sal64
Platinum Member
same here after 2nd attack dog is no longer a problem,wouldnt mined as much if it was a halk ,fox or coyote they hunt for food .
I want chickens.....But....
- Thread starter nmu98
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Patriotic Stabilist
Platinum Member
I had 36 chickens a couple years back, the neighbors dog got 5. Snakes got in the concrete chicken house and ate 2, I killed both snakes, pretty good sized ones, the door was shut. Hubby has since built me a new door, hope its better. I kept telling her to do something with it, it was digging under my fence catching them and gutting them and this was while I was giving her free eggs!
I had also already dressed out about 20 of them for the freezer, had to or watch them being eaten. She FINALLY got the message when I came home and saw him over here again with one down. I got the gun and started shooting at him. She screamed and got him home and I never had that problem again. I mean how many times do you have to tell someone? We have a good fence, he was digging into my yard.
I broke my dog real quick, a couple of good smackings with the broom and he left them alone. I kept around 6 for eggs and had eggs for a couple of years. Later I dressed several of them for baking or broth. Now I only have 1, the only reason I'm keeping her is so my dog won't consider the new ones novelties. I bought a small 36 chick brooder to use this year. Need to get them but hate to as I want to take a short trip and don't want to have to ask someone to make sure they are in each night. What helps is I leave the light on in the chicken house till they are all up at night, they can see to get there, also we have an outside light out back that shines all over that area and will help them get in.
And yes I lock them up every single night, and let them out every single morning.
I had a couple of roosters, but I hate crowing at 2 or 3 in the morning, so they got put in the frying pan pretty quick, they were all supposed to have been hens.
Also you need to feed them the chicks the medicated starter for a few weeks so they don't get respiratory illness or diarrhea, that will spread through the flock and kill them quick. I lost none to illness.
Before I get babies, I'm scrubbing the inside of my chicken house out with water and clorox, it's stucco walls and concrete floor, then I put fresh straw in about once a week. I have 3 old mild crates I use for nests. Have a pole from the floor to 2 perches, then when bigger they fly up to the rafters and roost. I have 2 big water containers, and a small feeder for when they are babies, also a small water container for when they are babies.
Chickens are work, but well worth it.
Don't leave them out or the door open, you may think there are no critters out and about, but they will find chickens quick and clean you out.
I had also already dressed out about 20 of them for the freezer, had to or watch them being eaten. She FINALLY got the message when I came home and saw him over here again with one down. I got the gun and started shooting at him. She screamed and got him home and I never had that problem again. I mean how many times do you have to tell someone? We have a good fence, he was digging into my yard.
I broke my dog real quick, a couple of good smackings with the broom and he left them alone. I kept around 6 for eggs and had eggs for a couple of years. Later I dressed several of them for baking or broth. Now I only have 1, the only reason I'm keeping her is so my dog won't consider the new ones novelties. I bought a small 36 chick brooder to use this year. Need to get them but hate to as I want to take a short trip and don't want to have to ask someone to make sure they are in each night. What helps is I leave the light on in the chicken house till they are all up at night, they can see to get there, also we have an outside light out back that shines all over that area and will help them get in.
And yes I lock them up every single night, and let them out every single morning.
I had a couple of roosters, but I hate crowing at 2 or 3 in the morning, so they got put in the frying pan pretty quick, they were all supposed to have been hens.
Also you need to feed them the chicks the medicated starter for a few weeks so they don't get respiratory illness or diarrhea, that will spread through the flock and kill them quick. I lost none to illness.
Before I get babies, I'm scrubbing the inside of my chicken house out with water and clorox, it's stucco walls and concrete floor, then I put fresh straw in about once a week. I have 3 old mild crates I use for nests. Have a pole from the floor to 2 perches, then when bigger they fly up to the rafters and roost. I have 2 big water containers, and a small feeder for when they are babies, also a small water container for when they are babies.
Chickens are work, but well worth it.
Don't leave them out or the door open, you may think there are no critters out and about, but they will find chickens quick and clean you out.
Redbug
Veteran Member
tony123
Platinum Member
Several of us have a similar experience then...I too put an end to the dog problem at the second attack!
BungeeII
Gold Member
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- Lapeer County, Michigan
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- Ford 860, 861, Bolens GT2000, Eliminator 1700, Cub LT2180
I've had chickens once and will again here within a few weeks...
Ours free-ranged, too. We only lost 1 chicken.... this one to a car.
They all roosted in the same spots at night, together. (We had 22)
Once we found all the spots to look for the eggs, gathering them was not problem. They had no use for the roosts we built.
We got rid of them because of a dog problem. Actually, it was 2 dogs... in fact, they were my dogs. Both of them got along with the chickens just fine. The problem was their affinity for chicken droppings. Between them licking it and rolling in it, we just couldn't take it any more. We gave every single one of them away.
Ours free-ranged, too. We only lost 1 chicken.... this one to a car.
They all roosted in the same spots at night, together. (We had 22)
Once we found all the spots to look for the eggs, gathering them was not problem.
They had no use for the roosts we built.We got rid of them because of a dog problem. Actually, it was 2 dogs... in fact, they were my dogs. Both of them got along with the chickens just fine. The problem was their affinity for chicken droppings. Between them licking it and rolling in it, we just couldn't take it any more. We gave every single one of them away.
OP
nmu98
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- Jun 1, 2007
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- JD 5203, JD 3720, JD 4110, JD 445, IH 1586, IH 886, IH 404......
Wel,I can order..... Or buy the Assorted chicks from Tractor Supply. Part of me wants to take the easy way out and buy them from TSC. They should be a few days old, and fed a bit. I really don't know what I would order anyway.... All TSC has is pullets..
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
sal64
Platinum Member
i have americana green egg layers and buff offington golden chickens brown eggs,both are very friendly and good forigers .
OP
nmu98
Veteran Member
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- Jun 1, 2007
- Messages
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- JD 5203, JD 3720, JD 4110, JD 445, IH 1586, IH 886, IH 404......
Well...... My mind read right over hte part where I would have to order a minimum of 25. So... I seem to have little other choice than to get assorted chicks... not all bad since they are pullets and I really have little preference... I just need friendly....
Patriotic Stabilist
Platinum Member
If you have a local feed store, they likely will sell chicks. I like Rhode Island Reds, they are pretty docile, nice chickens, good layers, and also good for fryers when young.
I read where some said the chickens stink. I too remember when I was little and mom killed them how awful it smelled, but I don't remember anyone cleaning chicken houses out. I kept mine clean and with fresh straw and when dressing out the chickens, I didn't smell that wet feather disgusting smell. I think it was because they were kept cleaner. They also ran our 2 acres in clean grass, maybe that helped. I sure didn't have bug problems, didn't have to use pesticides, I liked that part.
I read where some said the chickens stink. I too remember when I was little and mom killed them how awful it smelled, but I don't remember anyone cleaning chicken houses out. I kept mine clean and with fresh straw and when dressing out the chickens, I didn't smell that wet feather disgusting smell. I think it was because they were kept cleaner. They also ran our 2 acres in clean grass, maybe that helped. I sure didn't have bug problems, didn't have to use pesticides, I liked that part.
riptides
Super Member
My dogs had just run around all day on the property. 3 mutts, one 120 and 150lb's. Big and young. One 40 pounder, hyper. They are hanging out on the patio, getting their breath back, kids and SO all enjoying the sun.
I guess the hyper one peeked around the corner and saw the neighbors chickens. Went to "investigate". Next I hear the SO screaming for me. Saying something about the dogs and the neighbor. I figure they were just checking them out.
Well with the SO screaming I go bolting out of the house, turn the corner and hyper runs through my legs. This knocks me off balance and around the corner I go again, I get my bearnings, here comes 120 and 150. I hear people screaming and now I am picking myself up off the ground to see my kids running at me. All I see are blurs, and my daughter moving fast saying "RUN!".
Enough of this nonsense, I almost get to the corner again and here is the source of the terror......
A rooster, newby, all fluffed out and looking to expand his territory. Well, he is on my turf now....
I turn and start backing up, trying to keep him at legs distance...
Here comes the neighbor and snatches him up. Big bird!
So I find out it was his first day out and about. Quite a statement he made.
The only good chickens are my neighbors.
I guess the hyper one peeked around the corner and saw the neighbors chickens. Went to "investigate". Next I hear the SO screaming for me. Saying something about the dogs and the neighbor. I figure they were just checking them out.
Well with the SO screaming I go bolting out of the house, turn the corner and hyper runs through my legs. This knocks me off balance and around the corner I go again, I get my bearnings, here comes 120 and 150. I hear people screaming and now I am picking myself up off the ground to see my kids running at me. All I see are blurs, and my daughter moving fast saying "RUN!".
Enough of this nonsense, I almost get to the corner again and here is the source of the terror......
A rooster, newby, all fluffed out and looking to expand his territory. Well, he is on my turf now....
I turn and start backing up, trying to keep him at legs distance...
Here comes the neighbor and snatches him up. Big bird!
So I find out it was his first day out and about. Quite a statement he made.
The only good chickens are my neighbors.
