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Assuming your cropped & flopped descriptions apply to two Dobies?
Definitely proceed with caution; both of our dogs (corgi & border collie mix) have a very unhealthy preoccupation with my chickens, so I intend that ne'er the twain shall meet. It would not go well for the chooks, who are openly curious about the dogs (through a secure fence). Both dogs successfully hunt gophers and the corgi has caught a few unwary small birds - very strong prey drive so I won't risk it. The BC has run at the fence numerous times to make the pullets squawk & flap & run, so big NO there. The Corg, while sweet with other dogs & people, is jealous of the time I spend with the flock (all attention should be HIS.)
Of course, you know your particular dogs best!
And a hearty welcome to the delightful, resourceful BYC community!
All 6 of my Dobies and both min pins have had strong prey drives. I don't risk allowing them around my flock. My flock is secured behind electrified poultry netting powered with a 10,000 volt charger. My dogs ignore those birds.
heeeeeey!!!
For 8 chickens, you only need 2 nest-boxes.
Unless you want /have a broody to sit quietly to hatch a few more chicks next year.
Absolutely, they are each individuals! Your corg looks just like our Owen Thunderpaws, who does alert & defend the property against flying intruders.Ironically, I have the same two breeds of dogs and both became our LGDs
Oh, my goodness!!! Our family used to spend Spring Break at Death Valley when the girls were in elementary/middle school -- their choice, they loved it so much. (Also Bodie, Scotty's Castle, etc.) But we sure didn't go in the height of summer. That whole region has some mighty impressive heat! Spectacular country.we get hot as hell here. I live bout 30 minutes from Death Valley...
We have an 8 year old red boy cropped and a 3 year old black girl flopped!Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Yes they rotate. Some need only 10 minutes but they often take half an our or even longer to lay an egg. Staying on a nest for more than 3 hours indicates broodiness.heeeeeey!!!
I just figured they all had their own bed to lay eggs in! Will they just use 2 like a drop station and rotate out??
What i need some assisstance in more than anything... we want to let our boy go and be frisky for a lil bit to see some crosses and some pure bred from him and an 'identical' sister... but we also want fresh eggs on the regular and I feel like pullin him from the flock might be stressfull as well???
How do most manage the breeding rotation, and more importantly, the long term care of the flock as a whole?
Thank you!!! I was totally imagining the difference between a row of stalls, or a couple porta pottys, but i withheld the reference... lol...Yes they rotate. Some need only 10 minutes but they often take half an our or even longer to lay an egg. Staying on a nest for more than 3 hours indicates broodiness.
Chickens tend to lay in the same favourite nest-box. A second nest is needed if it’s occupied too long. Mine are sometimes waiting for their turn for the favourite nest. Imagine people going to a toilet in a restaurant where they have 1 clean and one dirty toilet.
You should leave the cockerel/rooster with the pullets/hens. He fertilises most of the eggs with 8 hens. But you can store and eat the fertilised eggs just as well as the non fertilised eggs.
Read a few articles and threads about natural broodies and hatching if you ever want a broody to hatch eggs. It’s often problematic in a confined situation with little space and hiding places. Next spring is probably too soon. But in the Spring 2025 it might be a perfect time for a nest . Some hens/breeds are often broody and others don't get broody.
First of all you need patience, much space and an extra nestbox at another quiet spot, where you lay fake eggs to encourage broodiness.