that I decided that if they jumped in, they could come home with me even though we dont have room. Well, they did. The last chicken hid in a pile of brush and wouldnt come out so I left.
I woke up this morning and the chicken I left behind was in the neighbors yard. I felt bad about leaving it behind last night and I thought it must be a ghost chicken. The weird thing is I saw the chicken in the brush as I was opening the gate to leave and it was about 150 feet away. It had to had run 150 while my back was turned and flew into the tailgate. All of this in about 15 seconds.
Oh well, they are home and safe.
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twiggybuds
Moss Point, MS
(Zone 8b)
July 30, 2009
09:01 PM Post #6887144
| Those are undoubtedly brilliant examples of their species. It's even more impressive since you don't live there and interact with them daily. I couldn't have left them either since they were begging to go.
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lizards_keep
Colmesneil, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 31, 2009
04:18 AM Post #6888335
| Ok, so, what exactly is a Mexican Eagle?
If the answer comes with a sign that says STUPID …… It’s really a friend of mine that wants to know.
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jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 31, 2009
10:46 AM Post #6889252
| It is an eagle that sort of looks like a bald eagle with a 50's pompadour. |
lizards_keep
Colmesneil, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 31, 2009
02:19 PM Post #6890027
| Don’t think we have any of them here. Biggest problem we have here with chickens is stray dogs. |
Calalily
South Padre Island, TX
(Zone 10a)
August 10, 2009
07:17 PM Post #6931924
| Jujubetexas, are you talking about a crested caracara? http://www.greglasley.net/caracara.html I didn't know they killed chickens. I thought they were carion eaters! We are getting ready to add chickens to the farm. |
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
August 11, 2009
01:12 AM Post #6933375
| I am only speculating but I pretty sure it isnt a varmit and they are the only large things around. They are pretty bold. |
Allwild
East, TX
(Zone 7b)
September 14, 2009
08:07 PM Post #7064654
| That is impressive that your chickens knew to get in your truck!! They wanted out of there for sure!
I'm going to guess owls, or maybe hawks. We have large owls and hawks over this way, along with all the other wild predators. I don't see the owls very often but I have seen them hunt and catch rabbits, and wood rats. They're huge! And I can hear them hooting through the woods. I watched a hawk the other day catch something - he swooped down, grabbed it in his talons, stood there for a minute probably crushing it and then flew off. Not sure what it was. They used to stalk my pets when they were babies.
We're hoping to have some chickens here probably next spring. I've been wanting to raise chickens all my life so it's about time. We're thinking of some kind of a chicken tractor. But the wildlife is an issue that we are still trying to address.
The price of living in the sticks! : )
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jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
September 15, 2009
02:37 PM Post #7067445
| They are usually okay during the day if they are at your house. They just need good protection at night. Mine run free in our yard. A tractor will be better if you have lots of plants you dont want pecked. You need a coop at night that is covered 100 percent with chicken wire or wood or both. It is also important that the perches are away from any opening as raccoons grab their legs and pull them outside and eat them off. It is gross and usually you have to kill the chicken afterwards. I have only lost one chicken at the house in 7 years and that was when I left the coop open one night and a raccoon got in.
Funny story about that night. I heard all the chickens yelling so I ran outside with my dogs. The raccoon had already killed one chicken and was still in the coop. It was gigantic!!!!! The dogs circled it and started fighting but it held off two dogs. Then, out of nowhere, my big outside cat "Mouse" leap thru the air and landed on top of the raccoon and sunk his teeth and claws into his back. The dogs and I were startled beyond belief as Mouse road the raccoon around the yard and about 8 feet up a tree before letting go. We were so proud of the cat that we gave him yummy wet food in his bowl instead of dry that night. |
Allwild
East, TX
(Zone 7b)
September 15, 2009
05:13 PM Post #7067954
| That is such a great story!! I'll bet the dogs had a new respect for Mouse too!
Did Mouse ever have any interest in the chickens? I hope ours won't!
We have a cat that is inside but loves to stay outside at night. Had to get him neutered because he was getting into fights with feral cats that are on the next property. But he will still fight them if they come around. And nothing comes in the house anymore...even the spiders and scorpions are scared of the cat! hahaha
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jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
September 15, 2009
05:38 PM Post #7068024
| If they are peeps when you first get them, I would be very careful. Once they get bigger or if you have a rooster, it shouldnt be a problem. Please introduce them supervised. I have 7 cats and only one harrasses them but never actually hurts them.
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twiggybuds
Moss Point, MS
(Zone 8b)
September 15, 2009
05:51 PM Post #7068079
| I've only had one cat that stalked biddies and the hen didn't put up with much of it. The cat soon gave it up.
A good cat is worth a lot to me. They take a lot of wildlife but what I appreciate is mice, rats and snakes are also eliminated. I've lost several to snake bites but better them than me.
When I was a kid we had Ole Yeller. He was a huge light yellow striped cat. He liked to lay on the front porch and ambush dogs that dared pass too close. The neighbor across the street witnessed one such episode (from the mid 60's) and still mentions it sometimes. "He jumped on his back and rode him out of the yard." I say "yeah and that dog never came back". He was the first animal that was ever allowed in the house. He was put down at 18 because he got cancer on his head/ear where he'd gotten snake bit when he was about 3. Early on we lost count of how many he killed.
I had a close encounter with a copperhead day before yesterday and it escaped. I'm in need of a good cat.
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jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
September 15, 2009
10:50 PM Post #7069073
| I heard that Siamese cats were bred to be guard cats. They would sit on a ledge over the inside of the front door. This was in the middle east. If strangers came in, they would jump on their back or make a lot of noise. That, at least, is what I was told. |
twiggybuds
Moss Point, MS
(Zone 8b)
September 15, 2009
11:23 PM Post #7069173
| Over on the Farm forum they're discussing the merits of a donkey for guarding livestock. It makes me want one. Think about it Jujube.
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Allwild
East, TX
(Zone 7b)
September 16, 2009
08:57 AM Post #7069893
| I heard the same thing about the siamese cats being bred as guard cats...and something else but can't think of it... poof.
So sad twiggybuds, our pets become such an important part of the family it's hard when they get sick and pass away. Our cat is only a year old but he's already had two nasty infections, one was right between the eyes.
several sources that have told me of donkeys being excellent guard animals that will protect your livestock from coyotes, bobcats or any of the other dog/cats. A local farmer here told me that she made the biggest mistake by getting her Jack, a Jenny for company, though. Apparently her Jack was no longer interested in "protecting the herd" once he had a companion, and they just went off away from all the other animals.
This same farmer was telling me about her guineas yesterday. (We were talking about chickens) Apparently the hawks were her worst enemy because they would swoop down before the dogs would know what hit and snatch one up.
My German shepherd watches those larger birds while they are in the sky or on the ground but he's no bird dog, just observant.
the birds seem to be a tough predator to deal with!!
This message was edited Sep 18, 2009 5:37 PM |
