Backyard Farming Forum
Bringing food production home

Not really, they were sold as point of lay. My guess would be around 20 weeks, their combs have only started to go the bright red colour.




It must do I wasn't expecting any eggs until spring, we've got three so far this week.

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Cheers,

LV aka Tony
My Blog

Good Aussie egg producers.....

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www.backyardfarming.com.au
Bringing Food Production Home

On Thursday afternoon we had 5 chooks taken by foxes or dogs, including my beautiful Australorp rooster featured here on page 1. We had been lucky and hadn't lost any for some time. They are only let out during the day and always locked at night. Only found the bodies of 2 chooks so was hoping the rooster was just hiding, but that's not likely now. Still have some of his off-spring so it will be interesting to see how they turn out.

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Cheers
Tristrin
our aquaponics http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... =18&t=6875
backyard viewtopic.php?f=24&t=107

that's horrible for you

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contentment

I'm sorry to hear that, Tris. We've had similar attacks and it shakes you up to see the birds you've cared for reduced to a pile of feathers - if that. We've lost our matriarch goose and a couple of chooks to foxes. A couple of new goslings too, but I suspect that was hawks or crows.

Here in the west May is mating time for foxes and by September they are hunting to feed their offspring. I guess it's different where you are.

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Granny Smith

Bugger, they really are terrible aren't they, sorry to hear that Tristrin... And curse the person who brought them here for hunting....

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www.backyardfarming.com.au
Bringing Food Production Home

Sorry to hear it Tristrin.

We dont get much in the way of foxes here but there is a big population of stray hunting dogs which is even more terrifying!
People do alot of Dogging up this way. Dogging is where the hunter will use a number of dogs and a knife to hunt and kill wild pigs instead of a gun. Im a bit against Dogging as it breeds aggressive dogs, the dogs can end up with terrible wounds and the pig suffers alot more.

Anyway, quite often people will lose a dog out on a hunt, they are usually big Mastiffs, and they have been known to be wandering around the bush and turning feral. Local farmers have reported packs of feral hunting dogs bringing down Cattle on their stations!

I spose a part of the problem here is there are no controls on keeping dogs what so ever, some people keep up to 8-10 of these dogs in cages and breed the best hunting dogs they can, If a dog doesnt make the cut they will usually just shoot it.

There are alot of irresponsible dog owners out there.

Sorry to hear that Tristrin.

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Cheers,

LV aka Tony
My Blog

A mate had to put down a cow that a few dogs got hold of. He did manage to get the dogs as they ran away. I've heard of people keeping caucasian shepherd dogs to protect cattle and property. One of the delivery guys was telling me that a farmer used one with his sheep. In a couple of weeks it had worked its way through the wild dog population. Only trouble is if you go on there farm and don't look like a sheep.

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To think before you act is a wise option. But not as funny.

Thanks for the words of sympathy. My remaining chooks had been kept locked up since their mates got taken, something they're not used to, so i let them out today and thankfully they were fine. I'm fairly sure it was a dog that got them rather than a fox as a dog was seen with one of the chooks. In the past we have lost sheep and ducks to dog attacks. It really frustrates me that some people have the attitude that their dog wouldn't kill anything and just let them rome free day and night.

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Cheers
Tristrin
our aquaponics http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... =18&t=6875
backyard viewtopic.php?f=24&t=107

Yes that angers me as well, at least most places have some sort of Dog registration and control. Cats on the other hand.......