CAMPYLOBACTER: Anyone else had it?

[Saronne]

Yesterday afternoon I thought I heard an 'egg announcement' from one of the girls. Then the noise got louder as

a few more joined in. Pretty soon I heard all of them shrieking about something.

 

When I went to investigate, I saw a racing pigeon lying on the ground in their run. It was upside-down (legs in the air) and it looked dead. When I went to pick it up, it flipped over and tried to fly, but looked shocked or exhausted. The strangest part of this was how the hens reacted. They went completely berserk!

 

My normally shy Legbar, Elvis 1, suddenly puffed up to 3 times her normal size and became the 'Incredible Hulk' she (and several other mini-Hulks) charged towards me and the poor pigeon I was holding. I barely escaped alive with the bird! Anyway, I put the pigeon in a dark box with food and water and it made a full recover and flew away about an hour later. Hopefully it learned its lesson and won't be back Has anyone else's chickens acted so aggressively towards an 'intruder?'

 

Saronne x

[Guest]

Mine aren't as brave as yours and hide from a fledgling house sparrow that we had in there one time

Racing pigeons can sometimes get too exaughsted and die so the one you found was lucky.

I think the thing my girls hate the most are wood pigeons sitting on their WIR they go mental flying about all over the place.

[Janty]

My mini welsummers spent mist of yesterday chasing a determined pigeon out of the garden.

They were quite proud of themselves judging by the way they were strutting about.

 

[SJChick]

Our girls chase the mice that try to steal their food, now and again they catch one and the "head hunter" runs away with it and the rest chase her to try and get the "prize" It caused much hilarity for them but I wish they wouldn't because I feel sorry for the mouse!

[Verity F]

I have three mental Pekins... Lola (who is so skittish I can't pick her up) turns into a paramilitary attack-chicken at the first sign of a sparrow or blackbird She bombs up and down the garden, charging them with her wings out and her head down. She's even chased a sparrow in circles around in the run

 

I was a bit embarrassed the other day when the neighbour's new girlfriend brought her teeny dog to visit - my girls went crackers and stood bristling and yelling it through the hedge...

 

My money's on the chickens every time!

[Saronne]

[jennydavies]

This thread has made me and Charlie laugh sooo much

[txswanie]

Yes, that happens quite a lot here. I had the cheek to hang a wild bird feeder near the coop and the little darlings went crazy every time a bird came near it. I think they all have Top Bird syndrome.....no lesser types please, chickens only, and then only chickens that we approve of. They were particularly vocal at a blue jay, wonder if the colour made a difference.

Colette

[Alis girls]

We had a pidgeon spaced out on lawn - girls ignored it - stupid bird took its life in its wings as we have 2 cats. My girls only react to police helicopters

[The_eggwards_family]

Our girls all hide under the kids tree house wehn the wood pidgeons flap about in the big trees at the bottom of our garden!