StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,691
Location: Ohio
Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
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Post by StephDRebel on Mar 17, 2018 18:45:37 GMT
These beasts are escape artists. They've got a 6-foot fence but I have two who are roaming the hood every day. They usually entertain the neighbors and it hasn't been an issue so we've been watching to see how they're getting out but haven't really prioritized it. They fly the coop, go visit, the old lady behind the alley throws them treats and plays with them, then go visit the man two doors down and play with his cat, get more treats and then I take my 10:30 break and they follow me back in the fence.
Apparently, they've added one more stop to their morning shenanigans as I had a woman a few doors down from the treat throwing neighbor knock on the door telling me that the black and red chicken tore up her front flower beds and ate her flowers. I apologized profusely thinking that she must've caught them red-handed, told her we would prioritize a solution, and that I would be happy to replace anything that they'd ruined. Honestly, I was getting ready for work and didn't have time to deal with it more in depth right then.
Now that I'm thinking about it I'm not so sure it was them. The situation will still be dealt with because if you don't want hens in your yard they shouldn't be but I can't figure out why they would be digging or why they're singling her flowers out. I have the same flowers by the dozen in the yard, right next to where they are and they peck the weeds but never dig and they certainly haven't eaten flowers or stolen any bulbs. What could they be doing with them if they're digging them up? They can be known to dig and burrow if they're dust bathing or creating a place to lay but she said they're not leaving eggs. She also said they ate the petals off of the flowers but I can't seem to figure out what she would've even planted that had flowers. We're in Ohio and it snowed last night. What is blooming that isn't dying from the cold? I'm so confused.
Are there critters that may have a use for flower bulbs after they've been dug up? now I'm even more curious. I'm going to put a camera on the coop pointing that way so I can see what is going on, but I'm baffled and spending my day buying replacements as an act of peace.
She must have the tastiest bulbs in the 'hood.
Never in my life did I think this was a problem I'd be attempting to solve.
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mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
Jul 3, 2014 18:13:13 GMT
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Post by mallie on Mar 17, 2018 18:50:09 GMT
We had squirrels and various rodents who would dig up bulbs. They did not eat all bulbs.
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Post by Basket1lady on Mar 17, 2018 18:53:57 GMT
It might be squirrels. I've had them pull up all my bulbs after I planted them.
As for the chickens, I'd knock on her door, apologize again, and ask for some more details. If you want to keep the peace, pay her for her lost "flowers". But I call baloney on that one. I'm in northern Virginia and we are just starting to see daffodils come up and buds on the trees, with just a few with a southern exposure with flowers. And I don't think a squirrel would bug bulbs already blooming.
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Post by scrapmaven on Mar 17, 2018 18:55:13 GMT
Do you have deer in your neighborhood? The deer just raided my mil's garden. They've eaten everything. Now they just sit out there and sleep and poop. I think they're waiting for all of her flowers to re-grow so that they can feast.
Do chickens eat flowers? Can you encase them in the back yard, so that they can roam freely, but not leave the property? They sound like cats. Very cute.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 28, 2024 21:41:57 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2018 19:12:40 GMT
Chickens eat everything. They were either taking a dirt bath or digging up nice newly hatched juicy grubs.
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Post by hop2 on Mar 17, 2018 19:16:32 GMT
Squirrels, deer, rabbits
Ripping out flowers is not usually real high up on a chickens list of things to do unless the flowers are seeding and they want the seeds. I haven’t had free range chickens since I was a kid but they didn’t bother flowers. Especially if they are getting treats. It’s not impossible though. Is it warm enough for aphids? They’ll rip plants apart for aphids.
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Post by hop2 on Mar 17, 2018 19:16:59 GMT
Chickens eat everything. They were either taking a dirt bath or digging up nice newly hatched juicy grubs. . Yeah the grubs would explain it too.
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,691
Location: Ohio
Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
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Post by StephDRebel on Mar 17, 2018 19:22:41 GMT
They are in a fenced yard, they found a way to jump on a stump, on the coop, and then fly over the fence where they party like it's 1999 visiting all of their friends until they come back to feast on their afternoon snack where they follow me right back into the fence.
I know they most certainly CAN dig up anything and everything, what I can't figure out is why they would merrily walk past a 30 foot strip full of the same bulbs and leave them be, go to the first neighbor to feast on last nights leftovers, skip another house just to dig up her flowers. Why not munch on the bulbs at home that are starting to come up? They literally weed around them for me but don't mess with the plants.
What do you think they're doing with the bulbs? I can see them digging them up without hesitation but where are they carrying them to? She said they've disappeared without a trace.
I'm perplexed. I'll replace her bulbs and fix the escape problem, but I'm curious about the behavior and the choices they're making if indeed it is them.
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Post by hop2 on Mar 17, 2018 19:26:16 GMT
They are in a fenced yard, they found a way to jump on a stump, on the coop, and then fly over the fence where they party like it's 1999 visiting all of their friends until they come back to feast on their afternoon snack where they follow me right back into the fence. I know they most certainly CAN dig up anything and everything, what I can't figure out is why they would merrily walk past a 30 foot strip full of the same bulbs and leave them be, go to the first neighbor to feast on last nights leftovers, skip another house just to dig up her flowers. Why not munch on the bulbs at home that are starting to come up? They literally weed around them for me but don't mess with the plants. What do you think they're doing with the bulbs? I can see them digging them up without hesitation but where are they carrying them to? She said they've disappeared without a trace. I'm perplexed. I'll replace her bulbs and fix the escape problem, but I'm curious about the behavior and the choices they're making if indeed it is them. Squirrels or chipmunks will take them and deer will eat the entire plant. Or she had some grubs or other bug they could smell.
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Post by trixiecat on Mar 17, 2018 21:09:26 GMT
Steph, I love your posts!
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uksue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,527
Location: London
Jun 25, 2014 22:33:20 GMT
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Post by uksue on Mar 17, 2018 21:22:54 GMT
I'm so entertained by your posts, Steph 🤣
Aren't some bulbs poisonous ?
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Post by librarylady on Mar 17, 2018 21:26:17 GMT
My mother trimmed the wings of our chickens so they were not able to fly over the fence. You might try that.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,004
Jun 25, 2014 20:53:57 GMT
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Post by blue tulip on Mar 17, 2018 22:17:34 GMT
you need to be a good neighbor and put a roof on your pen. it will also protect your birds from hawks.
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Post by quinlove on Mar 17, 2018 22:29:36 GMT
They are in a fenced yard, they found a way to jump on a stump, on the coop, and then fly over the fence where they party like it's 1999 visiting all of their friends until they come back to feast on their afternoon snack where they follow me right back into the fence. I know they most certainly CAN dig up anything and everything, what I can't figure out is why they would merrily walk past a 30 foot strip full of the same bulbs and leave them be, go to the first neighbor to feast on last nights leftovers, skip another house just to dig up her flowers. Why not munch on the bulbs at home that are starting to come up? They literally weed around them for me but don't mess with the plants. What do you think they're doing with the bulbs? I can see them digging them up without hesitation but where are they carrying them to? She said they've disappeared without a trace. I'm perplexed. I'll replace her bulbs and fix the escape problem, but I'm curious about the behavior and the choices they're making if indeed it is them. Where they party like it's 1999 !!! Hilarious 😃
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Post by missbennet on Mar 17, 2018 22:38:40 GMT
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 28, 2024 21:41:57 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2018 22:44:04 GMT
Steph, I love your posts! Me too. StephDRebel you have a wonderful descriptive way with words when you tell your stories.Sitting here <iframe width="22" height="3.0600000000000023" style="position: absolute; width: 22px; height: 3.06px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 1038px; top: -138px;" id="MoatPxIOPT1_84184134" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="22" height="3.0600000000000023" style="position: absolute; width: 22px; height: 3.06px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 9px; top: -37px;" id="MoatPxIOPT1_74000917" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="22" height="3.0600000000000023" style="position: absolute; width: 22px; height: 3.06px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 1038px; top: -37px;" id="MoatPxIOPT1_90527141" scrolling="no"></iframe>
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,691
Location: Ohio
Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
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Post by StephDRebel on Mar 17, 2018 22:57:49 GMT
I'm so entertained by your posts, Steph 🤣 Aren't some bulbs poisonous ? probably. the chickens aren't dead yet, maybe they're innocent?
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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 17, 2018 22:59:34 GMT
Chickens eat everything. They were either taking a dirt bath or digging up nice newly hatched juicy grubs. And also... My mother trimmed the wings of our chickens so they were not able to fly over the fence. You might try that. Our chickens have ripped the crap out of our landscaping to get at whatever bugs are in the dirt around the roots, so I get pretty irritated when DH lets them loose for a bit to roam around the yard. I told him I really don’t want them wrecking the neighbor’s landscaping. Clipping their wings isn’t hard either, if you look it up on YouTube there are videos showing how to do it. That should help keep them in. We had a hawk or something get inside the pen around our coop a couple years back and whatever it was was able to get a big fully grown chicken out over the 6’ tall fence. All we found was a pile of red feathers. DH rigged up some deer netting over the top of the fence to keep the chickens in and the predators out.
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,691
Location: Ohio
Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
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Post by StephDRebel on Mar 17, 2018 23:01:23 GMT
you need to be a good neighbor and put a roof on your pen. it will also protect your birds from hawks. the one is the entire 1/4 acre backyard. my only option is to find a way to keep them in the fence or move them to the farm. knock on wood hawks haven't been an issue yet. I've learned to never say never but you know.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Mar 18, 2018 3:44:48 GMT
Neighbors bulbs? Squirrels!
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,402
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Mar 18, 2018 5:29:01 GMT
Chickens eat everything. They were either taking a dirt bath or digging up nice newly hatched juicy grubs. That.
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Post by nlwilkins on Mar 18, 2018 5:33:02 GMT
I will second the clipping the wings. Though, I had a parrot who would try to fly with her wings clipped and could get pretty high. Also, when clipped she had less control over where she went and where she landed. That worried me that she might get hurt so I quit clipping. But, you could try it. Chickens are a lot heavier than parrots. Though you might be worried about them not being able to escape danger if their wings are clipped.
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Post by houston249 on Mar 18, 2018 6:17:48 GMT
I wish I was your neighbor. I would spoil your chickens till the cows came home.
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Post by Alexxussss on Mar 18, 2018 11:35:04 GMT
I wish I was your neighbor. I would spoil your chickens till the cows came home. Me, too! I would love them to stop by for a visit each day!
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eleezybeth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,784
Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
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Post by eleezybeth on Mar 18, 2018 13:19:32 GMT
Chickens ate the bulbs? Hmmm, I'm with you, that's suspicious. I would say that is much more the work of a raccoon, deer or squirrel. You are a good neighbor and I might figure out how to put a camera on her yard too.
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styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,932
Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Mar 18, 2018 14:03:07 GMT
I think you're a good neighbor to replace the bulbs. It's a nice good will gesture. We live in the country and none of our direct "neighbors" have chickens, I don't think I would mind them coming for a visit so much. But again, I don't have flowers or a garden! LOL
Now, we have had cows visit once! That was crazy! It had been raining so their hoofs left BIG indentions all over the yard! It was too funny though so we didn't mind too much. We were just glad when the cows went home. Hahahaha!
We also have a neighbor, not sure which one that has two really BIG dogs. One is a Great Dane I think. The other is a brown lab. They are not real friendly and kind of act like our yard is theirs. We called the Sherriff on them because they scared the kids when they were taking out the trash. And, they were POOPING in the back yard where the kids play soccer! We don't have dogs because I know we don't have time to take care of them. I sure don't want to have to clean up after someone else's dogs that POOP ... A LOT! UGH!
We have had some really friendly dogs stop by and if they are nice and have a tag, I will keep them around and call the owners to come get them. That has happened about 4 times in the last 10 years. I even gave one little one a ride home once! He was running around out by the busy county road and I didn't want him to get hit by a car. I pulled over and opened the car door and he jumped right in on my lap ready to go for a ride! LOL Silly doggie!
That same intersection has chickens and roosters that play in that area too. I always make a joke with the kids and ask them if they know why the chickens are crossing the road! LOLOLOL!
Sorry, got long winded this morning! LOL
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Post by sunnyd on Mar 18, 2018 17:46:04 GMT
Take her a dozen eggs as a peace offering. How many chickens do you have? I love that they have the run of your whole backyard.
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Post by librarylady on Mar 18, 2018 19:11:06 GMT
Take her a dozen eggs as a peace offering. How many chickens do you have? I love that they have the run of your whole backyard. Yep, all fun until a person walks through the chicken poop.
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Post by txdancermom on Mar 18, 2018 19:31:55 GMT
I have visions of partying chickens running wild in a neighborhood right now....
and you are a good neighbor to replace the bulbs
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,004
Jun 25, 2014 20:53:57 GMT
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Post by blue tulip on Mar 18, 2018 20:40:30 GMT
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