Good Morning!

[Killerbunny]

I was bad and didn't take pics. My kids did great and were very well behaved one chap a bit gob smacked that a big turkey would come out of his coop for grapes with no fuss. One chap at a previous show had said "well they cuddle their turkeys", sorry John, because we carry them in direct not in a carrier cage!

[lolotsung]

GIANT red tailed hawk swooped down and Otis barked and we ran out and the hawk flew away. Right before I was able to photograph it :-( I looked for the chickens for 30 mins. I will look later. I'm busy working right now. I can't find 7 chickens?! Should I try and find them later and lock them in the coop eg. for a week? Will the hawk stay until every chicken has been eaten? Just thinking that if I was a hawk I would stay until they were all eaten. Thank you for your help!

[Kbr42]

If they didn't get anything they may be back. But they will be back if they got something. That's our biggest issue hawks and owls. We keep them inside just after sun up and put them in well before dusk. Good luck.

[labradors]

We visited someone with several breeds of chickens yesterday and I was blown away with her beautiful Lavender Orpingtons which were huge compared to our Red Sexlinks. They were also very friendly, sweet birds :).

Linda

[WLLady]

yeah, we have a hawk scoping out our birds here too. I've scared it off about 5 times, but the only way really to stop it is to lock everyone up for a few days until the hawk figures they're gone. If there are birds missing they're likely hiding out, and will come out eventually. Hawks usually hit and either take the chicken off to a tree to eat, or sit on the ground right there and start, there's no way it could have taken 7 birds all at once. So chances are they're hiding out somewhere. If they don't turn up in the evening to go back into the coop then you may be looking under bushes and stuff with a flashlight later. If you get a chance while it's still light to putter around it's a lot easier to spot them than with a flashlight. and if yours come for treats you can always try that-they'll feel safer with you out there and likely come for the treats (mine will ignore hawks for sunflower seeds if i'm out lol). i hope you find them all!

i knew someone with buff orps that were seriously the size of a small jersey giant! impressive birds - and the lavenders are so so pretty. too bad i'm scaling back lol. i could seriously own 3 of every kind of chicken known to mankind HAHA

[Killerbunny]

i love buff orps, nice ones at the show. They look like rays of sunshine!

[lolotsung]

When I returned from work all the 7 chickens were pecking around the lawn like nothing happened. Maybe if they could talk they would say "That red tailed drops by every day I'm surprised you haven't seen him yet!" I'm leaving for work in the dark and gone all day so I'm not in touch with what is going on with the hawk. Our Lavender Orpington pullets? are really friendly and should be laying eggs soon. They are 6 months old. The 2 Speckled Sussex laid well for one summer and winter and stopped. They look happy and healthy though. Our Rhode Island Red is a laying machine! Thank you for the tips!!

[lolotsung]

If they could talk they would say, "Follow the lady, she throws sunflower seeds." https://youtu.be/2uHmqbEWZXs

[WLLady]

Glad they all reappeared (and have you well trained lol)

[kenya]

Went to the Woodstock fur and feathers sale. Wow what a great turnout out. Never seen so many different beautiful rabbit breeds, all kinds of birds there, many from some of the best breeders out there. I worked all night and almost didn't go as I was very tired but it was a great sale. I didn't take any to sell but I did buy 2. Vaccinated for ILT and marreks gives me a sense of safety.