Prairie, we all keep learning all the time about chickens & other poultry, even if we have had them for years, I don't think you ever stop. I had chickens years ago when my son was little & we raised some other animals for meat, but I didn't think much about them at the time other than wanting eggs from them. I just got the ones I thought were pretty & gave us eggs. We did raise a few meat birds one year & had fresh chicken in the freezer for awhile.
Danz, I don't know if I told you or not, but I got some little Salmon Faverolle chicks this year to add to my flock & they're feathering out now & getting their feathered feet. They're so darned cute! The rooster is getting his color coming in & he's going to be pretty when he gets grown. They're about a month old now, but boy have they grown already. I was just standing out by their new pen admiring them when I went out to let the older chickens out. The older flock are very curious about the newcomers. My Speckled Sussex rooster was pacing back & forth yesterday outside their pen looking them all over, it was kind of funny. I figure by the time they're big enough to come out & join them they will think they're just part of the group. That's kind of what I did last year when I added some new ones, only I didn't have so many & they had a small pen inside the coop. This year I got more so I had to build the pen in the run, they're doing great out there though. I took my camera out yesterday to take a pic of the new pen & my chicks & wouldn't you know it my batteries were dead, so I still didn't get it done. I will have to change them out today.
HeChicken, they have these strap things you can hook into your seat belt & clip onto their collar. We got two of them for our little dogs for when we just go short distances. They're adjustable & you can make it so they can't go off the seat, but can move around. I would recommend that to you for your dog's safety in the car. I sure would hate to see you lose one again. I got mine off of eBay & they weren't expensive.
KarenS, I hope you feel better soon!
Well I don't know what I'm even doing sitting here I have so much to do today to get ready to leave, better get to it. I hope you all have a great day!